Coffee is the last thing served, and it is considered wholesome, as well as fashion- able, to take it black, that is, without cream ; still cream is usually offered. More specific directions as to carving and the decoration of the table are given on pages 40-45. 652 THE ART OF ENTERTAINING. PRACTICE. It is not an easy matter to welcome change, to adopt new ideas and still remember that " the least affectation is a vice." American women have, however, every requisite for entertaining well. Quick-witted, handy, they have a touch of audacity about them which prevents too much attention to established order and precedent., A clever English- man, dining recently with an American lady in New York, said that he had never been at so admirable a dinner in England. He admitted that he had often seen more magnificent plate, and more elaborate table decorations, but said that the cleverness and the brightness of the Ameri- can hostess, made both the material and the moral side of the feast something new and attractive. All that our women need is practice, and that they may have practice and the virtue and grace of hospitality may abound, it is desirable to simplify the feast, and not lose sight of the greater in the less. Never be deterred from following a pleasant impulse towards hospitality, by the thought that Mrs. B.'s china is hand- somer than yours or that when you dined with Mrs. C. she gave you early peas and strawberries which cost more than you can afford. With a pleasant welcome, good conversation and nicely cooked and served food, your dinner will be a success. CARD PARTIES, ETC. With a card party your success is closely concerned with the arrange- ment of the players. Be sure not to have one player of "bumble puppy" at the table with good and strict whist players. I have heard ladies complain that a whist party cost them more trouble than any other on this account. For the refreshments at whist parties many have a small table cloth spread on the card table and the salad and cof- fee, cake and ice served without disturbing the position of the players. The great objection is that it leaves the guests so long without an agreeable change' of position. The lately fashionable progressive euchre and Newmarket parties require constant change from table to table, but the game loses, in fact, is not of much consequence. At musical parties, as well as at operas and theaters, the great point of good manners is to be silent during the performance. Nothing can ever make it excusable or tolerable to talk during the performance of music. Theodore Thomas has been in this respect a useful school- master in America. He often stops the performance till such disturb- ance ceases. Where the performance is dull there is a temptation to talk, but resist it and your reward comes in the pleasant chat between the acts. There should be some way of reporting unmannerly people CARD PARTIES, ETC. 653 who talk in concerts or at the opera, and having them ejected if they persist, as the pleasure for which one has paid is often entirely destroyed by some (usually thoughtless young) people chattering in the next seats. INVITATIONS, IN WHOSE NAME SENT. Young ladies frequently send invitations in their own names, as : " Miss Carrie Parker s C07nplii7ients for Tuesday evening, from eight to twelve o'clock. Dancing."

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Coffee is the last thing served, and it is considered wholesome, as well as fashionable, to take it black, that is, without cream ; still cream is usually offered. More specific directions as to carving and the decoration of the table are given on pages 40-45. PRACTICE. It is not an easy matter to welcome change, to adopt new ideas and still remember that " the least affectation is a vice." American women have, however, every requisite for entertaining well. Quick-witted, handy, they have a touch of audacity about them which prevents too much attention to established order and precedent., A clever Englishman, dining recently with an American lady in New York, said that he had never been at so admirable a dinner in England. He admitted that he had often seen more magnificent plate, and more elaborate table decorations, but said that the cleverness and the brightness of the American hostess, made both the material and the moral side of the feast something new and attractive. All that our women need is practice, and that they may have practice and the virtue and grace of hospitality may abound, it is desirable to simplify the feast, and not lose sight of the greater in the less. Never be deterred from following a pleasant impulse towards hospitality, by the thought that Mrs. B.'s china is handsomer than yours or that when you dined with Mrs. C. she gave you early peas and strawberries which cost more than you can afford. With a pleasant welcome, good conversation and nicely cooked and served food, your dinner will be a success. CARD PARTIES, ETC. With a card party your success is closely concerned with the arrangement of the players. Be sure not to have one player of "bumble puppy" at the table with good and strict whist players. I have heard ladies complain that a whist party cost them more trouble than any other on this account. For the refreshments at whist parties many have a small table cloth spread on the card table and the salad and coffee, cake and ice served without disturbing the position of the players. The great objection is that it leaves the guests so long without an agreeable change' of position. The lately fashionable progressive euchre and Newmarket parties require constant change from table to table, but the game loses, in fact, is not of much consequence. At musical parties, as well as at operas and theaters, the great point of good manners is to be silent during the performance. Nothing can ever make it excusable or tolerable to talk during the performance of music. Theodore Thomas has been in this respect a useful schoolmaster in America. He often stops the performance till such disturbance ceases. Where the performance is dull there is a temptation to talk, but resist it and your reward comes in the pleasant chat between the acts. There should be some way of reporting unmannerly people CARD PARTIES, ETC. 653 who talk in concerts or at the opera, and having them ejected if they persist, as the pleasure for which one has paid is often entirely destroyed by some (usually thoughtless young) people chattering in the next seats. INVITATIONS, IN WHOSE NAME SENT. Young ladies frequently send invitations in their own names, as : " Miss Carrie Parker s C07nplii7ients for Tuesday evening, from eight to twelve o'clock. Dancing."

The household (of the Detroit free press)