Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13
Dinners Are Shorter
and Wines Fewer.

" e' N"eA' parison in the
wealth of the poplc who are now mem
toned among sthe more conspicuous
hosts and those Of twenty or twenty
five years ago to go back no fufther'
These lattcr-day folks think in thou
sands while the old-fashioned arls-
tocracy had single one-dollar hiiiS III
mind. y large proportion of the new =
corners here ct that time butt INC
palatial establishments at that period
and had to construct their ways "t nv
ing. the same as their dwellings,. ~
to coming here they had been too busy
making their fortunes to have amy
time or care OH how to spend it II IS
recorded Of one fine woman who asked
th. wife of Il public man which city
New York or Washington. would he
best for her to settle in TO enjoy her
money. WAS told to come here. and she
followed the advice Her fortune was
moderate compared to 9Th avenue
jewellers. but If was enough. and re-
mains so to supply fine homes. auto
mobiles aud the usual luNuries Of en-
tcrtaIninent and dress to Il large fam
lily circle.
The incoming of the democratic AL
mluistration did not materially change
the ways of entertaining. though in
some quarters it did lessen the use Of
champagne, nor has it SO elevated :,
cup of tea as to make that simplest
form of hospitality anything more inn
portant than it ever was. Everybody
wants more Injuries than their faith
crs and mothers thought good or
necessary for themselves or their init
mates aud it is the spirit of the age to
self-indulge, if all goes Well with the
human system while il is going on.
But you must not overeat or over
drink if either or both ruins your fig
ure or your complexion any more than
you would continue to spend all Your
working hours indoors. when fresh air
is regarded as just as important as
nourishing food.
This. of course, had much TO do with
the limit put to the duration of II din
ner or luncheon party when this turn
in public opinion began to be noted
In Tic old days 4 quarter of a cen
fury ago or little less. il was the
number of courses-fifteen or sixteen
were quite common--and the va
riety of the wines which were in
mind when swell dinner was mem
toned. Three hours often and rarely
less than two Were given up to the
enjoyment of dinner table Four or
hve winesiasses and champa gne
goblet Siittered near every cover and
If there was a special compliment to
be conveyed = small whisky or brandy
glass near bottle of the diners ia
xorite brand was placed in addition
Ihere We're water glasses. too for the
plain and the sparkling fluids. of all
TINS display and the general quaffing
of many beverages, only the water
glasses survive at many tables be-
cause every day transportation ON the
water wagon is now regarded as Il
wise precaution. The LIQUID accom-
panilncnt$ to the average smart din
her nowadays is Il white wine, if one
wants it. for the fish. followed by
champagne. when the real meal is on
rihtS IKE cocktails To precedc the
dinner before the guests leave tn.
place Of assembling and Iiuuors
brought on with the coffee also served
away from the table are favored and
are not supposed to count heavily on
cilhef side of the drink problem I'm
up-to-date dinner from Ten TO twenty
covers or even more is served within
an hour or perhaps fifteen minutes
longer Few Will have more than six
or seven courses. unless there arc
prodiSious appetites to he anu.asaI
and many subjects to be discussed