The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-14
SOCIAL ETIQUETTE.
Some Interesting Suggestions About
Afternoon Teas"

Some Interesting Suggestions About
afternoon Teas
To people of small or moderate means an
afternoon tea" offers a solution of a diff
cult problem. It is inexpensive, enjoyable,
and in it's simplicity above criticism. Con
corning this pleasing form of hospitality
Good Housekeeping has, among other use
full suggestions, the following: When one
feels ones house too small to comfortably
accommodate the desired number, good
plan is for the hostess to send out her own
visiting card, which is, by the way, the
only correct invitation to such al affair as
this, the card, in addition to the name,
bearing the written or engraved words,
AT Home THURSDAYS in December"
Of course no reply is required to such in
formal invitations. The latter plan will
do away with the danger of a crush, as peo-
pie will not naturally all select the same
day. More people, however, may be ex-
pected on the fourth afternoon, as in all
such things procrastination is characters
tic with many. But the guest once hidden,
let the faith Of the hostess in the simple
form of her entertainment remain perfect,
as it will if she owns the truly hospita5Ie
spirit Let her remember that to ask q
friend to break ones bread is seompli-
ment, and to entertain according to ones
means is always in good taste.
The lady who presideS over the tea urn
has very dainty Office to perform, but if
she has a correct understanding of her du-
ties she will not find her place a sinecure.
The hostess cannot perform her task as
such and preside at the tea table but she
will, if there be no daughter Of the house,
har in,
innate friend to act for her 1t is the duty
of this person to see chat each cup of tea
which she dispen8es is as perfect as it is
possible for her to make it, and one of the
first requisites of this is heat. The English
complain that 1t is impossible to get cup
of not tea in America, and yet this Difficult
ty is an easy one to overcome. But of the
method of preparing this piece de resist
ance l will speak later. The water boiling,
the tea drawn" ''cczy" should be pull
ed over the teapot to keep in the steam,
with which would escape much of the
aroma. Before pouring, a little boiling
water should be left for q few moments in
the cup. With these precautions our trans
atlantic friends will find no fault, though
there may be some truth in the statement
I once heard made that their threats, like
a snip S bottom. are Copperea.
Each guest VIII lad the way to the tea
table. and make her wishes known with
out waiting 20 ba asked Here let ms say
what would hardly srpoar needful but for
many fnqEiries which have proved it so.
No special introduction to the lady presid-
ing is required It is not only Propar but
obligatory that the guest show breeding as
well as kindliress, by making, II need be,
an effort to enter into conversation with
her. The fact OF meeting under the roof
of mutual friend Is sufficient introduc-
ton. A witty aad observing paTson should
FIJI this place, that she may aid IN setting
the ball Of conversation rolling among
those she gathers about her. In the draw
ing room even quite young children will
prove useful in passing biscuits, tea and
plates. The help OF sez<ant viii be
needed most in quietly reflsnishing and
rSmovinS dishes