The Washington times., 1907-04-28

r F 1T be not the most delightful Of
modern social functions. 1t is likely
Il to be one of the stupidest. AS a
rule, women are not gourmands.
That her own share in what is cooked
and served in her home is matter of
comparative Indifference to the house
mother has passed into proverb.
Where you meet with one woman who
Is addicted to the pleasures of the table,
ind, like Watts sluggard:
Talks OF eating and drinking"
you may count a hundred who. II each
dived alone. would not have q regular
meal cooked once a month. The femi-
nine epicure is a curiosity to her ac-
'quaintances. was talking the other
day with one Of the gentlest and most
'charltable OF her sex Of the illness OF
sher sister.
The case is the more obstinate be-
cause the dietary is strict" she re-
marked, lowering her voice. to conf
Dental pitch "And"-here she glanced
over her shoulder to make sure there
were no eavesdroIpers-'.yo know the
poor dear loves good eating!"
What a Woman Enjoys.
The admission was a slur upon an
otherwise well-bred kinswoman. There
fore. the enjoyment of a woman's
luncheon party depends largely upon
the choice of ones guests. and the har-
.monious disposition of the same in seat
ing them at the table When / find my
self wondering secretly during the third
course of the meal why l was invited
to meet these people, and why, when
there, 1 was seated next 10 a woman
with whom 1 have not one idea in com
mon. and who evidently is having hard
work in the lame effort 10 be interested
In what l am forcing myself to say
that party is to us two a dismal failure.
no matter how elegant the appointments
Of the table. or how delicious the food
1t was a saying in my girlhOod that
passe bellies had arrived at the supper
stage" That is. that they consoled
themselves with salads and sweets at
parties where they used 10 enjoy the
homage Of admirers too much to care
what they ate or drank
The average woman of society gives
the menu a third-rate place in her re-
Elections upon dinner. supper or lun-
cheon. Her husband easily consoles
himself for the stupidity Of his neigh
bOrs at dinner by devOting himself more
unreservcdly 10 the capital dishes Of
fered for his acceptance. II the soup
be clear and savory, the fish fresh and
piping hot and served with the right
sauce; the ducks done 70 a turn and the
venison tender and juicy; II the entrees
be toOthsome. and the coffee complies
with each Of Talleyrand's stipulations,
John is measurably compensated for
temporary boredom. When he reports
the affair 10 his wife on his return
home, he begins with a recital Of the
menu, and, this done. observes inciden-
tally that there was a somewhat dull
lot of people there" he wonders
where Smith-Jones picked up so many
Fellows who can't talk" ORA rat
Ting good set of fellows, too"' as the
sequel OF the tale.
The Opposite of Men.
A woman tells. first. who were at the
luncheon. how they talked and dressed:
what good stories and lively chat went
around the board; then. how the rooms
and tables were decOrated-finally and
casually, what tLey had to eat.
Too many guests at a luncheon party.
o. at any other function in a private
house where all must sit down to table.
as mistake. / shall dwell upon this
point wheE We talk Of the dinner party.
Twelve are not too many II the eie-
ments composing the company are con-
genial in tastss and in the same rank Of
society. To bring together the vulgar
rich and the refined poor is a fatal
blunder. do not imply, Of course. that
majority Of the newly rich are vulgar
any more than I would intimate that
most Of the many who have not suit
able luncheon gowns are refined But