The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-05-26

MADE 10 increase tho SEAT
pacity OF the state dining-room.
j original table was a rectangular
affair seating Sc guests. When this
became inadequate she'll was con-
structed similar in outline to the fig
ure s, which placed atop the table in
creased the seating capacity to so.
The number of guests, then, con-
trolls the choice of a dining room.
During the afternoon the table is pre-
pared and its setting arranged. For
this purpose the steward chooses one
of the many sets of china belonging
to the White House. Each mistress
of the White House has exercised her
inclination in the choice Of a service
and handed it down to succeeding
administrations as valuable souvenir
of the makers art during that period.
All the White House services are
decorated in the best Of taste. The
coat of-arms of the United States is
included in the decoration. The sill
yer and glass service is extremely
modest. There is none OF the wealth
of silver and cut glass so frequently
displayed on the tables of many of
our multi-millionaires. The glasses
are cut simply with the presidents
coat of-arms. The spoons and knives
and forks are marked. democratically,
Presidents House.
The decoration of state dining table
is always marked by extreme modesty.
There is no attempt at elaborate dis
play. Numerous bouquets of choice
roses or orchids are scattered along
the centre, and bouquets and bout
tonnieres of similar flowers placed by
tho plates Of the ladies and gentle
men. All is so arranged that, though
the table presents vision of unusual
beauty. there is no sense OF the over
powering in decoration.
A score of walters are employed to
serve the dinners. These are readily
secured in Washington, where the
waiter is at his best. The walters
are usually colored men, though un-
der the Harrison administration
Steward McKim chose white walters
in preference. This unique departure
has not bean followed by his success
sor.
It is impossible to furnish in detail
any estimate Of the materials and foods
used in the preparation of sta Q
dinner. When it is considered that
only the choicest bits are served, the
supplies purchased for dinner of 20
must be something extraordinary. A
roast of lamb or q fillet OF beef, for
instance, is served but to four or five
persons and the choicest morsels only
are eaten. OF fowl the breast alone
is carved. The same fastidiousness
is observed throughout every course.
There are never more than IL
courses to White House dinner. As
q usual thing the courses range in
number from eight to ~. They are
served without haste, but still in
such succession that the dinner may
not seem to drag. An entire dinner
in this manner is served within two
hours, and some OF the most noted
dinners of the last two years have
been served in even less time. As
the dinners always begin at o'clock,
the White House guests are not given
to late hours.
Official procedure at a state dinner
is one OF the most delicate questions
with which its managers have to deal.
There is no one more sensitive than
the average diplomat. At . diplo-
matte dinner procedure is determined
by the official rank of the guest and
his seniority in point of service in
Washington. So we'll are these grad
nations established that an error
would be inexcusabie. All confusion,
however, is avoided by custom