A very effective
and inexpensive cloth may be made in this way : Make an
openwork centre-piece of any pretty appliqu6 or insertion
over some faint shade of wash-satine, following the shape
of the table ; outside the centre-piece, and reaching from
its edges to a point about a quarter of a yard below the
edge of the table, have a section of the tablecloth proper ;
then a wide insertion, another piece of the cloth, and an
edge of lace. The border of the cloth upon the laid table
in the engraving will give an idea of this arrangement.
The use of lace upon table-linen was of early Italian
origin, and was introduced into England before Shakspeare's
time ; so that we are only reviving a pretty fashion in elabo-
rating our table-service.
THE DINNER-TABLE. 9 1
When the efifect of brighter color is desired, a strip of
plush, velvet, or satin, edged with lace, may be laid the en-
tire length of the table in the centre, over the linen doth.
When it is desirable to increase the light in the dining-room,
strips of mirror-glass, with border-glasses for flowers, are
used ; or their edges are concealed by a thick line of cut
flowers. A pretty effect is produced by using large crystal
bowls filled with cracked ice and ferns, or blocks of ice bed-
ded in moss and ferns ; these blocks of ice may be made to
hold shell-fish, prawns, crayfish, or dishes of mayonnaise,
aspic, melons, or iced puddings. Some provision should be
made for the dripping of the ice so that the cloth may not
be spoiled.
When embroidery is desired, the outline of the woven
design of the cloth can be reproduced with gold or silver
thread or gold-colored embroidery-silk : these effects are
Oriental. Clusters of flowers and fruit in natural colors are
embroidered upon heavy momie-cloth or huckabuck, and
the cloths are bordered with deep knotted fringe ; some of
the South Kensington designs for this kind of work are
lovely. These cloths, with napkins to match, are suitable for
noon breakfasts, luncheons, and high teas. A beautiful de-
sign is that of strawberry leaves and fruit, of natural size
and color, embroidered with silk floss upon heavy all-linen
momie-cloth. Colored table-linen of good quality is always
expensive, and the fact that very few colors retain their
freshness after repeated washings makes it comparatively
undesirable. Fruit-napkins are not too expensive to permit
being put aside when they begin to fade. White linen is
always in good taste, and color can be given by the use of
fancy china, glass, and flowers ; besides, white linen can
always be fresh, an important consideration because so
much of the enjoyment of the repast depends upon this.
If the first glance at the table shows a spotless cloth and
92 PRACTICAL AMERICAN COOKERY.
Page 53
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
A very effective and inexpensive cloth may be made in this way : Make an openwork centre-piece of any pretty appliqué or insertion over some faint shade of wash-satin, following the shape of the table ; outside the centre-piece, and reaching from its edges to a point about a quarter of a yard below the edge of the table, have a section of the tablecloth proper ; then a wide insertion, another piece of the cloth, and an edge of lace. The border of the cloth upon the laid table in the engraving will give an idea of this arrangement.
The use of lace upon table-linen was of early Italian origin, and was introduced into England before Shakspeare's time ; so that we are only reviving a pretty fashion in elaborating our table-service.
When the effect of brighter color is desired, a strip of plush, velvet, or satin, edged with lace, may be laid the entire length of the table in the centre, over the linen doth. When it is desirable to increase the light in the dining-room, strips of mirror-glass, with border-glasses for flowers, are used ; or their edges are concealed by a thick line of cut flowers. A pretty effect is produced by using large crystal bowls filled with cracked ice and ferns, or blocks of ice bedded in moss and ferns ; these blocks of ice may be made to hold shell-fish, prawns, crayfish, or dishes of mayonnaise, aspic, melons, or iced puddings. Some provision should be made for the dripping of the ice so that the cloth may not be spoiled.
When embroidery is desired, the outline of the woven design of the cloth can be reproduced with gold or silver thread or gold-colored embroidery-silk : these effects are Oriental. Clusters of flowers and fruit in natural colors are embroidered upon heavy momie-cloth or huckabuck, and the cloths are bordered with deep knotted fringe ; some of the South Kensington designs for this kind of work are lovely. These cloths, with napkins to match, are suitable for noon breakfasts, luncheons, and high teas. A beautiful design is that of strawberry leaves and fruit, of natural size and color, embroidered with silk floss upon heavy all-linen momie-cloth. Colored table-linen of good quality is always expensive, and the fact that very few colors retain their freshness after repeated washings makes it comparatively undesirable. Fruit-napkins are not too expensive to permit being put aside when they begin to fade. White linen is always in good taste, and color can be given by the use of fancy china, glass, and flowers ; besides, white linen can always be fresh, an important consideration because so much of the enjoyment of the repast depends upon this. If the first glance at the table shows a spotless cloth and