Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-13

In many homes the meal hour Is
Almost the only time that the whole
family meets together for any length
of time. For this reason table CONVEX
sation should be general and cheerful.
Table service, conversation and manners
should be the same whether there is
company or just the family group. The
general atmosphere Of the dining room
much to do with the disposition of the
family for the rest Of the day. Plenty
of sunshine and good views from dining
room windows will also help to add
cheer.
The breakfast corner or alcove is
being used quite frequently and may be
made real time and step saver for the
housewife, but must be well placed to be
Of benefit. This nook may be just large
enough for . table and two high-backed
benches or it may be table with seats
that fold up when not in use, or it may
be large enough for q small table with
chairs. The windows in the alcove
should be low so that one can see out
doors. If rightly placed it will help to
make the breakfast q very pleasing
meal. Young children who require
special food are more easily fed before
the family meal Correct eating habits
should then be taught.
China and SiIverware.
Chinaware for general use should be
heavy enough to wear well. The shape
OF dishes has much to do with the
durability. Some shapes of handles and
knobs are more easily knocked of than
others. 1t is better to buy from open
stock, 30 that broken pieces can be
replaced. Silverware is either sterling
or plated. Sterling is beautiful and
durable but expensive. Platedware NAV
be very durable or worthless. Triple
platedware should last for years with
good care. Do not expect good wear
from anything less than triple plated
When selecting fiat silverware choose
that with a simple design without
grooves or raised patterns which are
hard to clean. Silverware without any
design cleans easily but shows scratches
To avoid furnishing keep silverware
away from matches, coal gas or rubber
bands. Snverware may be easily and
quickly cleaned by dipping in boiling
water to which has been added a little
baking soda. Put two or three cubes of
gum camphor in your silver drawer and
your silverware will remain bright for
long time. All stains must first be
removed before placing in the drawer.
Decorative Arrangements.
There should be symmetry in the ar
rangement of china and silverWare so
that 1t will be restful to the eye Some
times novel touch can be obtained by
using an article of contrast on the
table. One hostess secured a charming
effect by using bright green pottery
salt and pepper containers which. al
though less fine than the glass or silver
ones usually seen, gave character to the
entire color scheme.
By dropping very little leaf-green
cake coloring in crystal bowl or vase
to hold flowers, a very lovely effect is
obtained Of cool depths OF mountain
streams or quiet woodland pools. A
glass bowl filled with the sparkling
green water makes a charming recep-
tacle for white and pink blossoms with
feathery foliage and trailers. A drop
or two OF red coloring will give beau
tiful pink II a rose effect is desired.
Do not limit yourself to the conven-
tional flower vase. use saucers and
large, odd cups and thin, green drinking
glasses and Boston bean pots and water
pitchers and those attractive ginger
jars. You will like them better than
most of the conventional vases. Never
put small flowers in tall holders and do
not put tall flowers in small holders.
Whatever shape your vases are, they
should almost always be perfectly plain
All COlOI. n AOW, IOuuQ, TdLLlcT QdTk
blue bowl holding pale yellow roses,
about a dozen, and f1anked with brass
candlesticks and orange-colored candles,
is lovely, or this same bowl could be
filled with orange -colored flowers and
spikes of blue pelphinium.
To keep the water from souring
quickly In flower vases, remove all
foliage from that part Of the stems
which 60 below the surface of the
water. The addition Of q little char
coal, too. Is effective In keeping the
water sweet. Clear, cool water, to
which a tablespoonful of baking soda
has been added, one tablespoonful to
each quart of water used, will do won
ders in keeping flowers fresh, or the
addition of o little camphor to the
water will aid in the absorption of wateT
by the stems. Flowers that are wilted
may be revived by first cutting OF sew
eral inches of the stems, providing they
are Of the lons-stem variety. and plac-
ing them in q jar or pitcher full Of
rather hot water, not scalding, to which
q little salt has been added, and left
to stand in . cool, dark place until re-
vived. Then they should be arranged
in fresh, cool water.
After washing glass luster candle
sticks for use on the dining table, rinse