Of these social gatherings, conversaziones are of the most pleasant. They are intellectual gatherings, where amusement and instruction go hand in hand. The con- versazione is usually given in honor of some distinguished guest, who is either a literary man, a warrior, explorer, or other celebrated personage. All the guests should be introduced, and the conversation should be general, and may be interspersed with music, dancing, etc. On the Continent of Europe, a recital of some interesting incident, the reading of a poem or essay, or the singing or execution of some brilliant piece of music, often forms part of the programme. The guests should be carefully selected for some distinction, as above suggested; in fact, the endeavor usually is to make them typical gatherings, in which there shall be a mutual interchange of ideas. XI. Concerts, Theatricals, etc. A VEEY pleasant way of passing the long winter evenings is the organization of neighborhood talent into amateur theatrical and concert companies. In these com- binations, it is best to appoint a permanent stage manager, from whose casts or distri- bution of parts there shall be no appeal nor sulking. 1. Where there is no permanent manager, that duty usually falls upon the host or hostess of the house in which the party may be assembled. 2. Farces, one-act, or at most, two-act comedies and burlesques are the best selections, as they require little stage room, and not over one change of scene or costume. 402 TWENTIETH CENTURY HOME COOK BOOK. 3. The amateur company may be merely a neighborhood affair, or it may give representations in neighboring towns. It is not only a very pleasant, but a highly useful amusement, leading to a study and appreciation of the highest grade of literary productions, and educating a taste for the best and most classical works. 4. Li<dit suppers should be provided at the places of meeting, and between the acts there may be intermissions for promenading, handing around cakes, ices, etc. 5. Loud bravoes, clapping the hands boisterously, and other rude methods of applause, arc to be avoided. G. A code of bj'^-laws and a schedule of lines for non-attendance, failure to rehearse or to know parts, etc., should be ado^jted. XII. Parlor Lectures. The etiquette of tea parties, lawn parties, picnics, and out-of-door parties gen- erally, is everywhere well known, but the parlor lecture is just coming into vogue in polite society, and certainly no better mode of spending an evening to intellectual advantage was ever devised. 1. Two plans obtain: First, the members of a community, or those of them, at least, who compose the more intellectual class, organize a society, any of the mem- bers of which are supposed to Ijc in readiness to respond to an invitation to lecture before the societ_y, upon some subject to be chosen by the lecturer 2. The society meets at the residence of one of its members every week, or if deemed better, every two weeks, and as there is a lecture at every meeting, there is room for considerable interchange of ideas, and every member in turn gives the results of his best thought and study. 3. A lady member may contribute a song, the rendition of a brilliant piece of music, or a drawing, painting or piece of art needlework for admiration and criti- cism. Recitations, ecjually with original efforts, are acceptable. 4. The second method is to invite from neighboring towns or cities lecturers eminent in some special line of research, and assemble the society in the parlor of one of its number to sfive him audience. The expense is trifling, when divided among a number, and the instruction and entertainment is beyond computation in dollars and cents. 5. At these entertainments it is usual to provide a table and a lamp with an argand shade for the lecturer, who sits at the table and reads from his notes, or delivers his lecture in a colloquial tone.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Of these social gatherings, conversaziones are of the most pleasant. They are intellectual gatherings, where amusement and instruction go hand in hand. The conversazione is usually given in honor of some distinguished guest, who is either a literary man, a warrior, explorer, or other celebrated personage. All the guests should be introduced, and the conversation should be general, and may be interspersed with music, dancing, etc. On the Continent of Europe, a recital of some interesting incident, the reading of a poem or essay, or the singing or execution of some brilliant piece of music, often forms part of the programme. The guests should be carefully selected for some distinction, as above suggested; in fact, the endeavor usually is to make them typical gatherings, in which there shall be a mutual interchange of ideas. XI. Concerts, Theatricals, etc. A VEEY pleasant way of passing the long winter evenings is the organization of neighborhood talent into amateur theatrical and concert companies. In these combinations, it is best to appoint a permanent stage manager, from whose casts or distribution of parts there shall be no appeal nor sulking. 1. Where there is no permanent manager, that duty usually falls upon the host or hostess of the house in which the party may be assembled. 2. Farces, one-act, or at most, two-act comedies and burlesques are the best selections, as they require little stage room, and not over one change of scene or costume. 3. The amateur company may be merely a neighborhood affair, or it may give representations in neighboring towns. It is not only a very pleasant, but a highly useful amusement, leading to a study and appreciation of the highest grade of literary productions, and educating a taste for the best and most classical works. 4. Light suppers should be provided at the places of meeting, and between the acts there may be intermissions for promenading, handing around cakes, ices, etc. 5. Loud bravoes, clapping the hands boisterously, and other rude methods of applause, arc to be avoided. G. A code of by-laws and a schedule of lines for non-attendance, failure to rehearse or to know parts, etc., should be adopted. XII. Parlor Lectures. The etiquette of tea parties, lawn parties, picnics, and out-of-door parties generally, is everywhere well known, but the parlor lecture is just coming into vogue in polite society, and certainly no better mode of spending an evening to intellectual advantage was ever devised. 1. Two plans obtain: First, the members of a community, or those of them, at least, who compose the more intellectual class, organize a society, any of the members of which are supposed to Ijc in readiness to respond to an invitation to lecture before the societ_y, upon some subject to be chosen by the lecturer 2. The society meets at the residence of one of its members every week, or if deemed better, every two weeks, and as there is a lecture at every meeting, there is room for considerable interchange of ideas, and every member in turn gives the results of his best thought and study. 3. A lady member may contribute a song, the rendition of a brilliant piece of music, or a drawing, painting or piece of art needlework for admiration and criticism. Recitations, equally with original efforts, are acceptable. 4. The second method is to invite from neighboring towns or cities lecturers eminent in some special line of research, and assemble the society in the parlor of one of its number to sfive him audience. The expense is trifling, when divided among a number, and the instruction and entertainment is beyond computation in dollars and cents. 5. At these entertainments it is usual to provide a table and a lamp with an argand shade for the lecturer, who sits at the table and reads from his notes, or delivers his lecture in a colloquial tone.

Twentieth century home cook book