The Washington herald., 1909-05-30

IS nearly always carried 10 the drawing
room. where the men join the women as
soon as they have finished their cigars.
I The old fashion Of passing a silver bowl
/ Of perfumed water into which every one
dips his or her napkin in turn is obsolete,
and has been replaced by the more sensi-
bic finger bowls, but bear in mind that
( you are not expected 10 take a bath IN
/ these, only the tips Of the fingers should
/ &c immersed IN the water and then dried
Oh the napkin. Some people seriously
object 10 finger bowls. maintaining that
their use savOrs too much OF making
ones toilet at table. and that ones table
manners should be so exquisite that they
should not be necessary.
/ Except at SaDIic dinners, no one offers
a toast nowadays. but no one can refuse
when asked 10 drink with another The
! intelligent person. however, never asks q
I person 20 drink when he knows ne does
not take vine. The constant drinking Of
toasts became such an onerous burden.
and such an expense 10 the officers in
7 Germany that the Emperor finally allow
ed those that were total abstainers, q
class that is constantly growing larger in
that kingdom, 70 drink toasts in water.
Il IS. however. not necessary TO take a
I
spending 70 g toast, merely bow 10 the
person 50 honoring you and touch your
mouth 20 your glass. One is not expected
20 drink ones own health. only 70 bow
in acknowledgment
A caIlow youth writes 10 ask If I think
il advisable TO eat a dinner at home be-
fore going out 10 dine. Why? When YOU
are asked to dine. you are asked 10 eat
food that has been provided for yot: at
both expense and trouble, and 10 dine be-
foTehand or 10 affect not 10 have an an
petite IS reflection on your hostess. one
should never be greedy, but 10 have a
hearty appetite and TO enjoy your food IS
a compliment 10 the person who has pro-
vlded II for yOul<It IS also perfectly per
Missile 10 comment on the excellence OF
dish, ard when the hostess herself
dresses the salad the appreciation Of her
guests IS very grateful 10 her
The hostess arranges how her guests
shall sit az dinner and IN what order they
shall so 10 the table. At large. formal
dinners the names OF each couple are
written upon card and inclosed in en-
velopes addressed 20 the several men
attending the dinner. which are handed
70 them upon entering the house or in
the dressing room. If a man finds that
he has been allotted 10 a woman whom
he does not know. he az once asks his
host or hostess 10 present him Great
care should be taken in arranging the
guests 20 see that congeuiaI people get
together and people who are on good
terms. At one Of the smart dinners here
last winter a man was asked 70 take out
a woman who had Tilted him the year be-
fore and had then married his rival and
a. another dinner a divorced woman who
had resumed her maiden name was de-
livered over TO her former husband. Hap
PLY in this case both the man and the
woman appreciated the humor OF the
situation and played their parts 20 the
end, while those who knew them looked
on and wondered Il they would not be
tempted TO make it Up. L Is not neces-
sa-y % give your undivided attention 70
your partner. but only 10 see thar she is
entertained The man or the woman on
the other side often proves more inter
esCing than ones partner
Z IS the French custom 70 serve
sweetened water after dinner and in
some houses here where foreign manners
prevail st is done, but T!qUeurs with the
coffee and apOllinaTis later II the even
ing IS the general fashion IN America. in
Germany ar the most formal dinners
mineral waters and beer are invariably
served toward the end Of the evening.
Do not be tempted 10 stay 100 long after
a dinner a half hour IS Ions enough 10
Inger. and unless some unusual enter
tainment IS provided an hour should be
the limit
The Arbiter has recently received a
large number OF letters asking for a reply
by mail Il IS quire outside the province
OF this department 20 answer queries by
mall and while The ArbiJer VIII be glad
70 answer all questions he receives IN the
columns Of the paper, Il Is impossible for
him 70 co 50 through the mails.