The Washington herald., 1911-02-26
STATUES OF ICE
FOR DINNER TABLE
NEW FAD OF RICH

The amount of money squandered on
expensive banquets by the very rich has
long been the subject of comment In
/ the effort to make these affairs unique
the question Of expense is not considered,
except where expensiveness alone is re-
lied upon to make the banquet novel. and
then, of course, expense is the only thing
considered
Although the most expensive viands are
served at these feasts, the main item of
their cost lies in the luxurious acces-
sories-the music, vocal and instrumental;
| the decorations, and the favors. Without
| referring to some of the freak dinners
that have been given from time to time
by men and women who had so much
money that they didn't know what to do
with it. and upon which small fortunes
have been squandered, ultra-fashionable
banquets are given every day of the week
almost, at which thousands of dollars are
spent to make the occasion remembered.
The latest fad, and possibly the most
prodigal of all. is that of table statuary
made of ice. which enables our oSten-
| tatious spendthrifts to see their money
literally melt before their eyes. These
statues carved out of ice are used to
adorn the table, and, although they are
artists, there is, of course, no way or
preserving them.
A Berlin ScuIptor-Chef.
Just what these ice statues cost depends
entirely upon the standing of the sculptor
engaged to make them. but an incident
which occurred recently in Berlin will
give some indication of the amount of
money that might be spent upon this
simple table decoration.
An American gentleman and his wife
were staying at one of the well-known
hostelries of the German capital and dur
ing their holiday it happened to be the
lady's birthday. In honor of the occasion
the American requested the chef to pre-
pare something unique in the way of
dessert or as a table decoration.
When the couple sat down to table
they noticed that a number OF dishes
containing fruits and candies were en-
bellished by what appeared to be little
glass statues OF different colors, and
which were brilliantly illuminated by
means of small electric bulbs artisticaly
arranged near them.
Aren't those favors just too beauth-
full for anything" declared the wife, de-
lightedly. I've never seen anything like
them home"
We'll, well take them back with us
and introduce them to the natives" re-
piled the husband.
AS the meal progressed, however, it
was found that the statues began to
lose their original shapeIines. and closer
observation revealed the fact that they
were made of ice. Long before the meal
was over the only remaining evidence
of the statuettes Were the pools OF colored
water into which they had melted.
Cost Two Weeks Board.
In due course the American presented
himself to the chef. complimented him
on the artistic manner in which he had
decorated the birthday table. slipped the
equivalent of five spot into the worthy's
itching palm. and quite unsuspectingiy
asked what the cost of the little dinner
was going to be. When the chef replied
$12O-or. rather, the German equivalent
of that amount-our friend promptly had
fit. But fit or no fit he had to pay
just the same, and this, although he was
paying only $50 week for his room and
board for himself and wife. That little
dinner cost him as much, therefore, as
two weeks board.
But at the banquets Of the ultra-ex-
elusive, where table statuary of ice is
now being employed, 800 a Clate is by
no means high, and the artists employed
to make the little figures are given
carte blanche to spend as much time and
labor on their work as they can afford,
irrespective of expense
The figures, once carved, are kept in
temperature below freezing point until
they are actually needed for the table,
that they may not lose any of their deli
cate lines through premature melting,
once the assembled guests have
set their eyes upon them, no one cares
how long it takes for the heat of the
TO destroy them utterly.
In making the statues a miniature ice
pick is used, and the sculptors work with
sloved hands, that the heat of their fin-
gers may not spoil their work Ice Of
different hues is used, that there may be
variety in the results obtained.
At banquets on smaller scale, the
same effect is obtained at a much lower
cost by mOlding the statues in special
forms. Plain water and ice cream are
both used for that purpose. But be-
ween the ice statues as carved by the
sculptor and the statues produced by the
mold there is, of course. all the differ
.nce existing between cut glass and the
ordinary pressed variety.
For humble mertals, though, who feel
hat they must have statues with their
meats, these nodded figures will no doubt
answer all purposes.