The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-09-05

most delectable dinner is matter of
trifiing trouble and cost as compared
to the care and sums expended for
| wholly inappropriate table lace
| which many visitors do not respect a
| hostess any the more for so using,
and for elaborate decorations and
souvenirs. These young couples sell
dom imagine that the candelabra or
candlesticks and shades which it has
been such a burden to obtain would
not be missed by their guests provid-
ed the sidelights or chandelier globes
were yelled in the right tint and fur
nished sufficient illumination. They
know that some wealthy persons do
not like nor use table lights, but be-
cause they are costly ornaments
these young people imagine they must
have them For the same reason they
initiate the fad of certain social lead
ers by using some one flower upon
their tables at every luncheon or din
ner in the season. generally selecting
the fashionable blossom they can
least afford. A few inexpensive flow
ers prettily arranged would give
just as charming an effect and prob
ably win the silent appreciation of
those in whose honor they were pro-
vided.
Sometimes the souvenirs and place
cards of the rich are merely dainty
trifles, imposing no sense of obliga-
ton upon the guest for the one, nor
feeling of envy that she has never
obtained anything SO charming as the
other. If well meaning friend men,
lions this to young couple strug-
Cling along on an income pholly mad
equate to ostentatious entertaining.
they often say. with sigh, that
"rich people can afford to be simple.
and poor people can't" So the bride
purchases souvenirs that her guests
would perhaps far rather not accept.
and breathes a fervent hope that her
trousseau will last until Doomsday,
since means to replenish it appear As
distant.
Another expense which many .
young hostess undertakes is that OF
getting such imported vegetables
and fruits as are out Of season. and
consequently expensive. Her chef
tells her. that he can prepare fine quail
tiles of timed vegetables, so that
they will taste just like the fresh ar
ticle, which costs nearly ten times
as much. The young entertainer.
however, would not dare permit sub
stitutiOn to which her weather. sis
ter would be Indifferent. She knows
that fashion demands viands out OF
season, and she gets them at any
cost. She is also as insistent about
the selection of expensive fish and
meats and the provision of several
varieties of wines. BY the time
she reaches the wine list, her ex-
penses have mounted SO high that
she errs on the side of variety rather
than of quality. and purchases all the
different kinds she thinks she ought
to serve, leaving it to her guests ST.
often impatiently-to real
ize what she should have provided.
simple Pleasures Forgotten.
Art in entertaining has not changed
nor has human nature. The greatest
degree of enjoyment is compatible
with the greatest simplicity in hos
pitality. People today appreciate
we'll cooked luncheons and dinners,
brilliant conversation and just enough
of floral adornment. and, pei
haps, music. to give an aesthetic
touch to things material. just as their
enjoyed them three and
four score years ago, when converse
ton was practised as a fine art for
constant use and wit was as neces-
sary to a feast as good wine.
Simpler modes Of affording amuse-
ment to friends, such as an invitation
for the evening with cards or music. !
do not appear to suggest themselves to
many young couples. They are in
spired by the true spirit OF friendli-
ness which would have guest break
bread with them, but too often this
shining spirit Of the home is clouded
by ostentation, and the straining to
obtain form of hospitality only JUS
tifiable in the rich makes itself un-
felt, while many desir-
able acquaintances draw aloof from
those whose methods of entertaining
they are unwilling to copy.-New
York Tribune.
The Feminine Playaoer.