Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-01-16

@~~SS
apartment was preposterous, for the
little parlor was scarcely bigger than
tete-a-tete reception room. The dining.
room was a tiny vision in blue china
and gold, so small that walters and
guests would be mixed up with each
other in hopeless confusion. And after
looking over the ground carefully saw
that other quarters would have to be
provided for the entertainments The
lady was greatly opposed to giving a
reception in public hall. Suddenly an
idea occurred to me, and l said:
Madam, would you not like to have |
the use of that large and elegant man.
sion which stands vacant next door to |
you for this occasion? l can furnish it |
completely, and will so arrange every |
thing that it will seem on the evening |
of the reception just as if you really |
lived there"
The idea pleased her immensely, and |
| accordingly set to work upon my
preparations. l found could hire the
mansion for one day; and after con-
sulting upholsterers and furniture deal
ers | learned that between sunrise and
| sunset of the eventful day the mansion,
immense though it was, could be com
| pletcly furnished.
w men the Gay arrived L IuSU confess
I was somewhat nervous over the en-
| tertainment, for the undertaking was
really stupendous one. But by seven
| o'clock at night all was complete, and
; as looked it over l smiled happily at
the result. The floors, which were OF
| good material, had been highly oiled
and very rich and heavy rugs had been
| plentifully placed upon them. The
| windows We're hung with handsome
| curtains. The walls We're covered with
| portleres and pictures, while the man.
| tel shelves and cabinets were plentiful
| ly adorned with bric-a-b rac. Very
| artistic and very antique bits of fur
| niture were scattered about the house,
and there were couches and folding
| beds and all things to indicate that a
family might be living there. In the
| ladies' dressing-roomS were ladies'
maids, whom l had sent up from my
own establishment, and on the dressing
tables was as bountiful a supply of
combs and brushes and toilet bric-cr
brac as the soul of any woman could
| desire. Nothing was missing, from
pair of curling tongs to powder rag.
Rouge cups We're plentiful, and it was
remarked afterward by the hostess
that never had she seen such thorough
ly-equipped drcssing-rooms.
| How much did all this cost? 1t cost
$1,000. But there was 81 800 worth of
furniture in the house, and the number
of people employed during the twenty
four hours was almost beyond belief
A short time ago did q similar thing
for young married couple. They were
living in little fiat and they wished to
give a grand entertainment. By leasing
1 E J,
and furnishing it, u great deal of space
was added to the already available
room, and everything passed off beauti-
fully. Probably to this day the friends
of that young couple are denouncing
them for their extravaganza in occupy
ing fourteen-room fat, when in real
ity they are living In one which is less
that half that number of rooms.
l am frequently asked what is the
smallest apartment in which can give
a dinner, and always reply that one
room is sufficient. By putting screens
along one side of the room 1 shut out
my preparations from the guests, while,
with the use Of chatting dishes, l serve
the entire dinner from behind the
screen as faultlessly as though l had a
), ! kitchen and buffers pantry from
which to draw.
Very funny things are sometimes
4 done when people wish to give an en-
| tertainmcnt. If a woman comes to me
and says:
Mr. Sherry, I wish to give dinner
, to twenty people and my house is
small"
say to her, MADAM, you may do so,
, but you must let me have my owl way
. with your house"
Then | visit her house, look it over
and plan things like n general before a
battle. If l see that her dining table
is insufficient, her cook stove faulty and
her chairs are not suitable for dinner
say to her:
Can you let me have the entire use
Of your house on the afternoon of the
dinner? You may reserve dressing
rooms foryourself and guests, but beg
!, that you will allow me to take posses
sion of the rest of the house."
If she is n sensible woman she gives
;s way to my Judgment and lets me have
- full swing. On the day of the dinner
~ | send a truck to the house and order
all furniture removed and put into thu
l. truck Out go the offensive dining
Is room chairs, the insufficient table, the
bric-a- brac, the lamps that are in tn,
a. way, the reception room furniture and
- everything not actually needed for thu
dinner. Nothing is left as 1t was eS
cept the parlor and dressing rooms
ie then put small dining-tables in the din
W ing-room and reception-room, place
&c suitable chairs at them, set up q hug
l. gas stove in the kitchen and then an
. ready to give dinner. After the din
-, ner is over the guests drift into the par
re
f.
L.