The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-02

her for the kind that was used In the land
of the Midnight sun IL would be produced
from the same teapot and served either IN
IL whiskey glass or in a soda tumbler. To
her way of thinking it is the cup or glass
that d~inerentiates. There is one house
that pridos itself on the strength Of its
tea. Drink anything but tea in this
house. IL Is a mixture Of the strongest
black and tho strongest green tea that can
be gotten. a great quantity is put In the
teapot. boiling wafer is added, and If you
receive the first cup and have nerves of
iron YOU might endure it, but that tea
stews all afternoon. and when anyone
wonder why IL is 50 bitter the hostess
smiles and looks as delighted as possible.
while she suggests that probably you are
not used to strong tea.
Sugar dumped in by the pound would
not make that tea drinkalle. and really
and truly il is. in its strength. absolutely
poisonous. There are degrees between The
house where Slop is offered and the one
where strychnine is presented. but there
is always wisdom. when you go TO an
afternoon tea. in taking a glass Of sherry.
SOUVENIRS OUT OF FASHION.
The woman who feels that she would
like TO entertain "A few Of her friends. but
not cxtravagantly. hcsitates over a ladies'
luncheon. she who hcsitates is lost. La
dies at a luncheon are very much like
small children at a party. They are not
satisfied with eating all they want at the
party. they expect 10 take home a SOU
venir. All the newspapers in the world
can say that souvenirs are ont of fashion,
and ii may be the truth. but YOU give a
luncheon 10 ladies and enjoy, II you can,
the look Of disappointment on each sweet
face when she finds that even the owes
in the centre Of the table are not to be
dragged apart and distributed among the
guests. This desire TO carry something
away exists in all women. 1t Is a vulgar
streak. but II is just as strong in Mrs.
Blueblood and Mrs. Millionaire as it IS in
Mrs. Shoddy and Mrs. Poverty. There
have been times when some brave woman
has limited her souvenir to a nower-a
great rose or a stately lily-but she has
always regretted 1t. Wome long for
some rubbishy piece OF china. tied up with
ribbon, and filled with miserable little
sweets. hard as bullets. and calculated 10
break the teeth Of whoever tries TO eat
them. But a woman will lunch off OF
soppy crOquettes, Il half-cooked bird, a
badly-dressed salad. ices that are melting
only too quickly. coffee lacking in
strength. and sweets limited as to sugar.
and announce that she has been to the
most perfect luncheon of the season if
she can carry home a small toy which
rings as You turn it round. a four by five
china box. filled with hard. round, little
candies, and a paper lamp shade. There
seems TO be more satisfaction in the accu-
mutation Of rubbish than In the absorp-
ton of good food.
The average man doesn't know what to
do with a souvenir: he rather likes n flow
er to stick in his buttonhole. but, when IL
comes to carrying home anything In the
shape OF china or glass or silver. he feels.
properly enough. like a thief. By-the-bye.
It's pleasant TO hear that sunshine is CON-
Ing in fashion. BY this. / mean that by