The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-04-05
ABOUT DINNER-eIvINo.
Some Hints for Ladies' Who Like This
Form OF Hospitality.

Form OF Hospitality.
Dinner-giving should not be great
tax on any good housekeeper; her
domestic affairs should be so arranged
and in such good running order that
the mere fact of having a few extra
persons to entertain is of very little
moment. Table decoration, to be in
good taste, should be very simple.
There was time, only few years ago,
when we ran into tremendous extremes
in this regard, says a writer in Har-
per's Bazaar. AT dinners favors were
sometimes given, which for many per-
sons II was an embarrassment to accept.
But we have seen the folly of all this,
and have modified our ways, and now
we entertain in n more temperate and
certainly in n much more refined man
ner. Any ostentatious display of wealth
is vulgar, and is generally so consid-
cred.
Candles are used for lighting dinner
tables, chiefly because the light is sup
posed to be softer and more becoming.
These are placed either in single
candlesticks, disposed in some regular
way on the table, or in low candelabra.
Shades are used or not. as one prefers.
If they are used, the table decorations
should be kept harmonious in color.
There is an asbestos lining which can
be bought separate from the shades,
and can be readily used. This prevents
any danger of their burning The
candles themselves should be very
cold, and if they are laid in an ice
chest all day, they will burn evenly,
without any of that disagreeable melt
ing which is so disfiguring to the candle
and so damaging to the candlestick.
There are all sorts and kinds of de-
vices used as substitute for candles,
but the best taste is to have the real
thing, and with just little thought
given to the su bject the wax candles
ought to burn satisfactorily. Small
lamps are often used, and sometimes
there is no light on the table itself,
illumination depending entirely upon a
drop-light, which, with a handsome
shade, casts a mellow glow on the
table, and is absolutely no trouble at
all to arrange. L have seen a pretty
effect produced, when there was a
chandelier directly over the table, by
arranging an open japanese umbrella
so that the light was softly diffused
through this medium, and at the same
time ones head was protected from the
heat of the gas.
Flowers should be odorless, if pos
sible, when used for n dinner-table
decoration, as strong-scented blossoms
are apt to make some persons feel faint.
OF course violets, roses and the like
would not come under the head of
heavy perfumes. The floral decoration
should be kept low, so as not to OBJ
struct the view across the table. A
boutonniere as often placed at each
gentleman's plate, and long-stemmed
rose at each lady's. 1t is pretty fash
ion, sometimes observed, to put few
violets in each finger-bOwl. The center
piece can be so arranged as to be fash
ioned of n number of bouquets, so that
after dinner the man or maid can pass
tray upon which these bouquets are
placed, and each lady may select her
own.
Besides the flowers and the candles
there are also placed on the table
quaint silver bonbon-dishes containing
candies cake etc