vulgarity. It perplexes the cook ; it agitates the hosts; and the guests soon find out that it is a lamentable failure. Perhaps the greatest defect of the dinners given by the middle classes in England is the want of simplicity and ease. Too much food is prepared ; too many dishes are offered ; the servants in attendance are confused ; and the meal is too protracted. The object of a good dinner-party is not to make a display of plate, china, flowers, or cookery, nor to gorge the party with the endless viands of a City feast, but to promote agreeable social intercourse and cheerful con- versation, and to leave on the memory of those who have been invited to it the impression that they have passed a pleasant evening. To accomplish this object, the first condition is a judicious choice of the number and fitness of the guests. The best number of guests for an agreeable party we hold to be twelve, and it should not in an ordinary establishment exceed fourteen. There is no greater mistake than to suppose that when a dinner- party has been arranged on that footing, one or two couples more can -be added to it with impunity. The table should never, on any account, be crowded. Each guest should have space to sit with ease and comfort. The great object of the host should be to promote general conversation, and as long as the party is limited in numbers, this is not difficult, the best talkers naturally taking the lead in suggesting topics of interest. In large dinners general conversation becomes impossible, and you are at the mercy of the persons who chance to be your next neighbours. It is impossible to get beyond them. CHOICE OF GUESTS. 5 Some givers of dinners hold that it is essential to pair off all their guests, male and female, like the animals when they entered the ark ; but in our judg- ment this is a mistake. There should always be at least two men in excess of the number of ladies pre- sent. They promote conversation, and in the event of the failure of one of the male guests, they avoid embarrassment. In framing the invitations for a dinner-party, it is desirable that the host and hostess should start from some central point in the selection of their guests, such as the presence of some person of interest to whom they wish to pay a mark of courtesy and respect. The character of the principal guest gives, as it were, a colour to the party, and the other members of it should be chosen with some reference to the first in- vitation. It is never expedient to invite persons of widely different political opinions, or very dissimilar social position, or persons wholly unknown to each other, nor on the other hand persons too nearly related or connected either by birth or the business of life. The success of a dinner depends in a great degree on the mutual fitness of the guests, and their friendly re- lations, ivlany a dinner has been spoiled by the pre- sence of one discordant element. Nevertheless when such a misfortune does occur, good breeding on the part of the guests requires that they should lay aside their differences and endeavour to conceal from the master and mistress of the house that they have unconsciously made a mistake. Invitations to a set dinner-party should generally be sent out a fortnight beforehand. The dinner-hour amongst the upper 6 PRECEDENCE.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

vulgarity. It perplexes the cook ; it agitates the hosts; and the guests soon find out that it is a lamentable failure. Perhaps the greatest defect of the dinners given by the middle classes in England is the want of simplicity and ease. Too much food is prepared ; too many dishes are offered ; the servants in attendance are confused ; and the meal is too protracted. The object of a good dinner-party is not to make a display of plate, china, flowers, or cookery, nor to gorge the party with the endless viands of a City feast, but to promote agreeable social intercourse and cheerful conversation, and to leave on the memory of those who have been invited to it the impression that they have passed a pleasant evening. To accomplish this object, the first condition is a judicious choice of the number and fitness of the guests. The best number of guests for an agreeable party we hold to be twelve, and it should not in an ordinary establishment exceed fourteen. There is no greater mistake than to suppose that when a dinnerparty has been arranged on that footing, one or two couples more can -be added to it with impunity. The table should never, on any account, be crowded. Each guest should have space to sit with ease and comfort. The great object of the host should be to promote general conversation, and as long as the party is limited in numbers, this is not difficult, the best talkers naturally taking the lead in suggesting topics of interest. In large dinners general conversation becomes impossible, and you are at the mercy of the persons who chance to be your next neighbours. It is impossible to get beyond them. CHOICE OF GUESTS. 5 Some givers of dinners hold that it is essential to pair off all their guests, male and female, like the animals when they entered the ark ; but in our judgment this is a mistake. There should always be at least two men in excess of the number of ladies present. They promote conversation, and in the event of the failure of one of the male guests, they avoid embarrassment. In framing the invitations for a dinner-party, it is desirable that the host and hostess should start from some central point in the selection of their guests, such as the presence of some person of interest to whom they wish to pay a mark of courtesy and respect. The character of the principal guest gives, as it were, a colour to the party, and the other members of it should be chosen with some reference to the first invitation. It is never expedient to invite persons of widely different political opinions, or very dissimilar social position, or persons wholly unknown to each other, nor on the other hand persons too nearly related or connected either by birth or the business of life. The success of a dinner depends in a great degree on the mutual fitness of the guests, and their friendly relations, Many a dinner has been spoiled by the presence of one discordant element. Nevertheless when such a misfortune does occur, good breeding on the part of the guests requires that they should lay aside their differences and endeavour to conceal from the master and mistress of the house that they have unconsciously made a mistake. Invitations to a set dinner-party should generally be sent out a fortnight beforehand. The dinner-hour amongst the upper 6 PRECEDENCE.

Cookery and housekeeping