The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-11-14
SOCIETY DINNERS.
Decoration. of the Tablc-Manncrs of a
Host or Hostcss--Dinncr Invitations
The "retit Comite" of
Good Society.
WHAT WARD M'ALLIsTEh SAYS,

a word about the decoration OF the
table. In this we arc now again running
from one extreme to the other. 4 few
wears ago the florist took possession of the
fable and made n flower garden Of it re-
CARELESS of cost. Now, ut the best dinners.
Won see perhaps in the centre Of the table
one handsome basket of flowers; no bon-
qnctS dc corsogc or bouionicrcs; the table
set with aus,crc simplicity; few silver
dishes with b0nbonx and compofiers of
fruit, that is all Now, nothing dccoratcs
a dinncr-tablc as flowers do, and of these
| think the Glosie de PoriS roses, the
Rolhschild rose and the Captain Chrystie's
the most effective. a better result is pro-
duccd by having all Of one kind of flow
crs. he il roses. or tulips, or carnations
II is now the fashion to have the most
superb embroidered tahc-cloths from
Paris, in themselves costing nearly wears
income But ii is to lac remembered that
thirty Years ago we imported from England
the fashion of placing in the centre of the
table a handsome piece of scarlet satin, on
which TO place the silver. ~ the dinner
the eve should have Il feast as well as the
palate. \ beautifully laid table is very
/
al Windsor Castle all ready for her.
have heard her iooimcn. in green and gold,
c-ccho from hall TO Kitchen The note that
"dinncr is served, and then was told to
90: but | saw all | wanted 10 see. Her
six tootmcn placed their hands on the
little velvet bishops cap, which covered
the lion and The unicorn in frosted gold on
the covers Of her six cntrcc dishes: aS din
ncr was announced this velvet cap WAS
removed. The keeper of the .icwcl-rooEi
has 4 large book OF autographs of just the
pieces of gold plate that are to decorate
Her Majc>iy's table on different occasions,
all regulated 10y the rank of her guest.
Her Majesty in the time of Prince Albert
dincd al SID. Her head chct informed me
then thai her real dinner was eaten at ,
>. m. with the Prince of Wal,9,-and it
was for this he exercised his talent Al
; and quarter she took but soup and
fish.
Ii is to hc borne in mind that Il host or
hostess cannot he too courteous or gracious
10 their guests: and, again. that guests in
being late at dinner often commit 81 breach
of politcncSs. .lpropos OF this, while in
Paris one of our ministers 10 the French
Court related to me the foliowinganccdotc,
Illustrating true French politcncsS. His
daughter arrived late at the dinner of Il
high parsonage When her father rcmCn-
stratcd she replied: Ibid You not sec
that one of the family arrived after u.s.
The next day our minister heard that the
duchess with whom he had dincd had sent
her daughter out OF the room to come in
after them. to relieve them of amy cmbar-
rassmcnt at being late.
Another point has had some discussion.
At large dinner. where the only lady is
the hostess. should she rise and receive
each guest: This is still vcxcd question.
Again. at Il large dinner of men, is it in
cumbcnt on every one present to rise on
the entrance of each guest: On one occa-
sion | failed myself to do this. moi think
ing il necessary. The distinguished man
who entered said aitcrward that | had
"Slighicd him" 1t was certainly unintcn
tional In small room, if all get up,
ii must create confusion
Ii YOU intend to decline an invitation 10
dinner do so at as early Il date as possible.
\ dinner invitation once accepted is Il sa
cred obligation. If YOU die before The
dinner takes place your executor must
attend the dinner. This is not TO he taken
literally. but Ia illustrate the ohligatiun.
The person to whom the dinner is given
takes in the hostess, if she is present,
going i'm first with her: that is il il is
only men (no ladies present bat the host
ess.) Should there be ladies, he still takes
in the hostess, but then follows all the
quests. The only exception to this rule is
where the president of the United States
or ROYALTY dimes with YOU.
In England. in the note OF invitation TO
dinner. YOU are never asked To meet amy
one hut ROYALTY. The distinction OF rank
makes the reason for this Obvious. If
royalty dimes with Won, at the top OF the
note of invitation. in the lcit-haud corner,
il is written TO meet Royal tIighnc>s.
or other ROYALTY. Our custom j. otherwise.
1t is To invite YOU to meet Mr.. Robinson, or
Mrs. Robinson, or Mr. and Mrs. Robinson.
This is accepted and approved by all in
this country: for in this way You are priv
LEGGED to invite at Il days notice any num-
her Of guests; for one sees it is to meet
stranger temporarily hcre-a sufficient
reason for so shor, notice to Il large dim
ncr; besides which You have it in Your
power 10 pay the stranger or strangers
compliment in Il pointed way. by making
them or him the honorcd guest OF that
dinner.
II YOU propose accepting. Your note of
acceptance should be sent the day after
the invitation has been reccvcd. After
dining al Il ladies dinner it is obligatory
tina, YOU leave your card at the house
where Won have dincd cithcrthc next day or
within day or two This is called by the
French ;isitc de- digeStioD. In England
This custom is dying out Tor men have moi
the imc 10 do it.
would here compare society to series
Of intc:scciing circles; each one is Il cir
Gle Of lis own. and they all unite in max
in@ what is known rs general society.
Meeting people al Il large ball j. 10 evil
dcncc OF their hein" received in smaller
circles. What the French call the petit
couliic of good society is the inmosi circle
Of all. but, naturally, il is confined In Il
very few. Meeting Il person constantly
al dinner. al the mosr exclusive houses.
should he sufficient evidence TO YOU that
he or she is received everywhere, and if
YOU find people pcrSistcntlv excluded from
The best houses nj dinners, YOU may be
satisfied that there is good reason for it.
When YOU introduce Il man into the
sanctuary of your own family. it Is sup
poScd to hc The greatest compliment von
can hr>tow upon him: but do not he mis-
led hy this. for there is nothing more Try
;,.r III. ,,unst tluu IN hp thp ono uIi