The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-04-01
AFTERNOON TEAS.
rhO Difference Botwoen Them IIcre ana
Ia England.


its downfall has been predicted yet it
goes merrily on and the fashionable
world bows down before it IL only
the cup of tea could realize its inn
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 a
queer thing that would bel" And into
what grand muddle would the world
be plunged!
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 a 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 groan and
talk of their neighbors like the rest OF
the world.
1t is in England that one iinds the
ideal 8 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 orleans 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
drawing-room at 3 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 low table drawn before the
bright fire, set with the daintiest OF
tea things. The kettle sings cheerfully
| on the hearth; the freight fickers
throwing here and there bright CLEAN
upon the group, and shaded lamps shed
all about a 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, It's but for time.
Women love to gossip; they seldom
deny the soft impeachment, and it is
gently whispered that men love it too
And so perchance it may be that Amer
leans are wise and wary, and hesitate
to transplant these fascinating little
| freside 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 n while time seems to stand
still, as one idles and rests, letting the
world with its tireless energy drift
away Instead one receives u card bear
ing the inscription that friend or an
acquaintance will be at home a certain
day between the hours of 3 and or 4
and 7 o'clock. 1t will not be restful or
even gossipy, but a hurried, rushing,
nervous affair Nc 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 with this friend and 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 somewhere in the hall behind
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 ball
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 bedeclled with
flowers and lighted with candles. Cakes
and bonbons are served in abundance,
as we'll 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.
| 4 OMEI I,S IKIMG CNp MuMrEp