New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-15
A MODEL DINNER PARI1.
WARD McALLISTER TELLS HOW 10 GIVE
1T.
TACT THE CHIEF REoUISITE-FooD An "A'-'
MUST BE THE DISCREPANCIES
TAKING PLACE.

J TACT THE CHIEF RECONSTRUCTION AND WINS
MUST BE THE DEsT-CHANGEs
TAKING PLACE.
ono of the plcasantest AZ well as one OF inc ihosC
nonular forms Of social entertainment everywhere ~
| Tho dinner Marty In England, whence so many VI
tbe American customs come dlnnergving Is "a sUi"'u
a social diversion a reception, and mas Dee" ai""'
In America the custom OF giving dinner parties mas
grown until now that form Of entertainment ou'Ia'N'
evcrv other in New. York society for popularity
Ward McAllister. who has thorough hhoWiedRe VI
the little arts which tend to make society so atfC'c'
talked freely recently on the art Of dlnnergNlhs'
1T is said he an art that every man Shoul
cultivate. Have not. all OF u.s. paruo'P''' "
dinner parties so rich I'm enjoyment that the le'"i' "
them can never fade 4 perfect dinner Is an occa'o'
that Will be remembered when the recollection Oh al
otber entertainments has faded. II Is not trlHhE
matter 70 give perfect dinner and the host VINO does
surceed I'm such an undertaking has Accomplishment
great deal for his guests. There Is much ''at m"'
N, understood before one can nope 10 40 ~ n"'
The host must know whom to invite, aS well IL "'' ~
give them As to the food and wines. they must 10
Of the best that can be had in every particular az"
NOT only must they bc the best but the food must DC
cooked and the viands and wines served III "a manner
with which no fault can be found
81 have always contended that we gave as good
dinners in New-York were given IN LONDON VI
anywhere else in the world but even our dinners are
/
AGO. There has been too much Of tendency IN
New York society to follow the lead Of the Prince OF
Wales In social customs and glad that the present
inclination TO be toward more original ana
undoubtedly higher plane. especially in the matter
Of dinner entertainments
HOW TO MAKE 4 DINNER SUCCESSFUL.
To make a dinner party successful Tn is higher
sense the host must use rare judgment IN the 'c'cu"'
of his guests He mus, know their personal charac-
] nf heir An Is
tcmpcramens generally that when they are brought
Together they NAV find an entirely cOngenia company
one member of such company. II uncohgch!al ~ uo
Others would he like dsCOrdant note In an OTHERWISE
perfect symphony. | can imagine no more denght'"
evenings than those which spent at table where
there was realy feast Of reason ana Il
sov OF soul rs well service OF
food and wine to make one thahhui Ior
the good things q the earth. man invites " MS
fable those whom he has respect for, and whose l'
he is thoroughly familiar with. lie gathers aro'hl
him his best friends and provides for them The Uc'' 81
everything that he can pr. cure. II II compliment
70 them which they appreciate and their disposition at
tbc start IS not only to enjoy all that i, offered for
tbcir entertainment, but to contribute all possible
Il, the mutual enjoyment There i, apparently no limit
To- the Judgment and tact that one must display !"
selecting his guests.
We will imagine, for example that Mt hfO"h
desires 10 give dinner to party OF hi' friends lio
10 each other in most things, and that # brought 10
,eth.r al table where free discussion Is likely I" follow
,ba aypansiOn incident ~ all such affairs, something
UNPLEASANT might occur. They are equally hl' l''U''
and he would like Ia have them both present b"l II H'
is wise he will not summon both ON the same occasion.
on the other hand. the antagoul-m might Dc "i "'o
mos, delightfully."- friendly character. when T. have
them both present would be charming t. them ana I"
,ercs,ins 10 all Of the other guests. Ihen' II might
D.. that while Mr. Jones and Mr. smith were all r-t
Mrs lone, and Mrs smith were not alIo-"th"r cH-
genial In such case, he would nave 10 H'''v' '''
and Mr., Jones on one occasion ana Mt ana Nr'
smith on another 50 as TO preserve the perfect har
m0ry.
INTELLECTUAL CONGENIAtITY NECESSARY
~It +, not 10 be- supposed tllt any If th's" guests
would commit any act that would make IN" dinner
fa!lui, or even uupicl-ant, but n order Z" secure
perfect harmony there must be corrcninlY intelN'u
all, A. we'll a, I'm every other way. The presence OF
ono person concerning whom the other guests iH'-"'
even think unpea-autly would be sufficient to pre-
vent Tire perfect harmony tat j. r>'"ith /" MANI Il"
dinner party completely successful Every mans
circle II friends ought TO be- and probably is, large
enough to enable him he uso~ the necessary tact to
,rl,, tol,.thcr al such affair, only those who can
find the highest amount Of pleasure in beng brV"Sh.
together. some Il the people who ar" the most
charming II surrounded by those with whom th"y e"l
the least restraint. ARE apt to withdraw within them
II
v,oun prcf.r no, u meet. The host who hopes 70
make his dinner party perfect affair must understand
thc-r fine distinctions aud use all the tact ne po'
.,.-c, I'm the selection Of his guests,
Having Invited hi, company. he must -cc that
hc provides them with a rcpast As harmonious In IT.
make ND A. NJ, means VIII allow. Ills guests VIII
know. probably. whether the dinner has been served
ly A caterer who has been called ia and employed ior
the purpose at much plate. or whether 1t wa
prepared by a competent chef. His guests may be
cvers Of dinners themselves, and they are lot hkel
10 be deceived to the service .: the quality Of
the wines Everything, including the manncr Of TIE
service. must be OF the best.
CHAMPAGNE sUPERSEDEs SHERRY.
Twenty years or 1t wa, the custom IN
New. York to serve a light delicate sherry with the
soup. not heavy Wine. but one Of exceedingly fine
dunilty and with body enough to add little 1cet to
the appetite Then with the fish came a light whit"
HorieauN wine which. If carefully served and used
simply added the zc~t. am sorry to >ay that the
lead sci By the Prime; Of Vale, la, ovcrtlrowu thi,
custom. They great champagne drinkers IN Eng
land and il is wine Of which His ROYAL lshne-s Is
exceedingly fond. 1t Wa he viii" established the
custom of serving champagne with the fish, and
keeping 1t the table throughout the remainder of
the repast to the exclusion OF AL other and moc dp
pioprlltc wines.
There reason, why champagne should not be
the only wine drunk al dinner. In the first place.
It's effects arr more dclcterous than any other Kind,
ana II Is more likely to be abused. You will tnd
that when man is advancing in years, and has
reached the Of forty hfty years and his health
becomes impaired. champagne is the first wine to be-
tabOOcd by his physicians. It's evil effects when used
freely are lasting, but therr would be evil effects
If tcatcd properly. Then, one man may have become
accustomed a brTit wine drink other. II
Tic goes to II dinner where brut wine is served he
enjoys IL well enough. but II he finds instead sweet
winc he will not be able TO partahe OF it at all; or
If he does, IL Will not be with any relish. All those
who champagne the chief dinner wine, should
have both the brIt and the sweet that the guc>ts
may have their preference The Prince of Wales |
deemed IL to be the best kind of hospitality fairly
10 dcugc his guests with champagne. and that custom