The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1895-03-22
Luncheons and suppers.

For formal luncheons preference II,
given to the polished table, covered onlv
i'll the center and under each plate.
Broad ribbon is often folded or laid fla,
around the center. or from end to end ON
each side, holding all the bonbon dishes
ana perhaps small candesticks. A prer
ty erect Is impaired by placing large
bow OF wide ribbon ut each corner. tho
loops being cut and so spread out as to
form six ends laid fiat, each one holding y
tiny dish Of sweets. olives or almonds
Such scheme would be detra cted from
by additional arrangement of doilies and
ribbons on the polished surface. 1t needs
only the central figure, these four cen
with their proper articles.
1t is easy to get too much on the tahl,.
Keep away the crowded look prolucai
by variety of elegancies.
The massing of individual bouquets in
close bank around the center vase, or
epergne, is simple arrangement that i,
always artistic. A ribbon end reaches to
each cover. and at the end of the meal
the decorated bank appropriately resolve,
itself into separate punches thus suitably
proionglng their decorative service At a
violet luncheon given recently by IL mod
est entertainer two beautiful orchids and
two large maiden-hair ferns responded to
the pull of each long violet streamer
Luncheon. suppers and the Sun,la
night teas are generally served upon the
polished table. If there is not one availa
bic white cloth of fine. neatly -ironed
linen is always in vogue.
Designs are largely all over. but no
especial style is advocated in the sb0ps.
where, it is said, fancy dictates choice.
Open drawn work is too difficult to laun-
der to continue popular and coarse laccs
also seem to have fallen into disuse.
Effects are fine and dainty. Boiling
cloth squares, painted, drawn and EN-
broldered. are as exquisite covering as
one need wish for ccnterpieces and sep
arate covers. Irish point is highly rec
commended for many reasons 1t wears
well and is beautiful and effective. cspc-
c1al!y so as setting for cut glass and
dark wood.
Satin covers are considered too snowy.
they are not sufficiently dainty for all
surroundings. Extreme and massive clc-
gancc is the fit accompaniment of brill
iant gorgeous satin spreads. Lofty
rooms, rich wood carvings. heavy furni-
ture. gold plate, and altogether paIatia]
atmosphere may permit the use Of Il
"thick-as-a-aboarl" satin cover, which it
should be if at all.
Harmony ought to be the watchwortl
III any moment of extra table effort TO
overload with Il profusion of ornamental
ton because it is possessed is Il poor
reason for spelling what otherwise might
pc beautiful. Harmony in china is a
trst principle. A mixture of Japanese,
French. German, English and other
styles at one table is not effective. A
series of plates. each kind differing for
each course, is permitted: a variety. how
ever, OF odd plates and small dishes rep
resentlng characteristic workmanship is
III poor taste. and one beauty is very ant
to destroy another.
glassware and silver fall in line any
where, but to use cups and saucerS of
Japanese, plates of Haviland and plat
tcrs OF some other sort is not a good
selection. Have the general plan of the
"a PIE service i'll one style, then Il few odd
dlshes are pleasant variety In max
ing purchases it is we'll to keep this idc,
III the mind, else one may accumulate a
lot OF homogeneous designs that preclude
pretty or tasteful arrangements