Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-14
NEW LUNCHEON IDEAS
Favorite Forms Of Daylight
Entertaining.
NOVELTIES ARE LIKED
KIND OF FOOD MAKES L TITLE
DIFFERENCE SOMETIMES.
The Service and Decoration of Simple
Dishes Help Out Won
derfully.
NOVELTIES ARE LIKED
Written for The Evening Star.

world during the coming winter. There is
something about the luncheon party that
appeals more nearly to woman than any
other social function. No matter how
elaborately formal this affair may be in
service and decoration there is generally
an informality in the conversation, the ia
BILE talk being of the chatfy, chummy sort
dear to woman's heart The luncheon bears
little resemblance to the dinner party,
which is too often a solemn sacrifice per-
formed in state.
Montaigne, 1 believe, says a man does
not regard what he eats SO much as with
whom he eats. A woman, on the other
hand, does not care so much about what
she eats as she does about the manner in
which it is served. 'F'lamingo from
Sweden, game from Africa and pears from
Assyria" are not necessary, but novel
and beautiful table decoration is an essen
tial the modern hostess deems all impor-
tant.
Tablecloths have gone out of favor for
luncheon and tea tables The board is
now set in shining innocence of white dra-
perry, and the eXqusitely fine linen and
lace centerpieces and doilies reign in its
stead.
There is a perfect craze now for Canary
Island table lace, and the exclusive woman
who entertains will have no other on her
nary lace resembles Mexican drawn work
and is fashioned from a heavy, though
pearly, weave of linen. The popularity
which gives the pattern distinction is
found in the total lack of relation between
the central composition and the border de-
sign. The scarcity of this lace has been
held responsible for the present fad, al
though it is sufficiently beautiful to be its
own excuse for being. This lace is practi-
cally indestructible. and when its graceful
mission of adding beauty to the table is
ended there are many other uses to which
the pieces may be put.
A Shirt Waist Feast.
If the real amphitryon is the amphi-
tryon who gives dinners, the really smart
woman will be the one who gives shirt
waist luncheon to her particular pals"
this winter There is nothing radically
different about the spread itself except in
the matter of ices ana favors, which should
be in the form of tennis rackets, golf
sticks, riding crops or caps. The hostess
and all her guests don their most stunning
shirt waist, and the girl who makes and
wears the most original stock is given a
prize for her industry and originality This
well-fought-for trophy may be a dainty
case in which to keep the treasure trove.
"A feasting presence full of light is the
"sunburst'' luncheon, which is usually car
ried out in monochrome effects. In the
center of the polished table rests a huge
der the bowl radiate ribbons reaching to
each plate, where they hold in place the
daintfly decorated guest cards These rib
bons are in tones of pink shading into a
sunny yellow, and may be of wide double
faced satin ribbon or narrower widths ar
ranged in shower bow effects. When
the mistress of the mansion attires herself
in gown harmoniZng with the color scheme
the sun ray" appearance of the table is
charming. A violet luncheon motif would
be exquisite carried out in orchids and
mauve ribbons
Picture Postal Cards.
A happy inspiration which an enterpris-
ing hostess, tired of deadly, dull routine
entertaining has hit upon is the use of
picture postals for her luncheon or dinner
cards. She selects cards that daintily
illustrated and puts them beside each plate
at table with the address side bearing the
name of the guest for whom it is intended
uppermost. On turning the card the guest
sees disclosed something bearing upon the
place from which he or she comes, or, per-
haps, something illustrative of his or her
particular occupation or fad. A musician,
for instance, may find at her place card
on which is sketched a figure bearing a
Tyre, an artist one with palette, and the
pasteboard given singer would probably
bear the portrait of well-known prima
donna These cards prove great aids to
and when meeting persons
for the first time to find out a mutual fad
is very pleasant and often leads to an
agreeable friendship.
Only for the Single.
Cupid luncheons are a new development
in the fashionable world OF course invita-
tons to these sentimental functions are
only sent to the unmarried. The table is
arranged with red and white flowers shaped
into a bow and arrow. Gardenias, which
at the moment are very much sought after,
would with their glossy leaves form
tasteful decoration if handled by an artist.
For the lay designer a scheme wrought out
with red and white carnations would be
safer and easier to arrange. Dresden china
CupidS adorn the center of the table and
place cards are painted with winged loves.
The ices are in the shape of hearts pierced
with silver arrows. The arrows are given
to the guests on leaving as mementoes of
the occasion. An affair of this kind is es
specially suitable for a st. Valentine lunch
con or one given to announce an engage
ment.
New Things to Learn.
Afternoon tea has become almost as much
of a daily function In America as it is in
England, but we may still learn a number
of wrinkles from our cousins across the
water When giving tea to more than
three or four persons silver urn is about
the best receptacle from which to serve the
beverage The tea, of course, having been
~ placed in the urn over the lighted lamp
to keep hot until ready to be handed.
Should an urn be disliked, nothing is smart
er than a samovar in which to make the
cheering beverage at the table. If wo-
man is sufficiently fortunate to possess a
genuine antique Russian samovar she is the
envy of all her friends. AS last resort
one may use the teakettle suspended over a
lamp, and this is much better than to spend
time and exhaust the patience of guests in
fumbling with a tea ball which nine times
in ten won't work satisfactorily.
The 5 o'clock tea of today Is getting to
be very simple affair The sandwiches
used are made of bread and butter, and
though sometimes spread with pate de foie
gras, it is the exception. This simplicity
of dietary is largely owing to the horror
the modern society woman has of growing
stout When we first began to indulge in
this English fashion of tea drinking sweets
were offered, all kinds of bonbons, pound
cake ices and other tidbits. Nowadays the
favorite delicacy seen on the tea table is
the old-fashioned loaf cake, which is very
simple and resembles raisin bread. Many
up-t o-date hostesses prefer to sour the "cup
that cheers Russian style, with thin
slice of lemon instead of sweetening it
with lump sugar. When the lemon is used
no cream Is added. A delicate but very
strong mixture for afternoon tea is made
from equal parts of Orange Pekoe Sou