The times., 1898-12-28
suPpERs FOR NEW YEARS EVE.
A Punch DOwI Entertainment to
Usher I'm the Infant 80.
(from the New York SUM


Usher fn the Infant 30.
(From the New York SUM
To be thoroughly up-to-date one must
be old-fashicned. There Is q rsgs for old
furniture, old styles in portraits ana jew
eiry, ivory miniatures. antique doorAnock-
ers in place of electric bells and candies
in queer silver sticks, which are burned in
smart drawing rooms nowadays instead OF
lamps or gas.
And in this way the old custom of New
Year entertaining is being revived AGAIN.
The good old fashion OF friendly greeting
arouni hospitabie punch bowl which
used to mark the dawn of another year
gradually fell into disuse through its very
popularity. The day which had bcen C -le-
brated by gorgeous toilets, jewels and the
thoroughly pleasant custom of seeing one S
friends sank TO their deadliest common
place. and was finally relegated to the eist
side exclusively, where young ladies issued
cards with colored chromo5 on the cor
ners, bsaring their several names and ad-
dresses printed in bold type. and received
whole clubs in a bunch. the members tTav-
cling from house to house in hired 1unei al
coaches and reaching stage OF Joyous N
ehriety toward the late hours Of the day
that often needed police interference.
For years there has been a growing ig-
noring of the New Years day in town.
People have fed to country houses and
goifed and skated and hunted the young
year into existence. For a time many OF
the old families with whom the custom
of New Years receiving had become al
most rite hung card baskets on the door
bell, so that any stray caller might be
able TO leave his card as reminder of the
fact that he refused to bow to the new
fashion.
II. C. Bunner wrote one of his prettiest
poems on this subject, picturing pathstic-
ally the chagrin and modification OF an
old time gentleman who had each year
made his round OF visits on old friends and
old sweethearts, now matrons with hair as
silver rs his own. For the first time h
found basket on the bell and was forced
to retrace his steps. sad and disguised
with modern ways and fashions.
But even the card basket was taken in
after q year or two and a dreary hiatus OF
empty town houses marked the New
Years Day. This unsocial state of affairs
is giving way to the custom OF informal
entertainment which will be indulged IN
quite freely this year. At any number oi
fashionable homes there will be dinners
and dances to mark the birth of 1899, while
the old year will be taken leave of b.
various informal suppers, delightful in
their lack of conventionality and the SEN
timent which accompanies this important
holiday.
There are any number OF pretty con-
ceils in the way Of decoration for rooms
and tables for these New Year entertain
ments. At one supper which will b.
given tc usher in the New Year the guests
Will assemble about a holly wreatheC
punch bowl Just before the old year dies
Above the bowl will be suspended bel
completely hidden in mistletoe. From tn;
top CT the bell number OF narrow white
satin ribbons will extend to the edge o.
the round table. one ribbon for eacf
guest As the last moments of the yes1
approach a silent toast Will be propose'
each person drinking silently TO what
ever person or object that is dearest Il
his heart. Then as the hands of the clocl
mark the hour of midnight each ribbol
Will be taken up and the bell will chin
sweetly and reverently 4 welcome to tn
gay young year OF SO. at the same tim
sounding its farewell to old '9S.
After this is over the table win be re
moved and the mistletoe bell will b
utilized fer the purposes to which tn
branch is consecrated, with the addition
that for each salute given beneath 1t i
must be rung. To obviate the objection
which some Of the guests may have t.
this feature the generous hostess ha
placed various other boughs of the mistle
the bell accompaniment may be omitted
A punch bowl supper-that is one wher
refreshments are handed round informall
is much jollier and more in keeping wit
the holiday than the more formal repasts
Niands should be selected which will adap
themselves to this purpose. There are, O
course. any number of recipes for punch
each one sworn to by its different admirers
As rule the directions given for mixin
fnz slalO 70 IL -orfN
other preparations concocted for the palat
OF the human animal their chief merit /
simplicity. In 4 champagne punch this rul
is especially true.
a champagne punch. composed by tn
Only William. the eminent ''miXologist,
is made from the following ingredients
One quart of sherry. Two quarts OF Mosellt
one glass Marachino. one Curacao, one c
chartreuse, two OF Benedictine, one pin
brandy. four quarts Of champagne. Firs
strain the juice of six lemons into a bow
with one pound of loaf sugar and tw
quarts OF mineral water. Mix well and ad
the other liquids. with oranges and ba
nanas sliced. Serve ice cold.
A splendid cheese to serve on cracker
is made by mixing pat of butter, a por
ton OF Roquefort and a dash of cayenn
pepper. gradually moistened to smoot
paste with a glass of dry champagne. an
served on toasted crackers Celery shred
ed by a deft hand after it has been 70
several hours in ice water is much bette
than the cut stalk usually served as
salad. 1t is almost impossible to tell ho'
TO shred celery, as it is one Of thos
things culinary which require a peculia
talent. Celery refuses to shred unde
the Impractical hand, while some cool
can make it curl up in dry, light strip
that are particularly palatab,e.
Late Army Orders.