The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-05

linn t1tN is the StaLelleSt OF
~ social functions. The accept
aEce Of an invitation to dine
should be regarded almost in
the light of a VOW. We are all familiar
with the dictm OF n modern arbiter
elegantiarum. who was also a Wit;
Accept an invitation 20 dinner with
care. When you have acc pied. go. il
YOU are alive. If you die. let your ex-
eCItor go i'm your place" 1t is in bred.
because inconsiderate 90 she verge of
UnNindness. to send a regret. unless for
reasons that would hinder you from the
fulhlment Of a business engagement Of
extreme Importance.
The law is based. like the majority Of
social rules upon common sense. In
making up her company the sophisti-
Gated hostess selects the component
parts as she would compound a cake.
considering the effect Of each ingredient
upon the finished product L called at
tention TO this fact last week, in our
luncheon talk. The composition of a
dinner party is yet more important on
account of the longer time passed at
table. The orderly progress OF an eight
or ten course dinner occupies from an
hour and half 70 two hours. To be
tied to ones chair when ones next
neighbor has not an idea in common
with one. and sometimes no ideas what
ever, 50 far as his companions can dis
cover. Is purgatory, not pleasure max
Ing. Invite people who would enjoy
meeting their fenOwgUests, making
sure 70 have one or more good takers,
who viii act like leaven in keeping up
general liveliness. So wei is the expe-
dienGy of this ingredient in the social
Loaf understood that some hOstesses
who do not number many brilliant con-
versationalists upon their visiting lists,
20 outside OF the pale of personal ac-
Quaintanceship for what may be cIassed
as good table takers. The subject Of
table talk is one that has engaged the
thoughts and pens of able writer's. It is
fun of interest With il we have moth
ing 10 dc today.
Eight the Perfect Number.
Some one has called eight the per-
feet number for dinner" One addi-
Iional leaf in the family board viii
usually grant all the room needed Cor
that number Cne word on this bead
may be useful. Avoid crowding chairs
together to an extent that will make
81
or bring their elbows into contact in
the course Of the business Of the meal.
Leave room for the waitress to pass
plates to and from each place. But
avoid, as the other extreme, wide
reaches of cloth that impart to the
banquet the air of "a waste and dreary
wilderness. Without crowding the dec
orations and the dishes of olives, salt
cd nuts, celery. etc, that are cata-
lOgued as ''hOrs d'CeUVsgs.'' sec TO il
that 10 CHASTITY CXpanses of white
damask make the feast seem scantily
set forth These are minor details bur
disregard of them has marred the SYM
metry Of many dinner.
Dinner is announced by the buffers
or maid s appearance in the door of
the drawing room, with a bow to the
hostess. and Dinner is served - Have
ever told In this column the anecdote
Of the now maid who had been duly
instructed by her employer as 10 the
proper form OF announcing the several
neat2 When told by the cook IN let
the company know that all was i'm
readiness for eating. she Mortified that
mistress by dropping her Old World
courtesy in the doorway, and voicferat-
ing at pitch that turned all eyes to-
ward her:
Please. ma'am. breakfast is on:
luncheon Is ready; dinner is served -
The matter Of her lesson was correct.
In manner and in discrimination OF
times and seasons she was woefully
astray.
Your dinner. then. is served. You
have already signifed quietly 10 each
man the woman he Is to take into the
dining room. The woman takes his right
arm, the party moves toward the en-
trance, the host leading the way with
the guest Of honor. or the Oldest woman
present or the greatest stranger. This
question is decided between most and
hostess IN advance. In unofficial Ameri-
can circles there is no fixed law of
precedence in these matters.
Setting the Table.
At each plate is the "service-plate.'
and at the right of it as many knives
as Will be needed before dessert is
served, each with the sharp blade turn
ed toward the plate. Outside Of the
knives lies the soup spoon, with the
inner side OF the bowl upward At the
left OF the plates the forks are arranged.