The Washington times., 1905-03-15
By MRS. W. A. GILBERT.

A green and white luncheon or break
fast. whether it be designed TO celebrate
St. Patrick's day or not may be made a
charming affair. It not only gives the
hostess ample opportunity for the dis
play or any talents she may possess in
the way OF agreeab1y presenting
chaste and beautiful color scheme, but it
also furnishes a motive for the arrang-
ing of q number Of extremely pretty and
toothsone dishes for the refreshments
of the guests.
No one, to be sure, thinks Of giving
anything elaborate just at present, but
there are a number of small and formal
functions talked of which will keep
things moving in subdued and decor
Gus manner befitting the season, and yet
serve to crafty the fondness owned to
by most of us for a reasonable amount
OF social intercourse. Among these
smaller entertainments. at which the
guests seldom number more than ten or
a dozen people. a fern" breakfast, CT
tulip or white rose luncheon. are the
most popular. A fern breakfast is not
necessarily expensive The decorations
need not be entirely Of ferns; occasion
ally one kind of flower is used, also, as
white hyacinths. dafodiis, or white car
nations At one delightful affair OF this
kind which was given lately the nzpery
showed a delicate fern pattern, and the
china bore also about the edges Z tiny
raised design in ferns, Both were pure
white A mound of ferns graced the
center of the table, and quantities OF the
green, feathefy beauties We're maSsed at
the corners and at each plate was
slender crystal glass holding single
rare fern The menu was IN keeping
with the somewhat elaborate scale OF
the decorations, but held closely to the
green and white idea.
Another charming little affair was
tulip. luncheon. given for d young
1ady who lately sailed for Europe. A
large bouquet of white tulips was useh
as a centerpiece, from which strayed 10
each plate inch wide green sat I'D
bons. carrying the fayors, wnich con-
sisted of tulips and asparagus vine lied
with narrower white ribbon. The ices
were served in small flower pots encased
in green crepe paper, and in the center
of each was white tulip, not natural
flower but one nodded Of the confectiof;.
A few halves of pistachio nuts were
scattered upon the larger portion o2
rrcaI1.
The third. ard by far the prettiest, Of
these three Lenten festivals was a So
called white rose luncheon given d short
time ago for the purpose OF celebrating
the return TO health of one who had
been III A beautiful simplicity charac-
terized all Of the arrangements. Upon
the side board was a large silver bowl
overfiowing with creamy white roses.
and delicate Dresden china was used
posed the luncheon Whoever arranged
the table must have had in mind How
ard PauI's spirited description of Il lit
tie dinner once given in London, al
which we're present a number of epicu
Tean experts thoroughly capable of sum-
ming up the merits Of a refined feast
and all the details pertaining to II.
AT this dinner there was an irregular
mountain chain OF white roses travers-
ing the center of the table. in place of
the popular obstructive designs; and the
same idea was utilized for the lunch
eon, with the exception that here and
there among the masses of white was
seen a pale pink rose with few green
leaves. Narrow silver gray ribbon ap-
peared wherever such decoration was
thought necessary. bat there was almost
2 studied avoidance of anything ap-
proaGhiGg vulgar display and the whole
constituted one Of the most artistic en-
teTtnInznents of the kind that could pos
sibly be imagined. IN the general effect
of the dishes composing the menu
white, of course, predonainated; but
there were MANY daiDtv little touches of
color which served TO give a cheerful
air to the arrangements without chang
ing the plan OF green and white
luncheon in any essential particular.
The Sunday Luncheon.
Quite apart from the three popular
entertainments is the Sunday luncheon,
sort OF drop flt' affair mat seems
TO give general satisfaction to those
who participate in 1t. 1t is supposed
te have all the outward seeming of an
improInptu party or at least that is the