In fitting the dining-room, its capacities should be studied.
Unless there is ample space, no superfluous ornamentation
should be attempted : all desirable room should be given to
the necessary furniture: A movable extension-table for the
centre of the room, and a side-table for carving and another
for extra table furniture, will be needed, in addition to a
buffet or sideboard. This carving-table can be made with
side or corner supports holding shelves, and mounted on
rollers so that it can be brought near the dining-table when
it is required. The next two cuts are taken from Dubois, and
show a movable table and hot-closet combined, with folding
door upon one side, which can be opened in order to expose
the dishes to the heat of the fire, and doors at the front
through which the dishes can be arranged before the fire.
The sideboard may be of any fancied design which affords
78 THE DINING-ROOM AND ITS FITTINGS.
Front of Hot-eloset, with Doott.
PRACTICAL AMERICAN COOKERY. Jg
the convenience of shelves for plate and table ornaments,
and drawers and under-closets for linen, cutlery, plate, and
fine glass-ware. The drawers used for plate, and the under-
closets, should be provided with locks. A massive old-
fashioned sideboard of great beauty was arched in the centre
of the lower part, to afford space for a carved wine-cooler of
the same general design, provided with a shelved compart-
ment for salads and cold dessert-dishes. The kettle-drum
tables for afternoon teas are small and portable, with a double
shelf fixed under the top, midway of the legs, to hold extra
cups and plates. But these tables belong in the parlor or
reception-rooms, where refreshments are passed upon trays,
and either held by the guests or placed upon some conven-
ient stand. There should be several such tables in a room.
When a looking-glass or mirror is used, either as part of
a sideboard or for wall decoration in the dining-room, care
should be taken that no rays of sunlight strike it ; because
their chemical action will destroy the perfect distribution of
the amalgam with which the reverse of the glass is coated,
and so cause an appearance of granulation or crystallization
upon the surface of the mirror.
DECORATIONS OF CHINA AND PLATE.
When fine china or old pieces of plate are used in deco-
rating the dining-room, they should be disposed above the
doors and fireplace, on shelves or bra.ckets. The over-
mantel can be made a beautiful part of dining-room decora-
tion ; and a railed bracket can be run around the entire room
just above the head, after the fashion shown in the drawings
given elsewhere of the dining-room ■ in which the table is
laid.
In the summer, when the open fire is not needed, the
fireplace can be hidden by a curtain, run upon a rod set
under the edge of the mantle-shelf; this curtain should not
80 THE DINING-ROOM AND ITS FITTINGS.
mv^'^^w^t
\ \
\ \\\
fiacA of Hot-closet, facing the Fire.
PRACTICAL AMERICAN COOKERY. 8 1
be made of the double-faced canton flannel, or fashion-
cloth, because the material is very inflammable ; any othei
fancy woollen fabric will answer the purpose.
CHAIRS FOR THE DINING-ROOM.
Dining-chairs should be rather lightly constructed, so that
they can be mov^d with ease ; they can be made absolutely
comfortable with practicable cushions, and small hassocks
can be placed under the table for additional comfort.
Page 47
Presented as published in 1885. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
In fitting the dining-room, its capacities should be studied. Unless there is ample space, no superfluous ornamentation should be attempted : all desirable room should be given to the necessary furniture: A movable extension-table for the centre of the room, and a side-table for carving and another for extra table furniture, will be needed, in addition to a buffet or sideboard. This carving-table can be made with side or corner supports holding shelves, and mounted on rollers so that it can be brought near the dining-table when it is required. The next two cuts are taken from Dubois, and show a movable table and hot-closet combined, with folding door upon one side, which can be opened in order to expose the dishes to the heat of the fire, and doors at the front through which the dishes can be arranged before the fire.
The sideboard may be of any fancied design which affords
[illustration: Front of Hot-Closet, with Door]
the convenience of shelves for plate and table ornaments, and drawers and under-closets for linen, cutlery, plate, and fine glass-ware. The drawers used for plate, and the underclosets, should be provided with locks. A massive oldfashioned sideboard of great beauty was arched in the centre of the lower part, to afford space for a carved wine-cooler of the same general design, provided with a shelved compartment for salads and cold dessert-dishes. The kettle-drum tables for afternoon teas are small and portable, with a double shelf fixed under the top, midway of the legs, to hold extra cups and plates. But these tables belong in the parlor or reception-rooms, where refreshments are passed upon trays, and either held by the guests or placed upon some convenient stand. There should be several such tables in a room.
When a looking-glass or mirror is used, either as part of a sideboard or for wall decoration in the dining-room, care should be taken that no rays of sunlight strike it ; because their chemical action will destroy the perfect distribution of the amalgam with which the reverse of the glass is coated, and so cause an appearance of granulation or crystallization upon the surface of the mirror.
DECORATIONS OF CHINA AND PLATE.
When fine china or old pieces of plate are used in decorating the dining-room, they should be disposed above the doors and fireplace, on shelves or brackets. The overmantel can be made a beautiful part of dining-room decoration ; and a railed bracket can be run around the entire room just above the head, after the fashion shown in the drawings given elsewhere of the dining-room ■ in which the table is laid.
In the summer, when the open fire is not needed, the fireplace can be hidden by a curtain, run upon a rod set under the edge of the mantle-shelf; this curtain should not
mv^'^^w^t
\ \
\ \\\
[illustration: Back of Hot-Closet, Facing the Fire]
be made of the double-faced canton flannel, or fashion-cloth, because the material is very inflammable ; any other fancy woollen fabric will answer the purpose.
CHAIRS FOR THE DINING-ROOM.
Dining-chairs should be rather lightly constructed, so that they can be moved with ease ; they can be made absolutely comfortable with practicable cushions, and small hassocks can be placed under the table for additional comfort.