Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-22


ence short time
ego in trying to extricate enough to feed
the ants al the lunching grounds selected
for bicycle party by the girls. Bobbie
had given the preparation OF the luncheon
over to a green servant, and she surely
did make a mess of 1t. She had provided
dishes enough for a dinner party, with fine
napery. silver and glass ware, just as
though We were to be waited on by a
white-gloved, evening-suited corps of train
ed walters, instead of throwing ourselves on
the ground to rest after a hard wheeling
tour, and lazily eating a few daintily pre-
pared viands. That prince of epicures,
Ward McAllister, used to say that If you
had "only salad and a sandwich, and a
glass Of water. have them fresh and free
from mussiness,' appetizingly prepared and
served without formality, with cordially
for sauce, and king would find no fault"
l never could see the sense of packing
car load of crockery and the contents Of
a linen counter to a picnic, where one usu-
ally goes to get away from stiffness and
formaiity, and to have a good time. If the
villain still pursues in the shape of over
fine attire and having to look after the
table paraphernalia lest the servant smash
a lot of ones priced china, or some OF the
impromptu guests "swipe" some of the
silver, one can get but little pleasure out
of the affair
NOW take my ADVICE ana never put your
handsome table linen in the way of ruina-
ton by carrying it to a picnic. The paper
table cloths called Japanese are just as
dainty and sweet as can be and cost less
than the laundering of your linen ones.
Carry dozen old newspapers to put under
the fancy paper ones. For napkins, again
the japanese paper ones are by all ODDS the
proper ones for an al fresco affair. y great
big worry Is saved right there. Then about
dishes; 1t is really very difficult matter
to pack along lot of china, because 1t is
heavy and hard TO handle, and there is al
ways more or less danger of breakaSe.
In Place of China and Silver.
Instead of carrying a lot of these heavy
breakabIe, get as many as needed of. the
clean wooden plates. and deep dish-like
affairs that you get soft stuff in at the
market. You can pack several gross, if
necessary, in very small space, and they
weigh practically nothing. If you do not
like to put salads and things in them, line
them with oiled bakers paper, anu they
can't possibly be Objectionable. Instead CT
glasses and china cups, get as many as
needed of the half-pint cups made OF tin
in the shape of glasses and without han
dies They cost almost nothing, and are
slowed away inside Of each other, taking
but little space.
If YOU carry berries or anything of like
Juicy nature bright new tin bucket, with
a lid that shuts close. is much better than a
big DISH which is liable to overturn and
spill all its contents. Three or four small
dish-shaped tin pans will also answer for
cabbage slaw, salads and such viands. You
can buy nice tin spoons for 10 cents a
dozen. One lost silver spoon will be worth
twenty times as much. Don't turn up your
nose at eating with tin spoons. Some OF
your remote ancestors would have been in
suited at being asked to use spoons instead
of fingers Knives and forks may be had
for a song, and when you have all this out
fit, remember. it will last for two or three
you should lose the whole thing it would
not cost you a single pang.
1t is not always expedient to carry ice to
q small picnic, and the question OF drinks
becomes a burning one on hot day. VI
course you will want lemonade. Roll as
many lemons as you want to use till they
are soft, then cut the end and squeeze out
all the juice. When the juice is all ex-
tracted run 1t through a thin cloth to take
out all the pulp and every seed-those make
lemonade bitter-then put in bowl and
thicken with sugar. Let it stand, stirring
occasionally. until a sirup, then pour into
wide-mouthed bottle and cork, ready to
carry.
Cool Tea and Coffee.
Tea is easily prepared. Put as much tea
as you shall want to use in e bowl and pour
over 1t a quart of hot water and let it
stand to cool. Pour off the liquid in a large
mouthed bottle and cork with clean stop
these drinks will be as strong as I've in that
shape but it Is much better to carry them
in the small quantity, as they take up less
room, and you can weaken when you come
to use. At the lunch. when you go to serve
any one Of them, have buckets of cool
Spring or well water brought. Cool the tin
cups, then half fill them with cool water
and pour into them a tablespoonful or two
of the tea, coffee or lemon juice and you
have deliciously cool drink
To carry butter without ice Is an art. Get
a small unglazed jar-one that will hold as
much butter as you wish to carry-and
scald 1t well. so that it will be perfectly
pure and sweet. Pack the butter in 1t and
put in the ice bcx to harden. Just before
you start wrap a cloth dipped in ice wa
ter all over the butter jar, and set the
whole thing inside of a larger unSazed
jar. Then pour ice water around the cloth
till it is saturated to dripping. set it all in
a tin bucket or basket and cover with two
or three thicknesses of flannel.
The butter will never soften a bit, and
when you come to eat you can put the jar
right on the table, Cream and milk may
be treated in the same way; only bottle
must he used instead of the jar. Pack in
the wet cloth and unglazed jar, for cool
ness. Don't try to carry pie or pudding or
custard to a picnic lunch. They are all out
of place there, because viands of differ
ent nature always taste best. Meat In
some form is absolutely essential.
Generally speaking, meat sandwiches are
the best way to dispose of both bread and
meat, but the way in which the average
sandwich Is made Is enough to give an
epicure the jaundice. They can be made
20 unpalatable that tramp would turn
from them in disgust, or SO Superfine that
one can cat them with "a coming appe-
tte." Sandwich bread should be twenty
four hours old. Rolls should have been
cooling and softening for twelve hours
The bread should be cut as thin as a
wafer, as even as a piece of paper, have
every bit of the crust removed and the
slices should be about three inches wide by
four long. The rolls should be thin, deli
oately Drowned and light as a feather
Tim crisp baking powder biscuit are de-
hcious eating.
As to Sandwiches.
The butter for sandwiches should be as
sweet as the breath of kline, and be spread
evenly and sparingly. The filling will vary
according to taste, but it should be daintily
prepared and OF the best meats. A ham
sandwich may do for a base ball, but it
can be as tender as bit of cake. Minced
ham makes the incest filling. If you slice
it, make it as thin as paper, and be sure to
cut across the grain of the meat and not
along with it.
Better mince it, though Trim it of all
soft fat, gristle and bone, and mince with a
chopping knife till it Is as fine as powder.
If iS imnroyed nv adding a little lean beef