The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14
HEawameat NaY Ra58 zsn

IN thousands or American homes the
habit of O'Clock tea is as con
trmed as in the parent country.
where the fashion is now hoary
with age II is a comfortable and
d heartening custom The tea-tray is
brought into the family sitting room
into the mistress sanctum-Or. if the
family he large, and the elements vari-
Gus, into The dining Eoom-WAereFeE y
is convenient 70 assemble the SeNefdl
members. The tea Is poured Dy molhef
OF daughter. a plate of bread ana but-
ter is passed. perhaps one OF Tea DIS
cults or light cake, there is cheerIul
talk over the teacups for fifteen or
twenty minutes, II the household ne
busy, and the little party breaks up
each going her way until cinner tIIile.
Should q visitor chance 20 can near
tea time the function is not altered
The tray is carried By maid or outer
into the drawing ROOM ana the mem
bers Of the family Who are al nome
In households where tea-drlnking is
dignifed into "a ceremony. and the qual-
ity Of the beverage is made matter
Of Importance, the furniture OF the uay
includes teakettle and alcohol lamp, and
the sea is breWed in the sight or the
PARTY. IL is 2 graceful and gracious
ceremony, STIFFNESS aHd stla-.5J ~
hood melt before it. as frosl under thS
sunshine Talk is stimulated ana good
fellowship established
Decadenee Of Conversation.
The afternoon tea and reception IS an
expansion of the daily custom. An
evening "afair" involves the necessity
OF a formal and "a more or less eiabor-
ate supper. There must be music, and
nowadays. the hostess considers herself
bound to provide some kind of ENTER
tainmenf' other than dancing for the
young people and cards for the elder
guests 1 make no pause here to be
moan the decadence of conversation as
a lost art. Cards and dancing nave
taken the life out OF talk ii d eif-
Waltzes well. nobody asks II she can
converse If her mother. aunt or elder
sister can hold her own at whist, OF
be an Horatio at the bridge w MAJ
need OF further social aCcompllSh mehto :
Dancing and cards are varied Dy We
cal and instrumental music. recltaIioIs,
amateur theatTiCals-any novel IaQ tud'
promises diversion 20 blaSe Worlohhss
The function IS expensive laoCflous anu
10 all save the deDutahtt aia 'he
The only difference is in the caterer,
sighed a society girl in her thlrd sea
son. Il have been to twenty TINS VIZ
ter We say the same nothings, vs.
meet the same set of people ana
know il all by heart before / go.
Hints for Hostesses.
The afternoon function is a happy
combination of the best features Of the
two forms of hospitality. There must ot
a set table in the dining room, or, Il
uaore. convenient, in the back parior
The hostess compliments two OF mel
friends by asking them TO pour one
at each end Of the prettily decorated
board. If the room be not weii-lish'eu
have candelabra, and soften the gas ol
electric light by ballOon-shaped siidue'
of colored silk or crimped tissue paper
] enter my protest at this point asaiHs'
the barbaric practice OF receiving guess
fresh from the SUMMED ar az.
heavens own makipg-ln rooms ullL
v,ifb coIored shadows, and reeklng win
the breath OF dropping MOWERS, not =
mention artificial perfumes Wi9nB ~ u :;
gums and oils and patented as Le l
know IL is the fashion 10 smut out lliS
sunshine and 10 steep the 'chiaroscuFo
left i'm the airless interior IN Color ahu
lalleeed) fragrance. ! am Ioid tha
Compilations show 10 aoNahtase ~ -,
s.dOctored'' twilight. To my appfs4feAi
sion tie complexion that cannot staho
bsfare the light of Gods day Is mol
worth the trouble Of keeping
A shaded hight need not pc gl1 ,5il-
If vour dining room or inner apartment
ba 'fnsuf7cientIv lighted, as IS the cas'
with town houses that back upon couIJs
or small yards-make II cheeiiu a w. ~.
gas, lamps or cdtdeiaDla1 -
Shade il to such degree thdI ~.
cannot recognize your pest ItlSlluS' "
discover by the seeing OF the
whether you help yourself 10 d sailu
wich or an eclair - IN,
The tea equipage should grace ONT
end If the table a chocolate service
the other. Sugar, cream, ana sLce1
lemon surround the teapot or saInoN ar
A pretty fork lies aefoss lne oIs 81, =, -
sliced lemon; sugar tongs accompan.
the silver or china bowl or cut sugar
The cream jug has a ladle. u ass
stands in a tiny silver saucer OF lts owl
mat stray drops may not triclIle 10 tn
embroidered teaclOth. The apparatu
for chocolate Is less varied cnin'
pot. a dish Of granulated sugar Ecu
sugar does not dissolve readily IN Jn'
thicl hauid). and a wide-mouthed jul
OF whipped cream, a spoonful OF Whlci
is laid upon the surface OF eaeh nlle'
cup. man -.
late eouipages IS Allied with plates o
sanavviches. cakes, bon-bons, salte,
nuts. fancy rolls. etc.-whatever goes Z
make I'D a bOuntiful Afternoon tea
II you have the knack or making Neri
table scones-pronounced "skuns tn
Introduction OF these viii vary the col
lation agreeably- The sandwiches Shouts
be small. and the contents must no
overlap the edges. The eaters 90 no
remove their gloves, and the ooze o
cream cheese or mayoanaise VIII sol
finger tips. Another acceptable addition
70 the conventional menu IS toast
Toast thin strips Of stale bread 70
delicate brownish tint, butter while hot
and wrap In q heated dolly. In serving
open the corner Of the dolly, to SHOW
the crisp bits within. II is very popular
Hot relays should come in from III
kitchen during the afternoon. Yod ma,
spread some of the toast with archovg
paste or with caviare-
II you desire TO give the function
more tl1e air OF a reception than
enfar-a the menu serving IN
houillon in cups. and have a side tabl