Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-30
IN THE DINING ROOM.
Suggestions as to Furniture and Table
Linen


Mahogany and Flemish oak are the
popular woods for the dining room
furniture. golden and antique oak.
which were so fashionable few
years ago, being quite thrown in the
background by these, the latter of which
Is comparatively a newcomer. Mahogany
always is the queen OF woods. but the
genuine IS too expensive for most purses,
while Flemish oak may be considered
reasonable, as it costs but little If any
more than the golden or antique oak.
When 1t Is used for a buffet it's handsome
black and glossy surface shows to the
greatest advantage whatever is placed
upon it in the way of silver china.
Dining room chairs of Flemish oak have
leather seats and usually are made in the
straight line effect. The round dining
table now is more fashionable than the
no longer is covered with cloth, it being
rightly supposed that the polished top is
sufficiently ornamental to be left bare.
The usual articles of furniture required
for the dining room of family of average
means, aside from the necessary table and
requisite number of chairs, always should
include a carvers and tea pourerS
chair, both of which have seats slightly
more elevated than the others and are, in
addition, supplied with arms and high
backs; the sideboard, buffet, or side table,
as preferred, the former being more suit
able for large rooms and the smaller ones
export covered with leather should match
the chair seats To these may be added
tea table, glass closet, etc. but the room
never should have a crowded appearance
and there always should be left sufficient
space for the waitress to perform her
duties comfortably. If the room is too
small to accommodate even the serving
table conveniently, an excellent substitute
may be made Of wide, hinged shelf
attached to the wall. which, when in place.
is supported on strong brass or iron brack-
cts, and when no longer needed may be
dropped fiat. This makes a serviceable
place for the dessert to be placed. or for
the coffee or tea to be poured. and, If the
shelf be made of polished wood, may be
decked with pretty napery and made quite
an attractive little addition.
The dinner wagon is most useful ar
ticle and Is by no means as well known as
it's merits would seem to warrant. In
households where the help Is limited this
wagon is of the utmost service and saves
the maid from making several trips to
the pantry, as an entire course glasses.
plates, silver and all, may be brought in at
one time.
Proba bly, the most important requisite for
imparting refinement to a table is the linen.
Natural bleached linen, heavy but firm, is
what the connosseur in damaSk approves.
rather than the high glaze and the stiff
ness of the artifcially bleached linen. A
dozen napkins to match each cloth Sc
lected should be purchased, those of the
DINNER size having the crest or full mono
gram embroidered in the lower righthand
corner Probably one regular dining cloth
of Irish linen damask, with napkins to
correspond is all the young housekeeper
will require. This should measure two
and half yards by three and will answer
for the average d; inner party; for ordinary
use, smaller cloths will be found more
practical, both for breakfast and dinner,
and the napkins may be simply embroid
cred with the initial of the surname.