Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-20
NEW TEA TABLE FADS
BROAD SHALLOW CUP AND THE
SHORT SPOONS.
Peculiar Colorings for Tea Carts to
Match Bou-
doris.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
With the approach of the social season
in town importers and dealers in japanese
and other oriental wares are setting forth
a tempting array of trnkets for the tea
table or cart
The very newest Offering Is the broa'i,
low, shallow tea cup, which has entirely
superseded the slender high cups hereto
fore associated with the tea service. These
new cups are as broad as or broader across
the top than the ordinary family coffee cup,
and not more than an inch to two inches In
height They are prettiest in the egg
shell patterns, with the exceedingly ire
and translucent lining. Wedgewood is also
popular.
For use with these cups comes new
spoon almost as small after-dinner
coffee spoon. In fact, If the hostess selects
her cups carefully she can employ the
small spoons she already uses for demi-
tasse. For many years the vogue has been
for a collection of odd and widely different
tea cups, but now the demand is for COM
p!ete sets.
ware which looks like inlaid work, depict
Ing tiny Japanese scenes. The pot Is small
with fat bowl, and has a spout SIX 'nCnes
in length, which is longer than the teapot
itself.
The perfectly equipped table boasts OF
two teapots the one in which the tea Is
brewed and the one from which it Is serv-
ed. A 'taster.' whose word is law In I'M
porting circles, says that the true taste OF
any tea is lost after it has been breWed
four minutes. At the end of this time the
only flavor noticeable is the bitterness Of
tannin, the dangerous quality in tea.
Hence the secret of making delicately
favored tea Is to serve 1t after 1t mas peen
brewing but minute or two. When Il
ofr r1I1S ha
rapid succession the tea should be breWed
in one. pot. permitted to stand two or
three minutes, and then poured through
china-not metal-strainer into the second
not. Both pots must be steaming hot be-
fore they are used. In warm weather
coy is not needed, but in winter the sec
ond teapot, or that from which the bever-
age is served. should be covered with a
coy. The old-fashioned cozy, like hood,
Is much in use. but daintier accessory for
the afternoon tea table is one of the wicker
affairs lined with padded japanese SILK.
These come in sizes to fit almost any rot.
Delicate Furnishings.
In tea carts there are offered some dainty
wagons better suited to boudoirs than
drawing rooms. They are of French rat
tan in the natural color, combined with an
other delicate tint. They can be secured In
pale blue, pale pink, light green and pale
yellow, to match boudoirs decorated in
such tints. The top has glass tray eff
feet, and on the lower shelf are three COM
partments for the cakes, crackers, etc,
separated by rattan ratings.
For the drawing room the inlaid mahog-
any tea cart remains in favor, and to cover
the top of these extravagant pieces of fur
niture come the most exquisite of open
work doylies the better to show off the
beauties of the mosaic work.
For ables from which tea Is to be served
at a large afternoon function the new ia
Bile covers rath SMALL made to fit just
inside the edge of both round and square
tables They are inset with lace or open
work and embroidered by hand in oriental
colorings.
Two new waters are offered for the fall
season One of these is called the cigar
cite wafer, and is a delicate, rolled sweet
cracker not unlike champagne waters in
texture. When men are present, chocolate
snaps are considered essential. These are
a rich chocolate paste, rolled in imita ton
of a cigar. Unsweetened crackers and
soft cheese to spread upon them. have now
place on the afternoon tea table, and
pate de foie gras is much served
For decorative sweetmeats in setting
forth this table preference is given to crys-
tallized ginger and fruits, with slender,
twisted sticks of candy, clear, transparent
and colored In oriental tints.
In some homes, where the love of Or
iental effects will not down, the cosy cor
ner has been succeeded by tiny tea room.
This is fitted up with delicate, transparent
japanese hangings and furniture. A pretty
Fancy for lighting this room Is to cover the
electric globe with brass frame foot or
more In diameter. This frame is wound
lightly with Japanese scarf, spanged with
lightweight Japanese coins If an electric
fan is cunningly hidden at a convenient
distance where its draught will strike this
shade. the coins and silk fringe will dance
right merrily and throw a quaint, flicker
Ing light over the tea table