SIMPLE DINNERS

Many people who are endowed with all the qualifi- cations for giving and receiving social enjoyment, are deterred from giving dinners by the feeling that they must adorn their tables with all the extravagant ac- cessories of the luxurious dinner givers, if they enter- tain at all.

This feeling is foolish ; some of the least expensive dinners are the most charming and pleasurable. They who are able to entertain but do not, deprive both

themselves and their friends of much enjoyment, and society is a g-reat loser thereby.

An invitation to dinner is an evidence of good will, but the eating- should promote instead of retard social intercourse. The hostess should wlrite her own invi- tations, and but a few things are really necessary for a good dinner. A clean, white table cloth, equally fresh napkins, china, glass and cutlery that are spotless, a few flowers to ornament the table, a comfortable room, well-cooked food, and a light dessert served in good taste — these are all that are needed. Much tact is necessary in selecting the guests for an informal din- ner or any informal affair.

As the intercourse is free and social in informal affairs the important dishes are put on the table, and the hostess can dish out the soup and the host can carve. A French roll or a small slice of bread should be folded in each napkin. If there are servants have them well trained beforehand, so no awjkward mis- takes will be made. The plates should be hot; any meal will be spoiled if the meat is put on cold plates. And the servant should have a napkin around her thumb, as even simple dinners are marred by any lack of neatness. Before serving the dessert the table should be cleared of everything but ' the fruit and flowers, and crumbs brushed on a tray with a brush or crumb scraper. The latter is the best because it is the neatest. Then bring on your dessert dishes. The dinner should not last more than an hour.