Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-21

fashionable and luxurious mistake there Is
now a substantial repast served to vigorous
guests in wheeling array, who are 100 num-
cry after a long spin to pay any Difference
to the approaching dinner hour or TO take
the time and trouble to shed the short
skirt for the fascinating comelhess OF the
trailing, clinging tea gown.
certain mannish FREEDMAN air "f
emancipation-has invaded the tea table
outfit also, even for the conventional re-
ception afternoon. saw marked IN
stance of this last week in magnificent
mansion on upper 5th avenue. 1t was
the weekly 'at home" Of the hostess. and.
to parody Shakespeare, luxury waited on
hospitality. Lest the sinking Sun should
glow across the park and through the
an intensity too brutality unbecoming. cur
tains rich enough for princess bridal
veil were drawn closely together under
the heavy white satin ones which hung
that muffled the sunbeams; in the fireplace
generous logs blaZed and cracked upon
andirons that did service across the sea
centuries ago. and for which the present
owner paid "a kings ransom" pale flow
ers were woven in the Aubusson tapestry
of the chairs. and black oak furniture
carved in Antwerp. was visible In the din
Ing room beyond the antique arras-all
was tremendously rich and elegant except
the tea table. That was almost defiant In
the contrast it offered. We missed the
squatty, Queen Anne teapot, the "egg-
SHELF cups, the heirloom silver caddy. the
thin slices of bread and butter. and the
frivolous little cakes, 50 recently consid-
cred the sum of all the essentials for a
we'll appointed tea table.
An Athletic Tea Table.
We saw, instead, the common earthen-
ware teapot of Shanghai which, 1t must be
admitted, does preserve the leaves from
the ordinary STEPPED bitterness: large,
heavy glass tumblers. intended for quaffs
rather than for sips; Black Forest peas
ant bottle, holding the genial Jamaica: the
original small. fiat, oblong tin canisters in
which the mandarin tea, worth almost its
weight in gold, was fmported-in fact. to
caddy the tea would now be categorical
with uecanting the champagne a lib
eral variety of hearty sandwiches. These
were spread with shrimp and mayonnaise:
cucumber slices mixed with mayonnaise.
slightly stiftened with aspic jelly; grated
beef and chopped gherkins; cavfare stirred
with little finely chopped onion; but those
supplied most abundantly. proving their
popularity, were spread with faxed fish
any firm white fish can be used-moistened
with tartare sauce.
About Table Decoration.
The color scheme in table decoration
reached a desperate pitch at a recent
led to a black and white effect. The fine
French porcelain had outline sketches in
black the flowers were all white, the lace
cover was laid over black satin, the candle
light struggled through black silk shades.
and the guests wore white gowns, with
Yvete Guilbert gloves.
A charming antidote for this morbid ef-
fort may be found in the orchid luncheon
arranged by a hostess Of exquisite taste.
whose entertainments are always marked
90 fn1
Over the table, from one Of the heavy oak
beams Of the low, quaint dining room, hung,
paraSitfcally, some trailing branches of the
gorgeous tropical beauties; the candles were
shaded with clever silken copies OF the real
orchid blossoms, and in place of the usual
claret Jugs were clear white glass bottles of
wine, each containing long orchid. to give
the wine flavor and to be eaten after it is
drunk. This valuable vintage was the gift
of a Chinese viceroy, and is rarely seen,
even in China.
Vegetables are again in use for culinary
decorations. and although the turnip
japonicas and carrot roses are still thrust
into a barbarous PAST, these homefy roots
are much In demand in the shape of stars
crescents. hearts. leaves and other little
thin, unobtrusive garnishes. The cutters
are in many sizes and designs. and are sold
in sets of a dozen or more The smallest
size cuts the fleur-6e-lis. or clover leaf, or
shapes the garnishes for the salmi or
salad, and the largest of all is used to
form the pastry for the pate. Therefore. If
clover leaves float over the surface Of the
soup the vol-au-veut will be a clover leaf
also.
Up-to-Date Soap Bubbles.
This ever-charming fund Of entertainment
has been SO improved by science that 1t
has become a popular delight for seniors
as well as for youngsters. Instead Of the
old-fashioned mixture of soap and water, a
a hui mt I'd
of glycerine with two-thirds oleis acid
soda is used. The bubbles. less sensitive
than the ordinary ones. can be blown to a
huge size and will last from half an hour
to q whole hour. The mixture may be d.
vfded among small receptacles. variously
cclored with dyes, and blown as large as
the toy balloons so beloved of children.
Then. II attached to brackets. mantels and
other vantage points around the room,
they will hang in close resemblance of
Chinese lanterns.
The Examination.