The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
Nv THE ARBTTER.

johnson. and there is much need for the
fabrication OF that business known as
politics. Enemies are converted into
friends, treaties are made, political com
pacts entered into under the benign in
fuence og sayory viands. inspiring wines,
end the wit ana brillancy OF a clever
host.
Just after the war the dinners given by
the lobbyists. who overran Washington
at that period, were a public scandal At
these sumptuous feasts raids were planned
on the Treasury. bills for fraudulent
claims were intimately discussed and
folsted on unsuspectng Congressman. ap-
pointments were decided upon, and it
actually seemed as though the members
of tho Third House were running the gov
ernment through the material appetites
the weaknesses and foibles of those the
people had chosen for that Office. But
with the suppression Of the lobby. the
marvellous banquets used as a means for
the debauching OF Congress were known
no more, and the dinners at the Capital
became normal In tone; but they never
have lost, and they never viii lose. their
political atmosphere.
The first requisite for a successful din
ner Is that the guests shall be congental.
and too much care cannot be given to
their selection. But to bring together peo-
pie Of similar tastes, similar interests, all
of whom belong to the same circle, is
difficult matter here in Washington.
where the social and political obligations
of hostess often conflict. J For those who
occupy no official position the matter is
simple enough. but after a few seasons
at the Capital one becomes tinctured with
politics. and no entertainment is regarded
as complete that lacks the presence OF
political luminaries.
AS to the character Of the dinners that
has entirely changed in the last quarter
OF a century, and much for the better
II is no longer the fashion 10 dawdle
over interminable courses and remain for
hours at the table. The menus are
shorter. there is less wine used than for
rnerly, and the smartest hostesses have
their dinners served in an hour at the
outside This quick service is rather rush
ing matters II the dinner is a pretentiOUs
one. but It Is questionable taste to plan
for a dinner that takes a longer time to
serve, especially when cotillions. balls
and suppers are to follow. Il hate din
ing at the Blanks" said Mr. the other
day, 'for I no sooner taste the course
that Is before me than my plate IS
snatched away. and they have better
things 10 eat there than anywhere else
in town" But Mr. Il must learn the
art Of eating as Mrs Blank has learned
the art Of serving. and dispatch the va
Tious courses as quickly as respect for
his digestion and his neighbOTs on either
side permit.
At a large dinner each Of the gentle
men receives from the attendant in the
dressing room an envelope containing the
name OF the lady he is To escort TO table.
II she is a stranger TO him he seeks her
out Immediately upon entering the draw
tng~Toom. and asks for an introduction.
When all the guests are assembled. the
host offers his arm to the most distin-
gUished woman present and leads the
way into the dining-roOm. The other
guests follow as they will, and the host
ess with the guest Of honor, brings up
the rear. Place cards should be used at all
large dinners. so that the seating OF the
guests may be accomplished with as lit
tie confusion and as expeditiously as
possible. Her escort is placed on the
right Of the hostess, and the others pres
ent distributed according to their official
rank if It IS an official function, accord
ing 10 their age, If it is a private affair
The servants should be noiseless. swift.
and dexterous. and in the service the use
OF napkins is preferable to the wearing Of
white gloves. A waiter TO every six
persons is sufficient provided he is COM
petent. and the host and hostess should
never, unless some extraordinary occasion
arises. address the servants during a meal
It is needless TO say that at all formal din
ners the service is from the side The fash
ionabe menu at this writing consists Of
raw oysters or clans, a canspe or a
shellfsh cocktail, which is followed by
q sOUp-a cOnsonme, If the dinner is to
be a long and heavy one-theu course
OF fish, an entTee roast. punch. game
salad. and dessert. Terrapin, which was
formerly invariably served as an entree
Is now frequently offered in place Of fish
or game Fewer wines are used than
was once fashionable. At some houses
only champagne is served, at others a
fine saUterne or ClaTet, but there is always
the Scotch whisky and soda so much
affected AT present.
Except for state occasions and public
affairs. a written or engraved menu at
SAAlA lidLe steillS an dlLttldlLDH- llI the
diner-Out knows what viii be offered
him, but wittily worded and cunningly
contrived, they often tend 10 promote
fun and conversation. Dinner cards, too
If. besides the name of the guests, they
hold some amusing Jingle setting forth
his fancy and fobles, are great mirtb
pr0vokers, The Gridron Club under
stands, as does no other organization. The
getting up Of dinner cards and menus
and a complete set OF those il has issued
gives an amusing and complete history of
the main political and social incidents
since its foundation.
Elegance and simplicity in the decora-
ton Of the table is the order of the day.
and the mass Of cut glass. that was so
much used few years back, has given
way 70 the handsomer and more effective
silver. At some houses the centerpieee
of flowers and ferns has been replaced by
a handsome silver ornament.
At one fashionable house in town the
middle Of the table is adorned with a Won
derful beaten silver vase, or bowl of
japanese workmanship. AT another an
immense silver leopard. made in India by
famous worker in precious metals, is the
chief ornament Of the table, but there are
few Americans who possess such treasures.
These unfoTtunates must be content with
the flowers and fruit that the markets af-
ford, but with taste and knowledge, won
dertui effects can be produced with these
materials. An artist in Boston, widely
known for his exquisite taste. invariably
selects fruit for his table decoration and
makes studies of il in one color For in
stance, he viii arrange a scheme in yell