The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-25

on. aud though Sewing in tlocks'' is not
quite SO popular as when Bayard Taylor
wrote his clever sketches of village life
a half century ago, "nocks' for card
playing "ilocks' for ping-pong, "hocks'
for the simple sake of focking,. are still
in order. Fortunately for the woman
who delights in entertaining her friends,
but who can not afford elaborate and
expensive vands nor extra hired service,
there Is a growing trend toward sim
plicity in entertaining. and Dame Fash
ion lends 1t her cachet. "lf guests come
simply for the sake of the loavcs and
fishes said a bright California woman
recently. they can find better at a good
restaurant. If they come because they
like me and want to see me, they certain
ly wouldn't care for me to have an after
math of heavy bills, tired back ana
aching head or disgruntled cook TO re-
member them by. | love to have com
pany and can have them often if | am
content and they arc content that the
entertainment be simple. unostentatious
but always abo,indng in cordialty.'
In one of the university towns this
summer there were frequent informal
neghborhood functions held on. the
lawns or in the houses. with refresh
mentS no more elaborate than fresh gin
gerbread and tea. hot or iced. sandwiches
and coffee. ice cream and cake. or fruit
and cakes. If tea was served on the
lawn. light tables would he brought out,
and while the hostess or friend would
pour the tea. the men would pass the
cups and plates. Often there were not
even napkins to add to the laundrcss'
work. one instance in particular | re-
call The hostess was much of an in
valid. forced to spend the greater part of
each day in her hammock swung under
wide-sprcadins live oak. On the morn
In Nf tl,n .lp sI.I,,
carried notes of invitation to some
twenty-five of the near neighbors
'Comc and take u cup of tea with me
this afternoon, from 4 to &. under the
tree
Extra chairs and rugs were brought
out: thin slices of bread spread and COW
cred with damp napkin to keep moist;
some satines were grated with pow
dered cheese. and everything was ready
excepting the tea. Some of the new
magazines lay on one of the little tables.
and on another number of photosra plis
of travel. just brought back by one of
the family. These to serve as CONVERSE
tional pegs should there he a dearth of
topics. which there never was. One of
the neighbors poured the tea. The cook
in fresh white apron. brought out the
supplies from the house. and the men
passed the simple refreshments No one
was tired. no one overworked. The cook
could go on with her regular dinner work
as usual, and every one seemed to have
a GOOD time.
Even at RoOsevelt's recent reception to
his friends and neahbors at Oyster Bay
the same simplicity prevailed. Cakes and
lemonade-and ginger cakes at that We're
the quite sufficient refreshments provided.
or course there are occasions when
\.
and for these special functions there is
ever a demand for something new.
A f0w years ago color teas. luncheOnS
and breakfasts We're all the fad. but the
present fancy is for feteS and banuuets
copied in service. decorations and NandS
from the various nations. Such a one
was given lately bv Stanford graduate.
who had made a special study Of Japan
eSe customs and has written II book ON
Japan. Sixteen guests were invited to II
sixteen course Japanese dinner. The
room was decorated with rows of red
Japanese lanterns, large basket of
roses and ferns hanging from The center |
All the ladies' wore iimOnas and their |
hair was arranged with fans. while Jap,t-
ncse silkcn jackets We're provided for the |
men.
The costumes, dishes and menu were
all brought from san Francisco for the |
occasion. and there was different china ,
FOR each course. Many of the courses |
We're served with chop sticks Two cush- |
ons We're placed on the floor for each |
guest, and Il long low banquet table was |
from boards.
This was thiclily strewn with rose |
caves. artisticallN arranged and shaded |
n colors. Rose leaves were sprinlilcd |
over everything and served even in the |
ea. The first course Was u preparation |
)f seawced. Another course was salmon |