The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-23
DEAR DINNER PLATES.
Works of Art in Porcelain
Displayed at an Eight
Course Feast.
TOPICS FOR FAIR READERS.
Queer Ideas About Babies---A
Smuggling Bride---Personals.

The Editor Of the JERSEY CII1
NEWS presents has compliments TO the
ladies Of Jersey city, and respectfully
inoites their cooperation IN making
this column q feature Of general sntea-
est and utility. Information and sug-
gestSons are earnestly solicited, ana
assurance as gi0en that all COMMUNE
cations aoiU gecea0e immediate and
careful attention, and soiU be regarded
as strictly confidential If the aoaSteTs 50
desire.
Well-to-do American families not so
very long ago felt that they were we'll
off in the crockery department when
they had plain white china for ordi-
nary use and a good dinner set, cost
ing as much as $3.50 for company"
purposes, a tall imposing castor for the
centre of the table, and a pretty tea
set also in reserve.
Luxury has crept on apace, and nov
all that is changed. Wealthy people
vie with each other in the magniti-
cence of their dinner parties and peo-
pie with smaller means struggle to APP
pear not too far behind.
Eight courses are the usual number
at a first class dinner with twelve
guests, more than that being consid-
cred rather wearisome. The china
used at these dinners is principally
English, which is considered richer,
aud to have a better effect than other
ware.
FANCY PRICE PLATES.
At a recent swell dinner the first
course of raw oysters was served on
turquoise and gold oyster plates, with
tiny fishes between the oyster shells.
They were of Minton china, and cost
$120 a dozen. Then came the soup
plates, made of Vienna china, with
raised gold simulated embroidery on a
tinted red, blue and yellow ground,
costing $3.50 a dozen.
The fish plates were of Minton
ware, enamelled fishes of different
colors struggling in the seaweed on a
white ground. Four hundred dollars
is the price charged for twelve OF these
plates. The roast vas served on Min
ton china of a white ground with blue
border, and intricately designed gold
enamel. The expense of twelve OF
these mounts up to 1925
The price of the dozen plates used
for the entree course which were OF
Colport ware, was $3.50. They were of
rich red lacquer, with gold embroidery
effect.
The game plates, of dark blue
ground, with birds in enamel scattered
over them, with raised gold between,
cost $3.50 a dozen, and were made OF
Crown Derby.
This same china was used for the
| salad. For this course it had rich gold
foliage scattered on an ivory ground.
Next came the cheese plates, the
cheese being served in the French
style. They were of Copeland china,
with blue border, and raised gold and
red enamel, and are worth $l40 a
dozen.
THE DESSERT SERVICE.
The fruit plates were o elabor-
ate and cost as much as $3.50 for
twelve, They were in the old Sevres
| style, and between the turquoise bor-
| der and inner border of jewelled
crowns were delicate garlands of roses,
while the middle was devoted to a
picture of some celebrated French
beauty. The after dinner coffee cups,
as thin as waters, with an interlaced
enamelled gold work over a variety OF
light shades, cost $25 a piece.
The c~entrepiece used to decorate
| the table was low and used simply to
| hold flowers. 1t was a bowl OF rock
crystal costing $50. This makes the
total cost of the china used 50, $50.
This does not include the expensive
glassware or the large platters, as
where first-class dinners are given sill
yer dishes are used.