The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-12
HOME And FIRESIDE.
In Account Of a EOdern New York Flower
Dinner.
DECORATION OF THE TABLE.
Tho Fashion in Cards and China and Glass
Tho Authors Club About TO Open It's
Doors to Female Members.

o hour Of all hours. tho most blessed upon
tarth
Blessed hours Of our dinnersl
There was time when very little brain
power was necessary TO plan dinner, and
there were more good sensible things to eat
and less style than at present. Alas many an
aching head has been the result Of too much
mental excrtion caused by planning an after
Easter dinner. Tho most perfect result OF
hard mental labor on the dinner question Is
shown in the flower dinner.
The hostess idea is TO limit the number Of
her guests to sixteen. having four small white
enamel tables and special spring flower Tor
the decoration of each table
Alta certain dinner arbutus meaning wei
come" was used as the floral decoration Tor
the first table tulips for the second table, vo-
lots for the third and lly-of-the-valley for the
fourth.
Tho first table was entirely in pink and
white The dinuer-clOth was of the finest Of
damask wreath of arbutus was embrold-
cred in delicate shades Of silk around the CEN
ire circle IN which low silver lardlmere
stood. The iardniere was filled with moss
and creeping over its sides and all over the
messy bed was trailing arbutus. looking fresh
er than ever in contrast with It's dark back
ground.
The napkins were Of the same material rs
fbe dinner cloth. Tho hostess last initial
was embroidered in white silk in one corner
md encircled by wreath of arbutus. The
doiiies were of boiling cloth, and painted e1-
ouisitelv around the edge of each one was
tiny vine of trailing arbutus
little SPRAYS of the fragrant blossom floatcd
on the top Of the finger bowls, which were all
Of pink.
The after-dinncr coGees were possibly not
as elegant as they were dainty. The tiny cup
and saucer were Of some rare china, tinted
delicate shade of pink; the handle was formed
Of IA twisted spray of arbutus. and vine OF
the sweet blossom twined itself around the
rims Of the cup and saucer.
The dinner cards were quite elaborate.
They were made of a rather long piece OF
mother-of- pearl mounted IN silver. In tiny
silver letters at the top was the word Wei
come and each course was separated from
the others by painted spray of arbutus.
The pretty souvenirs. which were one Of the
features of the dinner. We're at each table suS-
gestivo of the flower which WAS used
At this table the ladies opened small pink
velvet box and there found an after-dlnner
cofce-spoon % little gem To- add 10 their col
lection Ii was of gold, the handle being
decorated by sprays of arbutus enamelled
upon 1t. Each gentleman had tiny pm,
with just one or too blossoms or arbutus for
its top.
There was not room for candlelabra upon
tho table. Dut Nlil4lc SILVER cdlilt0tlthS were
used. with the dalntleSt of PINK SILK shades.
The effect was soft and pretty. On the next
table the tulip ruled supreme.
The flower means declaration of love-
its meaning was not discussed as freely as
the other guests talked of the meaning of the
arbutus: but eyes speak more elOquently than
lips Oitentimes.
At this table everything was in yellow and
white The yellow tulip was used rs the dec
Grafton, excepting upon the linen, where the
tiny tulips were embroidered in white.
The iardiniere was of cut glass. most eX-
qusitelv cut and filled with ferns and yellow
tulips. which stood mp with queenly grace.
Cut glass was used profuse.y throughout the
different courses.
A very unique dish, used for sailed almonds,
WAS Of cut glass IN the exact form of a tulip
widely opened. The stem of the tulip formed
the handle. and the spoon which belonged
with II was in the form of a partially closed
tulip leaf
The doilics were Of the finest white Irish
linen. and We're cut ont in the exact form Of a
large tulip They were embroidered exquisite
" in yellow The finger bowls represented q
tulip and were of yellow tnge.
The dinner cards were iii the form of n
white kid book mounted in gold, with a gold
clasp. In tiny gold letters on the outside was
the name OF the guest, with the date OF the
dinner
The book opened. and on each page was
written one course of the dinner, while up in
every corner was painted tiny bunch Of yell
low tulips.
The after-dinner coffee cups at this table
were IN exact imitation Of some used at q
dinner in Paris given early this spring
Each dainty cup was in the form of yell
low tulip. and was made of the rarest of
china. No saucers were used, the cups being
set IN individual gold holders. The cup was
not removed from the holder, and "a tiny gold
spoon was used with 1t.
Golden candlesticks. having shades of vel
low silk with gold fringe. added greatly TO
the decoration of the table.
The little souvenirs of the dinner given To
the gentlemen were stick pins with diminu-
tive yellow tulip for top.
The ladies carried home with them. as a re-
membrane of the dinner, beautiful fans of
yellow marabout feathers with gold sticks In
the corner of one stick was "a tiny tulip done
in black enamel
The decoration of the lily-of-the-valley
table was all in green and white, and at the
violet table purple and white was used ex-
clusively.
The hostess idea IN using the small tables
was TO have four OF her most congennl friends
dine together. The idea worked to perfec-
ton
IL is not necessary 10 talk Of the weather in
order 10 I'LL up the p~oes which are apt to
make their appearance AT a formal dinner, for
there are none with this arrangement
Soft lights. pretty effects IN color. merry
laughter and general good Will are few of
the characteristics of flower dinner.-New
York Herald