Evening star., 1936-01-23
Accomplished Hostess
Feels That Decoration
Is of Great Importance
General Effect Should Be Changed Often So
That Each Occasion Has Fresh and
Different Atmosphere

| them with nuts and candies. They
were unusually pretty and quite
change from the regulation, stemmed
bon bon dish.
MIRROR table tops are becoming
AA increasingly popular. For very
small party they are charming, and
if an extended table is needed, they
may be simply lifted off, and put
away in safe place, while the table
is made larger, and covered with a
damask cloth in the old, time -honored
way. The mirror top needs no mats
or cloths, or course, and in that way
becomes very practical economy
laundry is lessened amazingly. The
| clear reflection doubles the beauty
of the appointments, and the generally
sparkling effect is delightful. With
this top as base to work on, the
hostess can "let herself go" in the
matter of color schemes, flowers, deco
rations and so forth. On one occa-
sion she may choose pale blue glasses,
blue and white china. yellow napkins
and a centerpiece of pale yellow flowers
in blue glass bowl. Or she. too, may
make her table fit for the snow queens
palace by keeping it all white, silver
and icy crystal.
Figurines of china. or other ma
terials, are being used more and mere
to lend variety to the center arrange
ment on smart tables. Several years
ago it was the fashion to have an en-
tire menagerie of tiny. blown glass
animals scattered about on the mirror
plaque. Now we see large figures
very often lovely old bits of Copen-
hagen, or Dresden porcelain. resur-
rected from some dim corner of the
china closet, or frankly modern pieces
of glass or pottery or metal. Some
times the figures may form a large
set-such as one I saw recently, of
old German porcelain, depicting the
riders, hounds and horses participat-
ing in a seventeenth century boar
hunt.
Perhaps you have something of the |!
kind put away and almost forgotten; |
il SO, by all means get it out. wash it |
of, and use it at your next party! |
In "horsey" communities one often |
sees the whole field" in spirited china
action. brightly colored, and charm
ingly arranged
X X X X
THERE are chromium boats, to set
sailing on a base of dark blue |
mirror: there are mats of silvery cellu-
lose film to go under plates: there are
mats of blue mirror. sprinkled with
silver stars; there is modernistic arti-
fetal fruit. to heap in wooden bowl:
the shops are full Of new and un-
usual things to give fresh appear
ance to your dinner table. Anything
goes" Just so it is different, and either
beautiful, or amusing.
While there is still space left, I
must describe the table that was, in
my opinion. the most beautiful
have ever seen. It was fantastic and
elaborate, of course-and far from
practical for most of us-but it was
so lovely I have never been able to
forget it. The table itself was of snow
white marble. with gold encrustations
along the edge, and on the massive
pedestal. Gold service plates were
usd, and gold fiat ware. Crystal gob-
lets had a covering pattern of trail
ing vines in gold. In the center was
a long shallow bowl of gold filigree,
filled with white orchids. At either
end of this stood tall, slender gold
spergnes, from the top of which more
white orchids tumbled over great
punches of black. hot-house grapes,
by tiny hooks. No candles
we're used. and the room, all of white
marble and white silken hangings,
vas lighted indirectly The effect was
beautiful, and so mag
1ificent that its fundamental ornate
less was necessarily forgotten.
If you wish advice on your indi-
idual household problems, write to
Betsy Caswell, in care Of The Star t
nclosirg stamped self addressed en- ]
elope for reply.