Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-08
Written for Trr EvxHrxa Star
ATTRACTlvE HOMES.
Some Useful and Beautiful Ornaments
for Table Decorations.

Some Useful and Beautiful Ornaments
for Table Decorations.
MANY fAycrEs IN FORKS AND srpoSs-sArr
DISHES OF sILvrR-How TO rNBKIlrsH the
TABLE WITH ErFEcT-LAMrs. FLOWER DISHES
AND ORNAMENTAL SEEpLEwoRK.
- LMOST every week some new iu
M vention is made or idea carried out
A to keep up with which requires
II no little quiekness Of observation and
comprehension. Especially il this
true of matters connected with the table.
There is apparently, inexhaustible ingenuity
in producing novelties of all kinds in table
furnishings. which are quickly appreciated by
novelty seekers and appropriated at once for
the establishment of their feasts. One can
never go into the jewelry shops without finding
plenty of these attractive and useful articles
BY their beauty they only conduce 10 envy, il
may be, IN the hearts of many who may see but
not possess. In silver the name is legion.-of
all the spoons, forks and such worldly gear"
something new appears constantly, but still
there is kind of standard to what is
required in this line. One may be constantly
adding TO a store of these belongings. for
nothing Is more tempting to house mistress
than these pretty forms in silver. Just now a {
the very height OF its popularity. or course
the usual and ordinary spoons need not be
mentioned by name, but the EXTRAS" a. it
were. may some of them be defined as follows:
Among the smaller spoons are the ones FOR
Roman punch, with bowls like milk pan in
shape and gold coin embedded in the bottom
The handles may be oXidlZed and the size is
smaller than any spoon except the one for cof-
fee. The orange spoon is larger, with the bowl
concave and smooth Tor extracting the luscious
juices OF the fruit. The ice-cream spoon is
similar to a teaspoon, only II is more round
than oval and sometimes has fiuted edges to in
crease its individuality.
IN FORKS
one of the new forms is that for pastry. II is
smaller than other forks and has four prongs.
OF which the two outer are more like narrow
knife blades. This makes of il weapon OF Of
Tense IN case the pastry itself prove of an obdu-
rate nature. To use with these aforementioned
forks are small silver dishes for the pates. with
long handles. Somewhat similar dishes are
used for serving terrapin, these last having
covers in addition.
SILVER SALT DISHES.
Salt is set forth IN several ways futed silver
dishes are fancied. also cut glass. Sometimes
the dishes are large and tiny salt spoons are
used TO take the quantity desired for individual
use, and small empty receptacles. to CORE
spond with the large dish. are set at each plate.
CENTER DECORATIONS.
With somo hostesses there seems TO be re-
action against the center mat or long scarf
with hand embroidery as its decoration. Many
are using brocade mats and scarfs, and very
lovely designs and coioring can be found in this
material. At dinner given Just before Lent
the center cloth was of pink and gray brocade,
the shades OF lamps and candles pink, the low
bowls were filled with brown leaves and gray
lichen. while few Dresden figures were placed
about the table. The flowers for the ladies
n MA IL
gray ribbons. At another dinner the scarf in
the center was of silver brocade. Small
lunches OF maiden-hsir fern and white chrys-
anthemums lay along the edges At each
corner was a large bunch tied with green rib
bon the shade OF the fern. These were placed
with their stems outward and there were no
other flowers on the table. very soft cool
effect was obtained by this combination that
was very agreeable.
LAMPS FOR THE TABLE
Ornaments OF silver of every kind for the
table in great favor at present For q
specially in this decoration one might have a
center lamp of silver, with its large shade of
colored silk under lace. At each corner OF the
table small one may be placed with flowers
III silver bowls and small dishes of silver also
The lamps or small pots Of flowers at the cor
ners are quite English" as we'll as the lamp
in the center. The only objection to raise
against the center lamp IL that it obscures
ones opposite neighbors, the same as the high
centerpleces of flowers, which have been
finally brought low.
DECORATED MESu CARDS.
Simple menu cards may be decorated by
making two holes in one corner and drawing a
natural flower through. Here is another fancy
for designating guests place: A rose in full
bloom Is laid at each plate. On one petal the
the name is written and then an electric cur
rent is applied, which turns the lettering white
upon the glowing rose leaf. Different colors of
roses are chosen and a charming effect is Sc
cured.
Electricity has been similarly applied to hand
bouquets this season. One such effect was in
a bunch of green -hued orchids, mignonette
and ivy. in the depths Of which were a dozen
or more small lights flashing like fire flies.
w1STRY EFFECTS
in table decoration have been successfully car
ried out this season. Brown leaves and Christ
mas roses tied with russell brown ribbons made
one combination. One florist expended his
energies IL concocting really misunderstanding
ornament, as follows: A looking glass lake in
the center OF the table was surrounded by
stones half covered with moss In the middle
OF this waste OF waters rose a rocky, messy
island, from which grew leafess plant, en-
blematical OF a tree III winter. Twigs and dead
fern leaves were scattered about, while a white
sparkling powder Cfor snow was spriukled over
everything.
sEAwEED DINNER.
Just now in this Lenten season a seaweed
dinner is the suitable form of entertainment
and is given on a Friday Very pretty they
can be made, too. A scarf Of shrimp pink
satin is good background for the delicate
center ornament of shells and seaweed. The
scarf can be embroidered with various pretty
forms OF seaweed, Or it is even more effective
plain. At each guests plate is pink conch
she'll filed with pale green moses. No meats
are on the menu, but all the deicacies OF old
ocean are set forth in most tempting array.
For one thing the salad should be of shrimps,
embedded in light green lettuce leaves, and
when each guest has been served and the pink
shells and moses are complemented by the
shrimps and lettuce q prettier color effect
could scarcely be obtained These meals to
which titles can be applied, are very popular
just now.
FERN BREAKFAST
is one form Of this style of entertainment As
the name implies, ferns are used entirely for
the decoration. A bed of ferns is in the center
OF the table, with a vase rising from the midst
filled with the graceful spreading fronds In
front of each place is a small vase of green
glass filed with maiden-hair. the daintiest of
all the fern family. White and green grapes
are in low silver dishes and the name cards are
fern leaves of pale green silk. This would be
as pretty decoration for any spring feast as
could be used, green seeming to be the most
harmonizing color for that season.
FLOWER HOLDERS
are distinguished ar preSapt for heinO ~ al1