The Washington times., 1901-09-22
GOSSIP At TROUVILLE.
One Hostess Way of Kidding the
Table of Telltale Servants.
Guests Made to Wait Upon Them
selves in Novel and Not Trouble
some Manner-Empire Chains and
Kings for Every Day and sunday.

PARIS, Sept 16-Just at present Trou
Vile is cltra-elegant Everybody of an,
Importance is there-this is to say. of tbs
fashionable world-and all meet con
stantiy. especially the promenades
There is also considerable flirting, to bt
sure, but there is more gossip. for that
is the diversion above all else, though II
is not altogether malicious. Among peo-
pie of the world it is not malice which in
spires these remarks, but, nevertheless,
there is more or less delicately pointed
wit inserted into the badinage of their
conversation.
For example, they remark of Madame
L. that she is an old friend of the Prince
de ". but that now they are no longer
friends also that she still possesses many
souvenirs of those same old days, the
recollection of which does not please him.
of course. the story is not true, they
add but at the same time they shrus
their shoulders and make a wry face. No!
MOI Trouville knows of and prattles with
pleasant amiability about all the little in
dulgences of the Partisan world but does
SO in the most delightful manner, and
there in nothing more amusing to a hu-
morous nature than the way in which
the gossips contrive to convey informa-
tion to each other
Gossip is indeed the very handspring of
Trouville life. 1t reigns there as a king.
and in its train carries a veritable court,
the members of which can, between two
little laughs. manage to sandwich a very
large-sized piece of slander. And while
so charming, Ii is not at all a malicious
vagabond, for it never scratches deeply
ii merely graZes the surface of the cuti-
Gle. Moreover. these gossips have the
grace not to attack any of the really ele-
CANT indiscretions. Indeed. gossip has
grown so refined that il has become al
most a consecration.
The only kind of gossip that is tiresome
is that which concerns our own class, and
that it should be known by our interiors
IS even less amusing. for there is certain
ly nothing more chilling to ones delicate
sensibilities. That We are so constantly
talked about is due to a certain bad hab-
it, which we all share in common, of
placing our friends on the culprit stool in
the presence of our domestics-that is.
while we are at the table. for we are all
too apt to forget the existence of our
servants and that they are not automa-
tons.
This very fact has inspired certain
great lady, who is well known, with a
most original idea. In order that Dame
Gossip may have the fullest liberty and
at the same time feel perfectly at her
ease, she has not hesitated to revolution
ize the table service of her own establish
ment In the centre of the table is placed
a turnstile-there is no other word which
SO well describes it-that resembles a
little set of revolving pigeonholes. The
turnstile is divided into three shelves
each having many compartments In the
first are the side dishes and the cold
dishes; in the second are to be found the
warm dishes and in the center the des-
serts and the entrees. 1t turns and each
guest is served without attention from
the hostess. who is thereby enabled TO
dispense with all those trifiing super
fuities of etiquette which would other
wise be expected of her.
Whenever a guest has finished with a
dish he covers his plate and puts ii on
one of those little English stands which
are to be found at he left side of each
person seated at the table On this there
are to be found other covers. as well as
warm and cold plates.
The butler does not enter the dining
room. until it is TING for him to serve the
cheese. which IS noNkept in the turnstile
turing the repsst. because or the odor
While the cheese is being served. the other
plates and covers are taken from the