Unless the house-party is
large, all the guests should endeavor to be at the breakfast-
table with some degree of punctuality ; but the breakfast
should begin at its stated hour. Letters and papers may be
l6o PRACTICAL AMERICAN COOKERY.
glanced at during the meal if the party is large enough to be
redeemed from stupidity by such proceeding, but it shows a
lack of courtesy to centre one's entire attention upon a book
during any repast when others are present at the table.
After luncheon the hostess must devote herself to her
guests until it is time to dress for dinner ; that is, she must
devise some scheme of pleasure in which all can join, or see
that individuals have some pleasant occupation offered. But
in no case need she burden herself with undue care ; after
once having made sure that she has placed enjoyment within
the reach of her guests, she may leave them to avail them-
selves of it, or to rest, as best contents them. On Sunday
the hostess should accompany guests to church, when they
desire to attend divine service, preceding them up the aisle,
and standing by the pew-door until they are seated. When
the guests are ready to terminate their visit, the hostess
should be in the parlqr in ample time for them to make their
farewell and reach their train without haste.
^ GARDEN AND LAWN PARTIES.
All brief country entertainments, such as summer garden
and lawn parties, tennis, archery and croquet tournaments,
and picnics and drives, are arranged with reference to the
weather: the invitations take on the form of an informal
note, and usually bear the proviso "weather permitting,"
although guests are never expected on wet days. The invi-
tations are issued in the name of the hostess, and are not
engraved unless the affair is one of magnitude : when car-
riages are to meet any special train bringing guests from the
city, the invitation should indicate that fact, and a time-table
should be enclosed with the invitation. The hostess should
receive her guests in a handsome garden-dress with a bonnet :
the guests should wear tennis, archery, or other special dress,
when the party assumes any definite character ; otherwise a
THE ETIQUETTE OF ENTERTAINMENTS. l6l
pretty summer dress is suitable for the ladies, and any well-
made flannel or woollen suit for the gentlemen.
When the entertainment involves special exercise, as when
tennis is played, there should be pleasant seats provided out
of doors ; and if there is not plenty of shade, one or more
tents should be erected; and rugs should be laid if the
ground is at all damp. When games are to be played, the
best possible outfit should be provided, suited in abundance
and variety to the number of guests ; and such games should
be chosen as afford amusement to both ladies and gentle-
men. When the games are exhausting, there should be a
special tent devoted to the comfort of the players, and pro-
vided with such forms of light refreshments and restoratives
as are most quickly conducive to comfort, — cordials, hot
coffee, cigars, and the cooling " cups " especially ; and there
should be an attendant constantly in service there, besides
some one to come and go between the house and the tent.
Page 93
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
Unless the house-party is large, all the guests should endeavor to be at the breakfasttable with some degree of punctuality ; but the breakfast should begin at its stated hour. Letters and papers may be
glanced at during the meal if the party is large enough to be redeemed from stupidity by such proceeding, but it shows a lack of courtesy to centre one's entire attention upon a book during any repast when others are present at the table.
After luncheon the hostess must devote herself to her guests until it is time to dress for dinner ; that is, she must devise some scheme of pleasure in which all can join, or see that individuals have some pleasant occupation offered. But in no case need she burden herself with undue care ; after once having made sure that she has placed enjoyment within the reach of her guests, she may leave them to avail themselves of it, or to rest, as best contents them. On Sunday the hostess should accompany guests to church, when they desire to attend divine service, preceding them up the aisle, and standing by the pew-door until they are seated. When the guests are ready to terminate their visit, the hostess should be in the parlor in ample time for them to make their farewell and reach their train without haste.
^ GARDEN AND LAWN PARTIES.
All brief country entertainments, such as summer garden and lawn parties, tennis, archery and croquet tournaments, and picnics and drives, are arranged with reference to the weather: the invitations take on the form of an informal note, and usually bear the proviso "weather permitting," although guests are never expected on wet days. The invitations are issued in the name of the hostess, and are not engraved unless the affair is one of magnitude : when carriages are to meet any special train bringing guests from the city, the invitation should indicate that fact, and a time-table should be enclosed with the invitation. The hostess should receive her guests in a handsome garden-dress with a bonnet : the guests should wear tennis, archery, or other special dress, when the party assumes any definite character ; otherwise a
pretty summer dress is suitable for the ladies, and any wellmade flannel or woollen suit for the gentlemen.
When the entertainment involves special exercise, as when tennis is played, there should be pleasant seats provided out of doors ; and if there is not plenty of shade, one or more tents should be erected; and rugs should be laid if the ground is at all damp. When games are to be played, the best possible outfit should be provided, suited in abundance and variety to the number of guests ; and such games should be chosen as afford amusement to both ladies and gentlemen. When the games are exhausting, there should be a special tent devoted to the comfort of the players, and provided with such forms of light refreshments and restoratives as are most quickly conducive to comfort, — cordials, hot coffee, cigars, and the cooling " cups " especially ; and there should be an attendant constantly in service there, besides some one to come and go between the house and the tent.