The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-10-06
1 FIVE DOLLAR FEAST
How a Lunch for Twenty Women
Was Prepared at This
Moderate Cost.

Moderate Cost.
Yesterday. as soon after noon as polite
ness would allow them, for the hour was
one o'clock, the ladies of the Half Hour
Reading Club, OF acknowledgements at
the home Of the president. Mrs. FEEDER
lex Buckley. No. 215 North Sixth street,
to discuss the first luncheon Of the club
year, says the Newark Sunday Call.s
To say that considerable interest in the
success Of the venture is manifest
throughout the wide circle Of the club
members friends is using a mild term,
for the feminine mind has been on edge
at the prospect Of the first luncheon. and
the curiosity as to what It is possible to
serve, substantial and otherwise, for
twenty people al an expense not exceed
ing So. The tables were prettily laid with
covers for the twenty, two smaller ones,
seating four each, at the side Of the large
dining table, and all ablaze with light
from softly shaded lamps. Over the large
table the chandelier was festooned with
fine asparagus vine ard ferns. while the
centre pieces were Marshal Neil roses. the
club color being yellow. and the feathery
vines. At each place the name card was
daintily gilded, tied with yellow ribbons
and some appropriate quotation. traced
in gilt upon 1t. The card at Mrs. Yard
iey's plate had the following quotation,
and the others were similar:-"A good
book Is the precious life blood of a master
spirit. embalmed and treasured up on pur-
pose to a life beyond life.o-Milton.
OF course, the club is literary, and these
quotations a v the little touch of litera-
ture to the luncheon, but the mind was
not to be diverted from the practical part
the menu-because, later. the members
were required to give three-minute talks
in the parlor. The menu was as follow
oysters on the half shell.
Bouillon.
Chicken croquettes. French peas.
Potatoes boulettes.
Tomato salad, m~ayonnaise dressing.
Biscuit.
Olives. Waters. Cheese.
Snow pudding, custard sauce.
Lady fingers.
Sailed peanuts. Crystalized ginger.
Such was the luncheon Mrs. Buckley set
before her guests, and one that She
firmly declares did not cost her more than
five dollars. There is a fine Of twenty-five
cents for every five cents in excess of the
stipulated amount, and as Mrs. Bickley
has had the experience of giving Just such
a luncheon before. when a member Of the
Ia &tQDsF VI
vile, it was only fair that she should give
the rest Of the ladies the benefit of her ex-
perience. If any one should be very hum
cry and require a second helping, ii could
be had in the vegetables, and three might
have a. chicken ~croQuette, for the amount
Of chicken used made exactly twenty
cost only ten cents, because the liquor
from the chicken. with the addition Of a
pound Of beef and q soup bone, made 1t.
While the meat was used in the household
and the divided expense made the bouillon
for the club luncheon only ten cents. The
relishes are not 50 bountifully supplied,
but amply sufficient, unless a club mem
Der has entertained a grudge against the
hostess and tasted the day Before in order
to oblige ner to pay a fine. The luncheon
for SIS includes the cost of materials only.
The decorations and accessories are to be
furnished at the discretion OF the hostess.
In his case Mrs. Buckley happened to
low to serve several courses upon, which
made 1t very attractive in the club colors,
while several Of the ladies wore yellow
ribbons, and the violets in the finger bowls
After the subject Of the luncheon was
discussed and the hostess called strictly
to a~ecount-for the menu and the tenn
~retary-the ladies adjourned to the par.
lor for the literary part of the afternoon
Mrs y Fgederiek Bieaklsy had spent her time
talked upon. the nude In art. Mrs. Charles
Buckley had gained a closer view of the
German people py reading history, while
Mrs. Hampton said she had been greatly
interested in Green's History of the En-
glsh People and Emerson,s Essays. Mrs.
Robert Matches gave an entertaining ac-
count of Tristan and Isolde" of German
opera fame. and Mrs. Remington told
what she had read of art. The club draws
the line at current fiction, though stand
nice question to place the dividing line
around standard fiction. but the conclu-
sion was that standard fiction did not in
rlll6A living af1fharS ~ Ono rpareho~ r-l,1
had been reading Stevenson was delighted
to find that such recent literature could
be read and counted. as reading for the
club. The first day was voted a great
/ success by all