Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-12-14
THE AFTERNOON TIA.
Hints For the Woman Who Has Never Il
dulged In This Luxury.

uuiStu III lHts Luxury
There is popular impression that
the afternoon tea is favorite ''funo
ton" from Alaska to Florida, and that
there exists no woman who has enough
riends to invite TO anything who has
not given tea. This is mistake. The
afternoon tea is popular, to be sure
The women who have given it are
numbered by the thousands, but the
women who have not given it az
counted by tens of thousands. They
give ''suppers' instead to the village
sewing circle, and invite their friends
to come in during the evening and par
take of cake and cream" These sub
stitutes for the afternoon tea are dis
NAL affairs and should be consigned
to the desutude they deserve. Let the
afternoon tea penetrate even to the
Businesses of villages and become
known among the dwellers in flats.
The first requisites for the successful
giving of this festivity are teacups,
spoons, tea-kettle, doylies, tea-cloth,
cracker-jar, alcohol bottle and tea ball.
These may be of any degree of splen'
dor or of cheapness. There are very
dainty little cups, sprigged with blue,
which may be bought for six cents
each, and there are also wonderful af-
fairs of egg-shell china, tinted like
Towers and guarded by an armor of
silver filagree, which may be bought
for about six dollars each. Between
these there all degrees of fineness and
coarseness.
The tea-llettle is also something
which may be bought for almost any
price. Two dollars will pay for a
bright little brass affair standing over
an alcohol lamp. For little more
one may be bought swinging from
an iron crane. Silver ones and copper
ones are also to be had at various
prices. The alcohol bottle is generally
of cut-glass. Sometimes an old-fash-
Toned decanter is used. The tea ball is
perforated silver affair." into which
the tea leaves are put, and it has lit
tie silver chain, by which it is suspend.
ed in the cup of boiling water. 1t will
cost three dollars or four dollars. The
little spoons, in these days of cheap
silver, may be bought for six dollars a
dozen. The linen is usually embroi.
dered, and may cost almost any price.
Generally, however, the embroidery is
done at home, and the cost of the
cloths and doyles is very materially re-
duced.
Invitations to tea are very inform
al. The hostess sends out her cards
with ''at home" and the date written
in the lower corner. If she designs to
be at home every week she will have
her day engraved in one corner and
will always be prepared to welcome
friends on that day.
The requisites for a successful at
home are white-capped maid to adj
nit the guests, genial hostess and a
pretty girl to sit behind the tea table
in one corner and to dispense tea and
smiles, flowers on some of the tables.
Tea and waters, with, perhaps, few
bonbons, are enough in the line of re-
freshments for an ordinary tea. For a
more formal at home more food, as
well as more ceremony, is required.
When one intends to give an after
noon reception she should have two
rooms reserved for cloak rooms, and
should have her dining room opened
for the tea, leaving the drawing room
free for guests to move about in.
The dining room should be darkened,
the table spread with candles, flowers
and bonbons. At the end young
woman should dispense chocolate and
at the other tea. There should be
waters, biscuits, salad and ices. The
hostess should be, free to welcome the
coming and speed the parting guest
At the smaller sort of affair the host
ess may brew and serve her own tea
from her tea-table corner.-N. Y
| World.