The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-01
FOR FEMININE READING
LITTLE CHANGE MADE IN LAYING
THE MODERN DINNER TABLE.
Girls Should Read Something Else
Repose-FashiOn's Latest Behests.

Sherry, the fashionable New York caterer,
discoursed to Times reporter lately on the
way of setting the dinner table. we'll
laid table he describes thus:
AT each cover is placed a service plate,
on which is placed the napkin; at the right
side are two knives of uniform size, and
at the left their companion forks; resting
against the plate at the right side, near
the handles of the knives, 10 the oyster
fork; at the head of the plate is the individ-
ual open salt dish of china glass or sill
yer. and little away from ID a pepper
stand. There may be tiny salt spoon, but
this is not necessary; at the right of the
knives is the soup spoon, which is the av
erage-sized tablespoon. AT the right, too.
are placed in two rows, five goblets of
rying size. but similar in shape and design.
The larger is for the water served, be it
mineral or plain. the second size for cham
payne, the smallest size for sherry, and the
two others for red or white wine, respect
lively. Everything is laid with absolute ac-
curacy and uniformity al each place-a
point the average servant needs much
training upon,
1t will be noticed that the salad fork is
missing. Sherry does not believe in such
an array of utensils. He says, too, that he
does not use salad forks, so called his
forks are all of one size, a medium one,
and only the two to go with the knives for
the meat and the game are placed on the
table, the others being supplied as they are
needed. Sherry never uses dessert spoons.
With ices" he says, II offer a fork and
teaspoon, though the choice of a fork is
practically universal; for any desert too
soft for a fork j use teaspoon: the desert
spoon Is too large for such service and too
required"
Questioned about the use of bread and
nifcant protest. ABSOLUTELY i never l do
not own a butter plate. / never-this is
irrevocable-serve butter at any dinner or
should /? Everything is accompanied by
It's own sauce or relish, always sufficiently
rich, and butter is as unnecessary as the
traditional fifth cart wheel. 1t is never
used at the private tables of those New
York families who live correctly. Occa-
sionaiiy l have a protest; ! did not long
self each year. One of the guests,
a man. came to me to give or
der. saying at the same time that he had
recently dined here and was much disap-
pointed. OF course, i urged an explicit
statement. and he finally told me that.
first, there was no butter. to which plead
in that particular was invariable. Then
he was offered terrapin and canvasbacks.
/ sorry. but that was the fault of
the committee who had selected the dishes.
His chief grievance. evidently, was the
butter. For the furnishing of my new res
taurant I shall have to have butter plates.
but, at least, 1 shall not serve the little
pats of butter that are usually seen in
such places. On each table there will be
small dishes-ravies, they are called in
French-with square of butter in ice, and
from this the attendant will replenish the
small individual butter plates, of which
now. for the first time, 1 must become
owner"
1t was noticed that the knives were steel
bladed and with a good edge, another point
that is a prime essential to the comfort of
the diner. They are of the caterers own
design, evolved after considerable study
of the subject, Sherry's speciality being
simplicity of effect with the greatest at
tention to detail. In cutting, the angle
at which the knife is held makes the round
end or dull part of the knife do the work,
the sharp part of the blade being just be-
low this The knife seen has blade.
curved at the end, and ii is this curve
which receives the keenest edge. and in
consequence excellently accompliShes its
work.
The color dinner, it was found, is not
highly esteemed. There should be har-
mOny. but not monotony. Vioets rose
petals are still used in finger bowls. To
sum up. the aim of modern elegant tables
is exquisite daintineSs. and a fine. rather
than an excessively ornate. richness, COM
bined with the minimum Of simplicity
oossible with convenience.