Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-08

provided for the entertainment The
lady was greatly opposed 70 giving a
reception IN public hall Suddenly an
idea occurred 10 re. and said:
Madam, w0ald you rot like 10 have
the use OF that large and elegant man
sion which stands ysscant next door 70
you for this 0ecasi0n2 / can furnish IL
completely, and viii 50 arrange every
thing that il viii seem on the evening
of the reception just as II yon really
lived there"
The idea pleased her immensely. and
I accordingly set to work upon my
preparations. I found could hire the
mansion for one day; and after eon-
sulting upholsterers and furniture deal
ers learned that between sunrise and
sunset of the evenkful day the mansion.
immense though IL was, could be com
pletely furnished.
When the day arrived | must confess
i was somewhat nervous over the en-
terta.inment, for the undertaking was
really a stupendous one. But by seven
o'clock 1T night all was complete. and
Us looked il over 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 were hung with handsome
curtains. The walls were covered with
port,eres and pictures, while the man
tel shelves and cabinets were plentiful
" adorned with bric-a-brac. Very
artistic and very antique bits of fur
niture were scattered about the house,
and there were touches and folding
beds and all things To indicate that u
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-a-
brac as the soul of any woman could
desire. Nothing was missing, from a
pair Of curling tongs TO a powder rag.
Rouge cups were plentiful, and it was
remarked afterward by the hostess
that never had she seen such thorough
ly-equipped dressing-rooms.
How much did all this cost? 1t cost
$1,000 Bat there was 81, 500 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 a similar thing
for young married couple. They were
living in a little Hat ard they wished to
give grand entertainment By leasing
the apartment next to them for one day
and furnishing it, 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 denorncing
them for their extravaganza in occupy
ing a fourteen-room fat, when in real
ity they are living in one which is less
that half that number of rooms.
/ 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 shut out
my preparations from the guests, while,
with the use of chatting dishes, ! 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
done when people wish to give an en-
| tertainment. If woman comes to me
and says:
| Mr.. Sherry, I wish 70 give q dinner
TO twenty people and my house is
small"
/ say to her, Madam, you may DO SO,
but you must let me have my owu way
with your house"
Then visit her house, look it over
aud plan things like general before a
battle. If | see that her dining table
| is insufficient, her cook stove faulty and
| her chairs arc 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
| that you will allow me to take posses
! sion of the rest Of the house."
| If she is a sensible woman she gives
way TO my Judgment and lets me have
| full swing. On the day of the dinner
| I send a truck to the house and order
all furniture removed and put into the
truck. Out go the offensive dining
room chairs, the insufficient table. the
bric-a-brac. the lamps that are in the
way. the reception room furniture and
| everything not actually needed for the
| dinner. Nothing is left as 1T was ex-
cept the parlor and dressing rooms. I
then put small dining tables in the din
| ing-room and reception-room, place
suitable chairs at them, set up huge
| gas stove in the kitchen and then / am
ready 10 give dinner. After the din
ner is over the guests drift into the par
| lor. and in less than an hour and some
| times in half an hour have the dining
tables removed and all things,set back
| just as they were before. The hostess
can throw open her doors and have
dancing or whatever she pleases, while
/ her guests marvel at the quickness and
| quietness with which her household
machinery moves
AS ! said in the beginning, you can
have anything and everything you want
IL you are willing TO pay for it.
Louis SHERRY.