Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1894-06-14
A DINNER PARTY.
suggestions That May Prove Helpful to
Both the Hostess and Her Guests.

Sugge stions That May Prove Helpful to
Both the Hostess and Her Guests.
For dinner party of six or eight peo-
pie the hostess arranges her guests in
her mind when she plans the entertain
ment and she points out where the sew
eral couples are to seat themselves after
all have entered the dining room.
While receiving her guests in the draw
ing room she mentions to each gentle
man the name of the lady whom he is to
take i'll to dinner as soon as he has paid
his respects to herself, and if he is I'M
acquainted with his partner he is form
ally introduced. On reaching the table
the guests remain standing by their
chaiSs until the hostess is seated.
The eldest lady, or she who is stran-
ger to most of those present, or she who
is most distinguished, goes in to dinner
with the host, he offering her his left
arm. Lit the guest of honor is a man, he
accompanies the hostess, who takes his
left arm, this couple entering the din
ing room last. The host always goes in
first, and he places his dinner partner
at his right, as do all the other men.
There has been much dispute in Amer
lea regarding the proper arm for man
to use when taking woman into the
dining room, but The Delineator, au-
thority for the following, says that the
left is most appropriate. This mode of
escorting her allows her to pass in front
OF him, and her costume is thus not in
his way. Spurs were once worn by most
men of rank with evening dress and are
still used in this way by army officers,
and they are apt to interfere with dra-
peries that are not properly cared for
when one is going to table. The right
arm is proffered for the assistance of
women, save when they are in court cir
Giles or are on their way to the altar.
When dinner is finished, the hostess
bows to the lady at her husbands right,
and at this signal all the ladies rise.
The hostess partner opens the door or
draws back its draperies or, if neither
service is required, he stands beside the
doorway until all the ladies have passed
out, when he joins the other men at the
table for q chat and a smoke unless
there is q smoking room.
Ill COlI00 Is IOG served III Ul0 dining
room, it should be passed in the draw
ing room Or parlor after the entire COM
pany is again assembled, which should
be not more than half an hour after the
termination of the dinner The coffee
should be strong and clear, and while
some like sugar in it and few add
cream it is usually taken without either
as an aid to digestion.
A small dinner is usually followed
by general conversation and perhaps a
little music by one or several of the COM
pany, and the guests take their depar
ture at 10 O'Clock or little later. Such
a dinner will be one of the most delight.
full of social gatherings if the guests
are grouped with discreet regard for
their congeniality and each one strives
to supply his or her part Of the CONVEX
sation and to make others appear to
good advantage.
Failures of the cook, should there be
any, must be passed without continent
either from the host or from the guests.
The hostess must be called upon or a
note Of thanks written to her within a
week after the dinner