The Washington herald., 1911-01-19
GOOD TASTE IN
SETTING THE TABLE
From Good Housekeeping Maeaxine.


America at any rate. is not to have many
things. but to have them beautiful and
fine. The laundry is done every week.
one can manage very we'll with three
table cloths. four at most We no longer
wish to have complete sets Of china, with
their many useless little dishes. hideous
big sugar bowls, impossible saucers, only
fit for birds bathtubs. Instead, We
choose. only the plates. cups. platters. and
two or three serving dishes that we know
we shall use, but We buy those of the
best We can afford.
Linen. china, and glass were never
more exquisite, never more costly; vet so
generally has good taste spread over the
land that the demand has created the
supply and charming reproductions of the
very best can be hid at prices within the
reach OF all. Those of us who have little
to spend no longer need use for every
day, in order to save our finer best
things. hideous. brown-printed ware, or
thin. brittle plates and cups with horrible
splashes Of color and cheap gold, when
for the same money we can buy far more
durable reproductions OF the lovely blue
and white Dresden ware of famous
onion" pattern, or willow ware" or
even old Canton, or the many English
wares. Of none Of which we need be
shamed before any one.
AS to tie cloth. the rule generally fol-
lowed nowadays is to lay the table with a
heavy silence cloth. preferably of spe-
cially woven. double-fared canton fam
nel-the thicker the better-and to cover
that with a pure white cloth Of linen
damask. 1t is almost needless to remind
ourselves that all table linen should be
ironed perfectly dry and except where
it is necessary to raise embroideries or
monograms by laying them face down
upon thick. soft pad, the iron should
be used upon the right side Of the linen.
because Of the gloss resulting from this
method.
Use Pasteboard Rolls.
All table linen should be folded as
lightly and as little as possible. and
never deeply creased. The smaller pieces.
other than the napkins. large or small,
are not folded at all. but laid in a drawer
fatty or upon pasteboard rolls 1t is
not bad plan to lay dark blue tissue
paper between each piece OF linen and
this part Of the care is usually looked
after by the mistress of the house. TO
whom the linen shelves are apt to be |
even dearer than the silver chest.
In place of the tablecloth for break !
fast. luncheon. and supper. many use. |
with excellent effect and a charm for |
these less formal meals that no cloth
can give. small doilies under each plate !
and dish. with smaller ones for salts and |
tumblers. These doilies may be either |
crocheted. embroidered. scalloped hem
stitched or of drawn work. Where doilies |
are used there is generally tray cloth |
laid at the end where the tea and coffee |
are poured
A simpler method, one equally az pretty |
and dainty. and far easier for the person !
laying the table and for the Iaundress, Is |
TO use hemstitched or scalloped lunch |
square, which may be plain, embroid-
cred or of drawn work. 1t should be
large enough ,and by no means neces-
Sarily square" as its name would i'm
ply) TO come within two inches Of the
edge of the table.
No Vanishing Table Tops.
No silence cloth is used. for the know
ing ones of to-day have entirely done
away with vanished table tops having
them finished so that they c~nnot be
marred by heat or water. Such a table
top can be kept in perfect condition by
the use Of plain soap and water, with
a once-a-week hasty rub with any good
furniture polish. or the excellent simple
mixture of oil and vinegar. All woods
look better when treated in this man.
ner: even yellow oak loses part of its
cheap glitter, while mahogany or old
walnut becomes a board Of undreamed
of beauty and richness. And hot dishes
can be set directly upon the table or
upon the thinnest Of doilies or luncheon
cloths. without causing the house
mothers heart TO turn somersault. and
leaving any unsightly white blur.
/ know one such table. which has been
in use for four generations. and not even
the ten vigorous grandchildren of the
present one have been able to mar the
beauty of the board, while the turned
feet of the mahogany base are honorably
worn away into smooth curves never in
tended by its builder. from the scraping
IF the generations of little feet too short
10 reach the floor. 4 table top can