Locatio7i and Furnishing of Dining Boom. The location and furnishing of the dining-room have been discussed in a Uni- versity of Texas Bulletin which may be had on application. A bright, cheerful room should be chosen with a pleasing outlook. The furniture should be simple, so as not to require too much time in caring for it. The table should be placed in the center of the room. A sideboard, buffet, or serving table on wheels should be convenient to it so that desserts or other dishes may be served from it. This saves unnecessary steps to the pantry and kitchen. When no maid is kept, a built-in cupboard or sideboard with a sliding panel opening into the kitchen i.s a great convenience and saves many steps. Table Linen: The table should always be covered with a cloth as spotless as possible. The red figured cloths of our grandmothers should be banished to oblivion. They are neither pretty nor sanitary Simple Courses in Home Economics 145 They become soiled just as (jniekly, but the dirt doesn't show as plainly as in a white cloth. Table linen may be purchased at various prices, but it never pays to buy poor or flimsy grade because it is "cheap." It costs more in the long run. It is usually heavily "dressed," and after being laundered, it is slazy and unattractive. A grade that costs double the amount is likely to have four times the wearing quality. It also has the advantage of staying fresh longer, as it does not muss so easily. There is a very good grade of cotton crepe table cloth and napkins on the market. It is attractive in design, reasonable in price, and has the great advantage of not needing to be ironed. When the laundry is done at home, this is a saving of both time and labor. Silver, Glass and GJiina: The silver, glass, and china should be immaculately clean and shining. Here again simplicity should be considered. Plain silver and glass are much easier to keep clean and much more attractive than heavily chased silver, or the fancy pressed glass. The china should be plain, or very simply decorated. One tires quickly of big flowered designs, or highly decorated and col- ored dishes. Laying tlie Table: The table should be covered first with a "silence cloth" to prevent the clatter of dishes against the wood top. This cloth may be a double cotton blanket, or a double faced Canton flan- nel. There is also a quilted cotton which comes for this pur- pose and which may be purchased by the yard. Over this cloth is laid the table cloth. When lanudered, it should be pressed with as few creases as possible so that it will lie flat and smooth on the table. The center crease should be exactly in the middle of the table, and the ends must hang per- fectly even. A center piece of flowers, a growing plant or sprigs of foilage add much to the cheerfulness and beauty of the table. Lovely wild flowers are nearly always available even when gar- den flowers are scarce. In winter when nothing else is avail- able, carrot tops may be used. They should be cut ofl' to about 146 Bulletin of the University of Texas a "half inch in depth and planted in a shallow dish or bowl. The soft foilage is a charming substitute for the less hardy fern. B re arc/ anof butter p/atte. C/a^>5. A 3/mple Dinner 3en^/ce. Laying the Tahle:

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Location and Furnishing of Dining Room. The location and furnishing of the dining-room have been discussed in a University of Texas Bulletin which may be had on application. A bright, cheerful room should be chosen with a pleasing outlook. The furniture should be simple, so as not to require too much time in caring for it. The table should be placed in the center of the room. A sideboard, buffet, or serving table on wheels should be convenient to it so that desserts or other dishes may be served from it. This saves unnecessary steps to the pantry and kitchen. When no maid is kept, a built-in cupboard or sideboard with a sliding panel opening into the kitchen is a great convenience and saves many steps. Table Linen: The table should always be covered with a cloth as spotless as possible. The red figured cloths of our grandmothers should be banished to oblivion. They are neither pretty nor sanitary Simple Courses in Home Economics 145 They become soiled just as quickly, but the dirt doesn't show as plainly as in a white cloth. Table linen may be purchased at various prices, but it never pays to buy poor or flimsy grade because it is "cheap." It costs more in the long run. It is usually heavily "dressed," and after being laundered, it is sleazy and unattractive. A grade that costs double the amount is likely to have four times the wearing quality. It also has the advantage of staying fresh longer, as it does not muss so easily. There is a very good grade of cotton crepe table cloth and napkins on the market. It is attractive in design, reasonable in price, and has the great advantage of not needing to be ironed. When the laundry is done at home, this is a saving of both time and labor. Silver, Glass and China: The silver, glass, and china should be immaculately clean and shining. Here again simplicity should be considered. Plain silver and glass are much easier to keep clean and much more attractive than heavily chased silver, or the fancy pressed glass. The china should be plain, or very simply decorated. One tires quickly of big flowered designs, or highly decorated and colored dishes. Laying the Table: The table should be covered first with a "silence cloth" to prevent the clatter of dishes against the wood top. This cloth may be a double cotton blanket, or a double faced Canton flannel. There is also a quilted cotton which comes for this purpose and which may be purchased by the yard. Over this cloth is laid the table cloth. When lanudered, it should be pressed with as few creases as possible so that it will lie flat and smooth on the table. The center crease should be exactly in the middle of the table, and the ends must hang perfectly even. A center piece of flowers, a growing plant or sprigs of foliage add much to the cheerfulness and beauty of the table. Lovely wild flowers are nearly always available even when garden flowers are scarce. In winter when nothing else is available, carrot tops may be used. They should be cut off to about Bulletin of the University of Texas a "half inch in depth and planted in a shallow dish or bowl. The soft foliage is a charming substitute for the less hardy fern. [illustration: Bread and butter plate.] [illustration: Glass.] [illustration: A Simple Dinner Service.] Laying the Tahle:

A simple course in home economics for rural schools