The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-05-01
FOR SMALL ENTERTAINMENTS.
Refreshments Suitable for Informal
Evening Parties.

Just what one should offer to guests
who drop in for a social evening, or
those who make up the little clubs that
are becoming so popular and so numer-
ous, is one of the puzzling queries that
confront the young housekeeper," said
eooking-school teacher at the outset
of lecture on preparing dainty dishes
for small parties.
Il am often appealed to for inforlna-
ton OH luncheon, small dinner and
rather informal tea parties, and l find
that there are many ladies who are
more at a loss as to the management of
these minor functions than they seem
to be where there is much more elab-
orateness and more complicated ar
rangement
1T has become the custom for every
community to hold regular meetings,
either of club a guild, or a reading
or literary circle, and as there are all
ways to be found in these organizations
persons of highly cultivated tastes, but
limited means, there is a tendency so to
limit the cost of the refreshments that
an evening will not be burdensome to
those who have but little of this worlds
goods,
Zone club, composed of 25 members,
agreed at its first meeting to have either
cake and coffee or sandwiches and cot
fee. They have rigidly kept to this
rule, and the club has had most agree
able and prosperous existence. An
other club in the same community, al.
though starting out with equally good
resolutions, has the misfortune to be
handicapped by some members who
cannot refrain from an ostentatious dis
play of their ample means. They sim
Ply Guido themselves when the club
evening comes to them. Wines, con-
feetionery, ice cream, jellies, ported
meats, and almost every like dish, are
provided. OF course, the people enjoy
them, but the occasion is usually
spoken of as Mrs. III feed" and there
is u good deal of quiet amusement on
account of the tremendous amount of
fuss and feathers that always attends
it. Her neighbor, who has but very
limited means, at first refused to join,
because she could not provide such
spread. But as time goes on, there is
less attention paid to the woman who
has money and no taste or discrimina-
ton, and more to the woman who has
tact, taste, and proper sense of what
an old-time philosopher called the eter-
pal fitness of things
"Unless one gives a formal large re-
ception, very simple collation. is SUI
! ficient. Sandwiches and coffee, with
cake, are quite enough for any ordinary
| occasion Cold meats are sometimes
served, but are not at all necessary
| for the club or the smaller evening
| gathering. Most of these close at 1880,
or not later than midnight, and few
members have any wish for hearty
supper at that hour.
"This, of course, applies more espe-
| cially to the clubs in the smaller towns
| and villages, where earlier hours and
more simple habits prevail than in the
cities Other clubs have refreshments,
consisting of crullers, cheese, sand
witches, and chocolate. or cocoa. 1t is
thought to be n great art to prepare
chocolate in the most approved fash
ion, and certainly very few hostesses
are able to present this beverage in its
highest perfection. IN. Y. Ledger.