The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-10
OF GHILDREN'S TEAS.
Separate Nursery Lie as Seen in
England.
FURNISHINGS OF THE TEA TABLE.
The Table Cloths and tho Dishes.
Grandmother's china---Pia.es With
Pictures-.-Plnin Cookies DcliGht-
fully Fancy in Form.--sugar Cakes
on New Years Day.

those which picture English nursery
life, where the children seemed to have
world of their own and made only
occasional excursions into the world OF
"srown ups" In American child-hfe
there is generally no such distinct
separation. In most homes the chill
dren, little and big, cit at table with
the parents, partaking largely OF the
same diet, keeping over-late hours and
sharing the complexities oil adult life.
Still, tho separate nursery life does
exist to come degree in the country,
not because OF the following Of English
fashion, but because some parents see
its advantage for securing simplicity
and regularity. Even in families where
the arrangements do not admit OF the
children having an entirely different
regime. "children's tel" is recognized
Institution, the family luncheon hayin.
been made sufficiently substantial to
serve as the children's dinner.
Whilo the children are very young
the tea is necessarily q simple affair,
AS they grow older simplicity and
plainness should still characterize the
evening meal, but many little touches
can be given which will make it varied
and appetizing and afford them much
Il innocent pleasures.
Just hero / set down some hints
gathered from the children's tea.table
In a certain family where the meal is
always interesting.
To begin with, the furnishings OF the
table have been selected with regard
10 the children's use and pleasure. Tho
tablecloths are OF unbleaOhed linen
with red or blue border. In the fruit
season, when stains may be expected,
tinted tablecloths are used OF the palest
mink or lemon color, never the ugly,
dark red and white cloths which do not
show dirt. all this table linen is easy
towash and durable and pretty.
The dishes are mainly come delight
full ones which had been grandma
mas" not old fashioned enough to be
treasures, nor modern enough to be de.
sirable among the handsome china ser
vices.
They are bordered with green and
gold, and have groups OF tiny birds
upon them, Across each plate sweeps
flock OF nine How these are counted
night after night Then the plates are
turned for the birds to hy-now south
ward to the warm lands, now again
northward to bring the news Of spring
And what texts for stories they make !!
Sometimes, too, child who is averse to
quite finishing her tea is helped by be-
ing reminded that her little birds are
nil hidden away. VIII she not find
them? OF course she willard the
spoon will scrape determinedly till the
last covering of cream toast Is removed
and the birds are visible
But this grandmother's china is sup
plemented with several necessary
pieces, and these have been chosen
with special reference to their being
for the children's tea table.
No doubt the milk does better for be-
ing poured out OF what Trotty calls an
Interesting pitcher" which has a gay
picnic scene on either side. One OF the
bread-plates is Interesting" too; 1t
being a Plymouth souvenir with pict-
ure upon it OF the old Westinghouse,
toward which are trooping groups OF
quantity dressed PILGRIMS.
There is also set OF I.apland plates
which Aunt Helen brought from
abroad. These are not used every
night, and SO bring anextra tlutter OF
pleasure on each appearance. They
are extremely pretty, decorated in a
soft, brown color with Lapland tent,
before which stands Lap with his
sledge and reindeer. Aunt Helen says
that these plates are the most satisfactory
presents she brought home, for the chill
dren take such great delight in them,
land yet" she says contidentially, "the
whole six cost only half dollar--real
china, gilt edges, pictures and ALL"
The tile upon which the cocoa-pot
stands is from New Bedford, where
mamma lived when she was little" rs
eager Prue loves to explain. 1t also has
its pictured scene and the napkin rings
have each history. One is OF Indian
basket work. another is curiously
carved, the third is little battered sill
yer one which papa had ut boarding
school, and the fourth, made Of beads
and not at all pretty, 10 very precious to
tender-hearted Prue. because 1t Is the
work oflittle blind Iillie.
The food provided for this tea table is
not OF the hearty sort. Little children
who have substantial breakfast and
dinner need no meat dishes Tor the
third meal.
There is plenty of milk, white bread
and graham bread, always the fruit OF
the season, and at every other time
canned fruits, honey or maple syrup.
Occasionally plain bread and butter
sandwiches are made, even this slight
change causing the bread and butter to
be eaten with extra relish. When jelly
or lam or any preserve is used, it is
spread on plain crackers or put into
sandwiches. Lettuce sandwiches, made
OF thinly.sliced bread with one layer OF
dressed lettuce Simple French dress
ingl is favorite treat. These general
ly appear upon the children's table al.
tor mamma has had lunch party
Sometimes q simple pudding is made
for the children's tea.
Cake is not made very important
item-plain cookies being the kind usu-
ally allowed. But these cookies, though
plain as to their substance, are delight
fully fancy in form; round with hole
in the middle, scalloped or in the shape
OF q graceful leaf, ileur-de-lis, or a dar-
ling rabbit with magnificent ears. AL
these pretty forms make entirely differ
emit kind of cake so far as the children
are concerned, though the cook may
have used only one recipe.
On each child's birthday there is al
WAYS o great birthday cake This con-
Bists OF the lightest OF sponge cake as to
the inside, but is very gorgeous as to
the outside, with frosting and pink
sugar lettering and as many candies as
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