Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-04-11

tea as precautionary measure against
| their enemies. This thought adds such a
nice, tragic note to tea gathering that
the little old silver tea caddies with their
stout locks are quite an addition to the
tea table outfit. 1t is so comfortable to
look at them and know that those grandly
tragic days are over. These tea caddies
were lined with lead. as were all the old
tea chests. In those days it was believed
the lead lining best preserved the taste
of the tea.
| The sugar tongs are another particu-
larry nice feature of the tea table. There
are any number OF designs in sugar tongs
made in the old patterns. There are &C.
casionaly to be found charming old Irish
tongs of quaint and peculiar design which
date from the early part Of the eighteenth
century One of the quaintest patterns in
tongs is the Dutch stork, very old pat
tern. The tongs make the stOrk, and on
one handle there is tortoise. The stork
has a ruby eye. When the tongs are
opened to get the piece of sugar the little
infant whom the stork is supposed to
bring Is seen carved out of the silver and
nesting in little cradle, which is cum
ningly concealed until the tongs are
opened:
Sugar nippers are also quaint equip
ment Of the tea table borrowed from
former days. The nippers resemble tongs,
but they include also knife, which is
set between the tongs and which nips
the lump of sugar, cutting it in two il
it is loo large.
The china for the tea table is of any
sort pleasing to the hostess, provided it
be fine and beautiful. There are very
charming Martha Washington tea sets, to
which some young girls have taken pa
triotic fancy, made after a set presented
to Martha Washington in 1870. Colonial
tea sets are also popular, but the favor
lite china for girls tea tables is in the
Dresden designs or in the daintiest pat
terms of old English china. Sprigged
china. with little rosebuds scattered over
a white ground or that decorated with
tiny wreaths of green leaves, roses, &c,
or the gold band patterns, are all most
popular. There are new cups in hex
ngoual pattern in American made china
this season. but the rather shallow round
cups always seem to be most popular for
tea.
The art Of tea making IS carefully prae-
tised BY the schoolgirl, for she must reach
perfection in il IL she is to be popular
hostess. There is no better rule for her
TO remember than the old fashioned one
Of except the kettle boiling the filing
the teapot spoiIs the tea" and no better
proportion for her to bear in mind than
that cherished by her grandmothers, "a
teaspOOnful for each person and one for
the teapot II must also be borne in
mind that it takes good tea to make good
tea. and there should be no false economy
In the purchase Of the tea leaves.
To 20 with the tea there are all man.
ner o. delectable sandwiches, and here,
too. the schoolgirl has an opportunity to
exercise her skill. for she can do nothing
that will more endear her to her friends
than 10 make good tea sandwiches. Muf-
fms have never made as successful an
appeal to the American palate as they
have to the British. Biscuits Of various
sorts are very popular to serve with tea,
and thin bread and butter are a. popular
as anything Fancy cakes Of al sorts
are much liked by girls. especially mscs-
rooas. and although the tea cOnnoisseurs
Of elder growth declare that sweet things
are not good with tea. the girls oun taste
must Be consulted in this natter Alt
lie dish Of boa-bous. snch a. ehoesias.
hints or so-czIled after dinner minfs "a
also permitted On the tea table.