Evening star., 1901-12-14

I'"to burn" silk and lace tablecloths to throw
away after each nusing and viands so
| ethereal that they have to be tied together
| with bolts Of baby ribbon it is high time to
| call a halt as We are getting parious close
| to Greek and Roman effeminacy that pre-
ceded the fall of those empires What has
!, become of the good sense with which our
Puritan ancestors endowed us? Are we get
/ ting to be a nation of cads, a race of de-
| generates, people wholly given over to friv-
| OILS? fsT
| l--.I--
That the Christmas dinner table should
| be picture for tfe-eye goes without say
| ing. The bare mahogany is beautiful-but
comparatively few have mahogany, and its
| usage for a family dinner involves much
| after labor in polishing it up. The fair
! white cloth is alwaystappropriate and in
| good taste. A handsome centerpiece, en-
| broidered or of lace drawn work, adds
much to the beauty OF the table, and is ap-
| propriate in that its position keeps it from
| the liability of stain or soil. On this should
| be the bowl of Christm holly or an at
| tractive dish or basket of nuts and fruit
| wreathed with holly Sprigs of holly at
| each plate. candles with scarlet shades-if
ths table needs lighting, the brightest sill
ver-the clearest glass-the prettiest dishes
that the house affords-all these are in
keeping with the day, while each has its
urdisputed reason for being.
If during the holidays you are going to
have small company, and want a pretty
and effective roast that will just go round,
order a crown roast of lamb from your
butcher.
If he understands the niceties of his trade
he will take the tender rib chops and tie
them standing into crown-shaped roast,
leaving hollow opening in the center to be
filled with a forcenieat This is then roast
ed in a medium hot oven, basted often and
sent to the table with a garniSh of parsley
and a border of peas. White roses of po-
tatces or turnips are sometimes used to
cover the ends of the chop bones. In carv-
ing rib with some of the forcemeat is
given each guest. This SimplifieS the cary
ing which is sometimes a matter of dread
to the inexperienced. The crown roast
costs but little more than the rib chops
and gives a festive touch to accompany
dinner.
To make potato roses select round in
stead of long potatoes. Peel carefully, re-
moving every suspicion of the skin; then,
with a sharp, flexible knife, cut round and
round as if pairing an apple, taking care
not to break the cuttings until the potatoes
are used up. Fry in kettle of deep fat.
Sprinkle salt over them and drain.
With the shadow of the New Year almost
upon the threshold, hundreds of women
are again deciding to begin a cash account
and "see what the actual cost of living is
Unfortunately this is one of those good
resolutions that are annually made and in
the great majority of cases annually bro
ken. 'If you want women to keep books"
said domestic science teacher, you must
make it easy for them. They do not take
to it naturally, and the way must be
smoothed before them" While household
account books may be procured at most of
the large Stationers, they cannot always
be obtained in the smaller towns. One can
easily be made at home, however, using
any blank book for the purpose. A good
size is the ordinary note book, 6x10, with
cardboard covers. With pen and ruler
make thrty-one cross lines one for each
day of the month. Cross these again with
hnr ofo1 irnS 1no yfncr c,,a t1a ton
and bottom of the page for headings and
totals. At the head of the page print Sup
plies for Month -, 1902" Then at the
head Of each column its appropriate cap.
ton, Meat Eggs and Butter" Milk"
"Groceries," Baker Y vegetables and
Fruit Repairs, Car Fare" Rent and
Cas-" Fuel" Servants" Household Fur
nishings," personal Expenses" "Miscella-
neous,' etc f.
Now if at the close Of every day a few
moments are given to setting down the
amount expended during that day, the sum-
ming up at the end of the week will be but
down in black and white it becomes an easy
matter to see whether each item bears it's
just proportion to the household allowance.
The housekeeper who likes pretty up-to-
date things on her table, but at the same
time things that are of some real use, will
be delighted with the new blue and white
tiles intended for the cold cut. This Eng
lish fashion of putting the cold joint or
roast on the end of the table, for each one
to cut as desireds has economy in it's favor,
as none is cut and left to dry as is often
the case when we slice meats and serve on
platter. These decorated tiles, which
come with a pretty border are of German
importation, but they are reasonable in
price and exceedingly convenient.
An entertainment which is being planned
for the holidays by party of young people
is Dickens bazaar. The details of this
he nar ria6 n,1t frnr
shank's celebrated engravngs, while the
attendants will be dressed to represent
some of his most famous characters. In
connection with the bazaar, whose proceeds
go to local charity, there will be vaude-
vile program, consisting Of readings and
recitations from Dickens songs, in charac-
ter, and even the Turveydrop dances In
the supper room the veal and hammer
pies, chops and tomato sauce and the
other dishes made SO familiar by Dickens,
will be served.
Not more than two kinds of vegetables
should be served with a course. Lamb finds
Its appropriate accompaniment in potatoes,
peas, spinach or asparagus. Roast mutton
calls for satisfy. spinach, caulifower or po-
| tatoes.
Ginger sherbet makes an excellent punc-
tuation between game and roasts in a
course dinner. Boil together for five min
utes quart of water and pound of SUI
gar Add the Juice of three lemons, strain
and set aside to COOL When quite cold add
half cupful of finely chopped preserved
ginger and four tablespoonfuls Of syrup.
Turn into the freezer and freeze slowly.
Cocoa is frequently used in place of choc-
olate for icing cake. Add to the white of
| an egg tablespoonful Of cold water, two
teaspoonfuls of cocoa and as much confec-
toners sugar as is needed to make 1t the
consistency required to spread well.
II confectioner's sugar cannot be OBJ
tained ordinary pulverized sugar answers
quite as well for icing cake-if little corn
starch Is added to keep it from drying.
If English plum pudding Is to crown the
Christmas bill of fare, it is high time that
1t should be prepared, then put away to
ripen. The secret Of it's successful making
lies in the thorough mixing of the ingre-