The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-19
DINING OUT In PARIS
One Of Most Serious Occupatio.,
OF Society Leaders.
THE COOK is KING IN Franz.
Feasts OF Reason and Flow a. ~
Pssne-Noted Entertainers OF n.
French Capital.

oNs loiiuS ohe ol the most serion.
occupations of our leaders of sociesy
There are are as many special code. .na
ways OF receiving as there are cifferens -
or sorts OF society. These are the dis.s
ences we would seek to make clear a - y
far-off friends.
A dinner would not be given in On. :,
the elegant and luxurious palaces ~ -.
Place des Etats-Unis as it would be v;,ss
in the antique Faubourg st. Germs;a
amongst men of letters, in the aeadsr.;,,
world or in the circles of the unive,,;,s
There is, however, one leading point /,
common-the artistic talent of the cor
the chef, although here also there ara 4.
grees.
Certain amphitryons attach the hishsa
Importance to the gastronomic den.,e.
ment; it matters little whether the xu..t.
have wit or conversation, provided sbs,
have taste and appetite; it is of it,
consequence whether the dinner be d,
and brilliant if it be succulent-if Il.
dinde tru6ic come direct from Derigord ,ns
be done to turn, if the foies gras melt /,
the mouth, and the wines be at that nm.
else temperature which best deyelm.
their aroma; if the champagne be Of 4.
1dt4OuS SliduOt, 1HipOoslbAC W 0QLdlH IN
France and procured by connoisscun
from Russia.
Other houses, on the contrary, militsh
against culinary eccentricities; the mis.
tress maintains-and we are far from pre-.
tending she is wrong-that when dinner
is given once or twice week, trufles and
pdtes de foie gras may well be suppressed.
Perhaps it would interest our readers 10
penetrate with an inquisitive eye into
few of these interiors at the hour of din.
ner.
Shall we enter first into the superb pri-
vate hotel of the Place DIES Etats-U nis,
The latest fantasy of one of our richest
fnanciers; an hotel in the finest style q
Louis XIV. We will follow this lovsy
woman, somewhat scientifically dressed,
who is speaking with slightly foreign % !.
cent to the gentleman stepping after hW
from a brougham admirably well drawn,
her husband doubtless, though he appear
twenty years her senior, is very ugly-prob-
ably a Jew, and of very ordinary appear
ance, in spite of an evident straining after
elegance and a courtesy more 40
quired than natural. In the hail. where
gravely stand five or six footmen in silk
stockings and breeches, the lady unfastsns
her fur-lined pelisse, which the husband
respectfully receives and passes to the
servant-in-waiting then, after rapid
glance in the large mirror, which reflects
her entire figure, she enters the rawing-
room, already full. 1t is o'clock, but one
dimes rarely before half-past s.
The host, an amiable man, with hair ale
ready turning grey-the type of q success
full stock broker; intelligent, keen, skep-
teal, spoilt by success and moneys--hast.
ems forward to greet the newcomer, and
with suitable compliment on her toilette,
apologies for his wife, who, to-day. has
been more than ordinarily unwell, and ID
somewhat late.
All, yes, yes; our fine ladies take Il
easily; they are not always there to re-
ceive their guests. One pleads fatigue,
indisposition, and. doubtless in order to
render the pretext plausible, at the very
moment when dinner is announced she
appears in an undress, which must have
been quite as fatiguing to put on as the
most entire full dress, a sort of loose yet
half tight tea gown of raised old-rose
velvet, small shell-patterened, opening in
front over falls of plated muslin of the
same tint; the sleeves in mousseline dc scis
pulled and transparent; revealing the arm
to the shoulder. From this rosy cloud
energies the pale and delicate head Of
woman of 40, woman of the world. tired
and worn; her black hair somewhat stifly
arranged under a bandeau a Ia russo, en-
broidered with rubies, sapphires and
pearls, giving to the woman the air OF
Byzantine idol.
We are now at table in the large dining.
room, joined to the winter garden by an
admirable Louis XIV. colonnade, to which
three or four marble steps give access.
The table presents delicious and origi-
nal appearance. No center-piece no
epergnes, no long rows of crystal, only an
indescribable medley of marvellous old
Dresden figures, some bearing nowen,
others menu, others again fruits ana
sweets. These darling little shepherds
esses. those gallant shepherds; veritabls
works of art, which others. less lavish
guard with jealous care behind glass
cases; are tastefully grouped to please
the eye; they seem TO be playing ~
hide-and-seek, or dancing minus!
amidst beds of red, saffron, yellow ana
tea roses. Lovely amphoras OF dineTens
forms replace decanters, one glass
only is set before each guest OF
AAAlfSL WIN bAlC NAoht LIP
bow tints of a Venetian goblet-the me
wines are served apart in glasses wnich
are presented and Withdrawn eacn times
In a cloth of the finest damask, which
seems as if woven in gold, is stretched tns
chemin de table in marvellous old ginpura
Scarcely perceived, however, between tne
flowers, the statuettes and the ladies lana
whose carved handles, frequently en-
cruSted with precious stones, sparkN
amid ar tho ha1ztfney oiIVar Mate. an eHblfo
army of buffers attend to the wants =
every guest. Needless to say, oil IS serves
on silver, and the viands are exquisito,
may be judged from the menu.
Consomme aux Quenelles
Fruits a La Chambord.
Cuissot de MarcassiD Sauce MoscoVibt
Laitances de Carpe au Vetoute.
Timbale de Cables u la Sfyignl
Noisettes d agneaux aux pointes sspais~
Punch a la Romano.
Foulardes Truffies.
Kocher dc ioes gras q Ia gelco.
Quenes DECREASES a Ia NantuA
Saade.
Asperges.
Haricots Nerts NouVeaux.
Glsee Abeille. 80
The ladies, each more elegant than tns
other, covered with diamonds which pias.
in the reflection of the candelabras, who's
every light is softened by rose-coores
silken shade, appear in their element; ths
coquette and chatter like tropical pirus y
the greatest delight of their cavaliers.
Besides the husbands, almost all sIocs
brokers, there are perhaps two or al ~
young men whose sole occupation - ~
latest fashion," Members of the JOCKS.
or Petit club; painter, very -
painter, whom one is astonlshed 70 MeI
in this frivolous society; but where wouss
you have him find means OF painting "
portraits at q, 900 francs? A literary q.
of great talent, slightly snobbish, who - e.
his linen got up in London-that being -
qulntessence of elegance-and wno' -