FoodNetArchive

The century cook book

1894

Page 109

Presented as published in 1894. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Everything needed in laying a cloth should be first brought into the room in which the table is to be laid, and what you are about to partake of should be your guide as to what you require. For instance if fish is to be served then fish-eaters must be placed to each person, or failing these, two extra forks may be given. In the same way when soup is to be served then put on the necessary spoons at the I go The Dinner Table right side, while the other courses must determine what knives and forks will be needed. The same rule applies to the glasses put upon the table, always to the right hand of each person. If you give three wines then put three glasses of the proper kinds, if only one, then put one glass, and if none, only the tumblers which may serve for either water or beer. It is only in hotels that everything is laid irrespective of what may be ordered. Salt is a necessary accompaniment to every meal and it is a great convenience to have plenty of small salt-cellars, one to each person, or one between two. To .avoid the trouble of passing, pepper, mustard, etc., may also be placed upon the table or handed round by the ser- vants, but as the serving of one meal does not apply to another one must prepare differently the different tables — Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea or Supper. Table Cloths and Napkins. Anybody knowing how to lay a cloth properly and tastefully, prettily and neatly, knows something decidedly worth knowing. The first, or almost the first, attention bestowed by a young wife upon her household affairs should be directed to the laying of the meal cloth. Just as she begins, so, doubtless, she will go on. The laying of the cloth is a most important item in household management; it exercises a certain moral influence upon the inmates of the house in the degree of care or thought that is bestowed upon it. This is a point which, we hope, will not be lost sight of by our readers. The serviettes or table napkins should be neatly and tastefully folded when first put on the table, although afterward in ordinary family use they may be put into rings. We give instructions and illustrations showing a few ways of making these useful articles an ornament to the table, on the following pages. It is a good glan to place them upon the table first so that one can apportion the space allowed for each person and make the napkins equi-distant, and in Fancy Ways of Folding Napkins • 191 laying a dinner-table the roll or piece of bread is put in the folds. FANCY WAYS OF FOLDING NAPKINS The Sachet, First fold the napkin in three, then turn the upper fold to the middle in a hem (No. i). Next fold over the napkin end to end, leaving the hem inside (No. 2). Fold from the outer edge over and over, ing the center (No. 4). repeating the same on the other side. Next fold back a in a diamond shown by dotted line (No. 3) on each side, and put T thecorners under the hemcross- The Palm Leaf. Fold the napkin diagonally across (No. 5). Next the two sides a short distance from the center (No. 6). Fold over the base at the Fancy Ways of Folding Napkins 192 dotted line shown in No. 7. Lastly, pleat the base as a fan, and set it in a ring or glass (No. 8). Cinderella's Slipper. First fold the napkin in three, then again once over to make 1 2 it half the width, fold over at