Middles are worked in
the knotting stitch thus : Wind the silk twice around the needle and
push it down in exactly the spot where it was pushed up ; let the silk be
drawn through slowly, being careful it does not tangle, and the twist
around the needle will form the knot. If great care is taken not to draw
the hand tight in the working no anxiety need be felt as to the apparent
54 ENTERTAINMENTS.
puckering. When the work is finished it must be stretched, face down-
ward, on a board and strongly starched at the back, then dried quickly
and removed, when the effect will satisfy the most fastidious jndge ; the
flowers stand up from the ground, which is now quiet flat, and really
seem as if they could be taken up. Those who do this work become
fascinated by it, and it is quickly done as well as being so effective.
Sometimes a groundwork is added of feather stitch in black machine
silk. This has the effect of a tracery background, neither heightening
the effect of the flowers nor detracting from it, but disguising the rough-
ness of the material and preventing its soiling so quickly.
ENTERTAINMENTS.
ANNIVERSARY WEDDINGS.
The first is the paper wedding, which takes place one year after mar-
riage. The invitations should be issued on a gray paper, representing
thin card-board. The presents, if given, should be solely of articles
made of paper.
The wooden wedding is the fifth anniversary of the marriage. The
invitations should be on thin cards of wood, or they may be written on
a sheet of wedding note-paper, and a card of wood (plain or painted in
some pretty design) inclosed in the envelope. The presents on this
occasion may range from a wooden spoon to a complete set of parlor
or chamber furniture.
The tenth anniversary of the marriage is called the tin wedding.
The invitations may be made upon cards covered with tin-foil, or
printed upon heavy silver card-board. The guests have the whole list
of articles manufactured by tinners' art, to select from here.
Next is the crystal wedding, on the fifteenth anniversary. Invitations
may be made on thin, transparent paper, or colored sheets of prepared
gelatine, or on ordinary wedding note-paper, inclosing a sheet of mica.
The guests will make offerings to their host and hostess of trifles of
glass, which may be more or less valuable, as the donor is inclined.
The china wedding occurs on the twentieth anniversary. Invitations
should be issued on exceedingly fine, semi-transparent note-paper or
cards. Various articles for the dining or tea-table, for the toilet-stand,
vases or mantel ornaments", are all appropriate for this occasion.
The silver wedding occurs on the twenty-fifth marriage anniversary.
The invitations issued should be upon the finest note-paper, printed in
bright silver, with monogram or crest upon both paper and envelope, in
silver also. All presents should be of silver.
The close of the fiftieth year of married life brings around the appro-
COFFEE OR TEA PARTIES. 55
priate time for the golden wedding. The invitations for this golden cele-
bration should be printed on the finest note-paper in gold, with crest on
monogram on both paper and envelope in highly burnished gold. The
presents offered are also in gold.
Few, indeed, may celebrate their diamond wedding. This should be
held on the seventy-fifth anniversary of the wedding day.
Page 48
Presented as published in 1886. 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
Middles are worked in the knotting stitch thus : Wind the silk twice around the needle and push it down in exactly the spot where it was pushed up ; let the silk be drawn through slowly, being careful it does not tangle, and the twist around the needle will form the knot. If great care is taken not to draw the hand tight in the working no anxiety need be felt as to the apparent
puckering. When the work is finished it must be stretched, face downward, on a board and strongly starched at the back, then dried quickly and removed, when the effect will satisfy the most fastidious judge ; the flowers stand up from the ground, which is now quiet flat, and really seem as if they could be taken up. Those who do this work become fascinated by it, and it is quickly done as well as being so effective. Sometimes a groundwork is added of feather stitch in black machine silk. This has the effect of a tracery background, neither heightening the effect of the flowers nor detracting from it, but disguising the roughness of the material and preventing its soiling so quickly.
ANNIVERSARY WEDDINGS.
The first is the paper wedding, which takes place one year after marriage. The invitations should be issued on a gray paper, representing thin card-board. The presents, if given, should be solely of articles made of paper.
The wooden wedding is the fifth anniversary of the marriage. The invitations should be on thin cards of wood, or they may be written on a sheet of wedding note-paper, and a card of wood (plain or painted in some pretty design) inclosed in the envelope. The presents on this occasion may range from a wooden spoon to a complete set of parlor or chamber furniture.
The tenth anniversary of the marriage is called the tin wedding. The invitations may be made upon cards covered with tin-foil, or printed upon heavy silver card-board. The guests have the whole list of articles manufactured by tinners' art, to select from here.
Next is the crystal wedding, on the fifteenth anniversary. Invitations may be made on thin, transparent paper, or colored sheets of prepared gelatine, or on ordinary wedding note-paper, inclosing a sheet of mica. The guests will make offerings to their host and hostess of trifles of glass, which may be more or less valuable, as the donor is inclined.
The china wedding occurs on the twentieth anniversary. Invitations should be issued on exceedingly fine, semi-transparent note-paper or cards. Various articles for the dining or tea-table, for the toilet-stand, vases or mantel ornaments, are all appropriate for this occasion.
The silver wedding occurs on the twenty-fifth marriage anniversary. The invitations issued should be upon the finest note-paper, printed in bright silver, with monogram or crest upon both paper and envelope, in silver also. All presents should be of silver.
The close of the fiftieth year of married life brings around the appro-
COFFEE OR TEA PARTIES. 55
priate time for the golden wedding. The invitations for this golden celebration should be printed on the finest note-paper in gold, with crest on monogram on both paper and envelope in highly burnished gold. The presents offered are also in gold.
Few, indeed, may celebrate their diamond wedding. This should be held on the seventy-fifth anniversary of the wedding day.