Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-02


case she should be needed.
BEST RULE FOR MAKING TEA
The best rule for making tea 10 the old
fashioned one: Zone teaspoonfui for each per
son and one for the pot" The pot should first
be rinsed with hot water, then the tea put
in and upon it hot water enough to cover the
leaves poured, which is at the moment boiling.
This should stand for five minutes then ill up
the pot with more boiling water and pour Il
immediately. Some persons prefer lemon in
their tea to cream, and it is good plan 10
have some thin slices cut for the purpose in a
pretty little dish on the tray. A bowl Of cracked
ice is also pleasant addition in summer iced
tea being a most refreshing drink in hot
weather. Neither plates nor napkins ever ap-
pear at this informal and cozy meal
A guest arriving at this time in the afternoon
should always be offered a cup of tea.
AN AGRkEABLk ENTERTAINMENT.
Afternoon tea in small cities or in the
country, in villages and academic towns can
be made a most agreeable and ideal entertain
ment for the official presentation of daughter
or for the means Of seeing ones friends. But
In the busy winter season of large city it
should not be made the excuse for giving up
the evening party or the dinner lunch or ball
1t Is not all these, it is simply itself" and it
should be a refuge for those women who are
tired OF balls. of overdressing, dancing, visiting
and shopping. 1t is also very dear to the
convenient
good arena for flrtations
1t Is form of entertainment which allows
one to dispense with etiquette and to save
time.
A lady or gentleman who receives an invita-
tlon TO an afternoon tea and makes his visit,
leaving his card behind him, has done his duty;
nc need not make another call, the acquaintance
Is esta blished.
Nor need lady do more than leave her card
on the day of the tea: her duties are then over
for the season, unless a dinner invitation fol-
lows. This is great boon to an over society
woman, who cannot get around to make all her
calls
REFRESHMENTS SHOULD BE LIGHT.
Five o'clock teas should be true to their
name, nor should any other refreshment be
offered than tea, thin bread and butter and lit
tie cakes.
If other eatcbles are offered the tea becomes
reception.
There is high tea which takes the place of
dinner on Sunday evenings in cities, which is a
very pretty entertainment.
In small rurnl cities, in the country they
take the place of dinners They were formerly
very fashionable in Philadelphia. 1t was the
opportunity TO offer hot rolls and butter.
scailoped oysters, fried chicken, delicately
sliced cold ham, waffies and hot cake, '.pre-
serves alas, since the days of canning, who
offers the delicious preserves of the past?
The hostess sits behind her silver urn and
pours the hot tea or coffee or chocolate and
presses the guest to take another waffle 1t is
delightful meal and has no prototype in any
country but our own.
will ever be popular in America, in large cities
ut least, with the custom of o'clock dinners
People find them violent change of living
which Is always challenge to indigestion
Some wit said that he always liked ito eat hot
mince pie Just before he went to bed. for then
KIN hat hr,rt 4
wishes to know what hurts him. he can take
nigh tea on Sunday evening after having dined
all the week at O'Clock, and u pain in the chest
will tell him that the hot waffle, the cold tongue,
the peach preserve and that last cup of tea
mean mischief.
CROMWELL AND ELIZABETH DRANK TEA.
Oliver Cromwell is said to have been an
early tea drinker; SO was Queen Elizabeth
Elaborate old teapots are sold in London with
the cipher OF both. But the report lacks con-
frmation. We cannot imagine Oliver drink
ing anything but verjuice nor the Lion woman
as sapping up anything less strong than brown
stout Literature owes much to tea. From
Cowper to Austin Dobson the poets have had
their fling at it. And what could the modern
English novelist do without it? 1t has been in
Pontics, as all remember who have seen Boston
harbor, and il goes into all the battles and
climbs Mt. Blanc and the Mntterhorn The
French, who despised it, are beginning to
make good cup Of tea" and Russia battles
in it. The samovar cheers the long journeys
across these dreary steppes and forms again
the most luxurious ornament of the palace.
On all the high roads Of Europe one can get a
cup OF tea, excepting in Spain. There it is
next to impossible. The universal chocolate
supersedes it. If one gets cup of tea in Spain
there Is no cream to put in it. II is ruined
with goats milk.
In fact, the poor tea drinker is hard to please
anywhere. There are to the critic only one or
two houses of ones acquaintance where five
O'Clock tea" is perfect. NJ. E.W. SHERWOOD.