Evening star., 1898-12-31
Copyright, 1895, by John Brisben Walker)
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, Dec ember 30. 1898.
The tea as an institution is supposed to
have fallen, pulled down by the weight of
its own popularity. Every winter it is
prophesied that the debutantes will be in
troduced after some other fashion.
Years ago say the croakers, the hostess
at an afternoon tea wore evening dress,
and the entertainment had the dignity of
a function. But the incOngruity between
barred shoulders and cleaning jewels on
the part of the ladies of the house and
street dress with furs and hats, as worn
by the scores and ffties of their guests,
brought about change; and with thu
adoption of informal dress the tea became
an unimportant entertainment.
All of which is true, more or less; and
yet teas have multiplied and-differentiat-
ed. Dec emher saw more debutantes' teas
tran ever before, with corresponding dis
play OF white lace gowns and stacks of
bcquets. And January and February will
see teas that are receptions, teas that are
musicales, teas that are afternoons and
teas that are nothing whatever but the
dropping in of half dozen friendly gos-
sips to drink little lukewarm water and
lemon juice.
And the costumes vary accordingly, from
the most elaborate reception dress 10 the
E-0st informal tea jacket or tea gown.
In the serving of tea one or two novelties
are noted. Lemon tongs have been intro
ducsd by few hOstesses in place of the
two-tined forks with which the slices have
customarily been speared. The tongs have
longer handles than sugar tongs, but differ
from them little that the articles are
almost Interchangeable.
China Matches Other Effects
If one sort of china is in favor above an
other, the woman who has an oriental tea
room chooses Japanese designs; while
others incline 10 slightly fiarng cups of
esS-sheH thinness. lightly fiutcd and snowy
decorations in gold and color on cream
ground. Though essentially modern, these
are called colonial
For eHbniiishing the table odd effects are
sought At ore Of the most imposing of
the debutantes' teas partridge berries and
moss Were used effectively. the moss being
OF delicate grayish green variety from
which the scarlet berries seemed growing.
Ine use OF Il single color or of graduated
shades Of one color for china. candle shades
ana howers is good deal of a hobby and
since a considerable part of the feminine
wardrobe this winter is blood red it fol-
lows that the same tint rules at the tea ta-
BILE. To this eager pursuit of color fad
there are drawbacks.
WI by. you Look like a college of car
nlndiS! SAID a woman dropping in at n
ieu Tea dtlenQeI Dy red-dreSSed women.
And what is the natter?" she continued
addressing a couple of bosom friends
.HaFe you quarreled. or have you been out
IN sharp wind. or-oh, / see; it's the red
lamp shades Plain good humor isn't hec-
Tic. bgt II you get too close to ruby shade
you're sure yoIre not fevcriSh?"
Both women profesSed good health and
good hUmor.
Warm Tones Popular.
But tie massinS of colors can be made to
produce most excellent effects. At a tea
given few days ago in the room of a Bar.
nard College student the table was deep
toned and fragrant with carnations In the
middle a ruby glass vase held dark red
flowers relieved by delicate ferns and mai
denhair. At the corners were punches of
pale red carnations arranged in discs unou
mats of ferns Directly over the table HIM,
"ne-sIcbc chandelier covered bv red
silk shade whose full umbrella folds were
Calculated to throw warm glow of color
upon the table only. and not into the faces
OF guests sufficiently young and BLOOMING
TO hspenSe with artificial bushes
The only table arrangement approyjrnat-
ing novelty that | have lately seen was ot
luHcheon-uOt at q tea. Deep oranee-r,a,I
mandarins. pale yellow oranges and bright
yellow lemons were heaped upon ye1lnv,
SILK with an intermingling of orange
leaves. huds and opening flowers novel
dish served. which has been a feature also
At recent teas, was salad made from a
1rult resembling in appearance a small vel
low tomato, but in favor claiming XII shin
with the orange. The "kumquart" is a