Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-03
center Of the cloth should be exactly

center Of the cloth should be exaetiy
In the center Of the table.
In arranging the places allow al
least twenty inches space at the table
for each person. The china, glass and
silver set for each person make what
is commonly known as a cover" In
placing the silver observe this order:
Lay the silver on either side OF the
plate in the order in which It Is to be
used, beginning at the outside. Place
the knives on the right side, handles
about one inch from edge OF table.
sharp edge turned in. Lay all the
forks. with the exception OF the oyster
fork, on the left hand side, tines up,
handles on line with the handles OF
the knives. The oyster fork is either
placed on the right side outside the
knives or slanting across the oyster
plate, handle toward the right hand.
The spoons are properly placed on the
right side. the soup spoon outside the
knives. The teaspoon at dinner Is next
the plates. For breakfast 1t may be
outside the knife IL 1t ia to be used
first. 1t is considered more correct for
a formal dinner to have the silver
brought to the table with each course
after the salad has been served.
The table napkin Is folded In sim
pie square and Is placed on the left
side Mt the lower edge of the plate. IL
bread and butter plates are used these
are placed on the left just above the
napkin. The water glass is placed on
the right side at the top OF the knife
A pair OF salt and pepper shakers is
placed conveniently between each two
persons, as a rule.
1t Is we'll to have some decoration on
the table. even IL 1t be nothing more
than simple potted plant or some
sprays Of wild flowers. A small pot OF
growing parsley in winter is better
than no decoration. The centerpiece
should be low and nat rather than
high. for the latter obstructs the view
of people sitting on opposite sides OF
the table. Dishes OF celery. olives. pic
kles or confectionery may be on the
table from the beginning OF the. meal
and If SO should be arranged near the
center around the floral decoration.
II tea or coffee is to be served on the
table the cups, saucers and service
should be neatly arranged in front OF
the hostess.
Serving the Meal.
In many homes where there is only
one maid to act as cook and waitress
the serving must be as simple as pos
sible. Very often, In fact, the house
keeper must herself act as both cook
and waitress, and then the serving
must be even more simple. But In any
case try to avoid the too common hab-
1t of putting everything on the table
at once and allowing each person to
help himself.
When there are boys and girls In
the family they should be taught to
take turns in serving. In that case or
when the housekeeper y alone the first
course may be placed on the table be-
fore the meal is announced. II II is
soup served from tureen the hostess
serves 1t from her end Of the table.
or the soup may b served In the
kitchen and put at each place before
the family is scaled. The soup plates
and tureen are removed before bring
ing in the next course. The meat plat
ter is placed at the head Of the table
before the host, who should carve 1t
and, putting portion ON each plate.
pass 1t to the person sitting at his
right. This person keeps 1t II spe-
cially requested to do 50 or passes It
on down the table. The potatoes and
other vegetables may be served BY
the host IL the family Is sman or BY
some person sitting near him. Ths
dinner dishes that is. the plafes on
which the meat courue was served
should be removed before bringing n
the salad or dessert. II both 80 In
Guided in the menu the sAlad - en-.
orally served by the hostess. Il
quite permissible. however, to m
the salad arranged on individual p1n1aa
In the Kitchen and placed on the tnhia
at the beginning OF dinner. Dsss1s4
should be, served BY the host WHINE tha
hostess pours the ten or coffee. Pnds
ding sauce and cream and ssg1r azs
passed. Bread and bsttsr aee uaa1
ON the table throughout ths meal nd
are passed a. needed. Cs1sry and
olives are passed with tho snnp and
pickles with the msat course. sGaJ ~
often passed With cfbchun. md apuls
sauce should accompany -uast pOsk.
In some households the bvslness .ol
serving at table withou+ . ma1d Aaa
- $3.50. - n.