Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-04-21
AFTERNOON TEAS.
The Difference Between Them Here and
 In England.

In EnSInnus
 Great is the fad for the afternoon tea And though for many long day it's downfall has been predicted, yet it goes merrily on and the fashionable world bows down before it If only the cup of tea could realize its im- portance, its responsibilities and oppor- tunities, and if by chance it could tell the secrets, the bits of gossip, which have floated just above ito, what queer thing that would be-" And into what grand muddle would the world be plungcdl
 Varied and different, however, are the ways and the whims of afternoon teas. For the cup of tea is not an aris- tocrat entirely, as its present high social position would seem to denote, but democrat and a bohemian, pene- trating into all walks of life, from the artistic and social even to the humblest and lowest For instance, who has not the picture in mind of two old women hobnobbing cheerily over their after noon cup of tea after day of hard, wearisome labor. The kettle sings just as merrily for them, in spite of the signs of poverty all about, as they tell of their woes with many a groan and
 K of their ncighbors like the rest of the world.
 It is in England that one finds the ideal o'clock tea, the charming half hour one reads about in stories and talks of with friends who have lived in England and enjoyed them. Very diff ferent are they from the kind one is in- vited to in this country. Itwould seem that it is hard for Anne ricans to grasp the idea that there is or could be an hour in the day set apart for rest and cheer and happy idling. In this coun- try truly has the afternoon tea wan dered far from its original vocation, far from the restful cup of tea sent to the drawingroom at in the afternoon when any chance visitor or intimate friend may be present One has visions of beautiful, well-dressed women lean ing back in low, soft chairs, lazily sip ping their tea and talking of whatso- ever is going on in the busy world. There is a low table drawn before the bright fire, set with the daintiest of tea things. The kettle sings cheerfully on the hearth; the firelight flickers, throwing here and there bright gleam upon the group, and shaded lamps shed all about subdued light. All speaks of rest, happiness. and prosperity.
 The picture is a charming one. Old friends grow confidential, and if per haps Dame Rumor enters and gossip reigns supreme, 'tis but for time Women love to gossip; they seldom deny the soft impea chment, and it is gently whispered that men love it too. And so perchance it may be that Amer jeans are wise and wary, and hesitate to transplant these fascinating little fireside hooks of gossip to their country.
 However that may be, they have not come, and there is missing one of the charming things in life, for there is no enchanted hour during the whole day when for a while time seems to stand still, as one idles and rests, letting the world with it's tireless energy drift away. Instead one receives card bear ing the inscription that friend or an acquaintance will be at home a certain day between the hours of and or and o'clock. It will not be restful or even gossipy, but a hurried, rushing, nervous affair. No one says what he or she really thinks, or indeed has time to say much of anything. The crowd jostles one here and there, and there is a word W1Ln UnlS one With that The honse is heated to the last degree, brilliantly lighted and elabor- ately decorated with flowers, palms and ferns. A mandolin orchestra is stationed some where in the hall behind a screen of plants, but it is never heard. All is noise and confusion, and about everything there is the appearance of festival The hostess receives in a decollete gown-in fact a regular bal costume, and this of itself makes the affair formal. The guests are arrayed in their best visiting costumes-their very latest gowns from the most fash ionable tailor-and they are so costly that they fear to approach the dining room to get the cup of tea for which they came.
 Usually the table is bedecked with flowers and lighted with candles Cakes and bonbons are served in abundance, as well as chocolate, tea and punch. Fair debutantes in ball costumes pre- side at the table, to pour for one the much neglected cup. So the whirl goes on. The name of the afternoon tea proves it fad or fancy, for in reality these entertainments, if such they may
 be called, are receptions, and one may still retain an ideal of what an after noon tea may be.-Chicago Tribune. Y