The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-21
hostess had filed her chairs with her Sis
tiers, and her cousins, and her aunts.
A Special Compliment.

ncSteSS ndQ ulleu ner CHAIRS Win IleT SiS-
tiers, and her cousins, and her aunts.
! A Special Compliment.
This is implied by the way you give your
! invitations for small, and even semi
Iimpromptu, dinner. Write them always.
hold no brief for the verbal bidding. 1t
Is dangerous; 1t opens the way to really
Misunderstanding misunderstanding as to
the day and the hour. Also 1t Is not civil.
save when offered very, very intimate
friend, whom you ask to make one at the
family board.
We all know that the big dinner calls
for an engraved or written invitation, ex-
pressed, as rule, In the third person. The
little dinner demands less formality. The
brief and friendly note is the proper me-
dunn.
Whether you have. or have not, met the
man whom your husband desires to enter
tain, 1t Is still your duty to send him a
short note, expressing hospitable desire
to see him on a specified day, and at a
certain hour, at your board.
If he is gentlemen born and bred he
will appreciate the compliment. In case
he Is married man, stopping with his
wife at a hotel. you must send your invi-
tation to her. and send your card with It,,
If the time Is too short to allow you to first
leave card for her yourself Send the
! note by hand. and appoint your own time
for your dinner.
( Va
thinking that these are empty formalities.
They are the indications of good taste.
good heart. good breeding. They also sim
| pltfy matters for you, and are instrument
tai in making your guests very happy.
Some Practical Details.
There is so much stress laid on the i'm
portance Of a dainty invitingly decked
table, that insist no woman can give a
proper little dinner party without her re-
In va hon Nd har nal ~
Good Form in the other. From the latter
she will learn probably all the rules for
spreading her hospitable board, with per-
haps the following exceptions which
wish to emphasize.
| Put only the essentials and few flowers
! on a white cloth.
A small table is always at it's best when
white and but one color are employed in
| decoration.
Lay knives and forks perpendicularly
side by side, to right and left of the cover.
Do not place the oyster fork at right
angles with the others, and lay no fiat
silver at the top Of any cover.
| Water glasses are never turned upside
down. and napkin rings have been laid on
! the shelf.
/ An abundance Of light pleases the men,
while the women are grateful If the rich
glow falls thru tinted tissue paper or silk
| shades.
| If you use candles at table, be sure
! that they burn steadily and safely. A
confagration at table, or a suffering re-
bellious candle. are not happy Incidents
and do not take place when you have de-
pendable fixtures and mica shade pro-
tectors
| An impenetrable barrier Of flowers be-
tween guests on opposite sides Of table
| is a mistake A low and simple floral dec
grafton suits a small table best.
! 1t Is incorrect and pretentious to have
man in to walt on the little dinner. A
maid In black gown. white apron. turn.
] over cuffs and collar, with diamond
shaped carleton cap, serves to greater ad
| vantage.
| Fit for King.
This Is what each dish should be. The
| ideal little dinner, the dinner that maketh
glad the digestion Of your guest, rebounds
to your everlasting credit, Is simple and
| we'll cooked, and is a stepping stone t.
higher things.
/ The perfect little dinner consists Of fou,
courses Soup. roast salad and sweets
To serve more than this is to overload
the occasion. Many misguided women at.
| tempt the game and Roman punch, the
entrees and rounds Of hors d'oeuvres
merely to fail.
81 Pour only one wine-claret, sauterne OF
sherry-and place that in decanter or
the table. #
Make assurance doubly sure that the ho