The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-04-30
MABEL'S CHITCHAT
People Who Do Not Dine, but
Merely Eat Dinner.
ETIQUETTE or THE TABLE.

fully Simple, Though Very Effective
iy Carried out-seIeotina Paper.
Dear Elsa-You asked me whether l
enjoyed the HIS dinner. Well, to be
perfectly frank, i was bored to extinc-
ton. | can't say really dined with
putting it better. What was the mat
ter? Perhaps Pm over fastidIous, but
1t seems to me that one never really
dimes unless the table is well ordered
and the family and guests, If there are
many OF the latter, indulge in a rea-
sonably leisurely meal, with a little in
teresting conversation thrown in as an
entree, so TO speak. / am sure that |
you agree with me, and it is only be-
tween such good friends like you and |
me, dear, that would run the risk of
such a breach of etiquette as to dis
cuss a meal at which was an honored
guest
To begin with, the tablecloth was on
crooked, and the lace centerpiece was
At for nothing save the ministrations
of the laundress. There were no fiow-
ers, not even fern dish, In the middle
of the board, and i do like some green
cry to look at, don't you? And then
we didn't have a particle of time to
talk. The family set the pace and pos
itively raced through their food
You know my failing, dear, of get
ting in story every now and then
Well, there wasn't the slightest oppor
tunity to tell even Woodrow Wilson's
latest witticism. for I'd no sooner start
to tell an anecdote than I'd look round
and see that both my host and hostess
had long ago finished that particular
course and were impatiently waiting
for me to make an end of 1t so that the
maid could clear away the dishes. Nat
urally all there was for me to do was
to put a short stop on my pet story,
gulp down the last mouthful and lay
down arms, alias fork
And that's the way 1t went on all
through the dinner Can you wonder
that / was disgruntled2 The HIS all
acted as If they were trying to catch
train and had only the usual ten
minutes for refreshments But, my
dear, when we got into the drawing
room there was absolutely nothing to
/ do. The family are not musical, they
lOathe bridge, and their conversational
| abilities seem to have rusted from
want of exercise. / was too cross by
this time to make an effort and help
them out.
Now, what do you reckon makes nice
people act like that? You say per-
haps that some Of US get into the habit
OF rapid eating and don't stop TO think
about others. Possibly, but 1t would
be fine plan to get out OF the prac-
lice. especially when there are guests
present
Mother always said that ones breed
ing showed itself more quickly at table
than anywhere else. and think she
was right. A man or woman may
have fine mind and refined instincts,
and yet through ignorance commit all
sorts OF gaucheries at the table, but
there was no excuse on earth for the
rs acting as they did
Now. / am going TO tell you about q
bride elects luncheon ] attended
which was charming In every respect
The table decorations were simple yet
very effective, consisting OF shallow
silvered basket filed with lilies of the
valley, delicate ferns and few pink
rosebuds. This basket was placed or
a circular mirror in the center of the
table, and the frame was concealed
with a wreath OF ferns, lilies and pinl
rosebuds dotted here and there in the
greenery.
At each plate was a small bunch OF
valley lilies with one pink rosebud
{ tied together with silver gauze. The
D bride elects place was designated by
Z wreath OF pink rosebuds and ferns
! and at the back OF her chair, tied with
3 the gauze ribbon, was a similar buncl
r of rosebuds. Pink candles in siIve
3 candlesticks were used, with whit,
: shades wreathed with pink rosebuds
Rolls, croquettes, ices and cakes wer,
in heart shapes and heart shaped case
OF pink and white held bonbons ant
nuts. This floral decoration would b.
pretty to use at your club luncheon
So you are going to redecorate you
. living room and want me to selec
the paperl Well, it's a great response
! bility, but as can easily shed wor
: ries here goes for better or worse b
q all means use an oatmeal paper. 1t /
a rough effect in paper that is bein
much used just now, and when a plat
wall covering is desired there is moth
ing better in comparatively chea
papering than the oatmeal.
For your room would use oatmea
in deep gold, but should you prefe
1t soft wood brown color would b
restful, but 1t would make the roor
e darker. Do not use a border, but sto
u the paper at the picture molding Th
: space above and the ceiling should
tinted tone or two lighter than til
oatmeal paper. This is a Whistle
Pm not arguing with you; I'm jus
p telling you" sort OF way OF discussin