What to eat, how to serve it

The cards for an afternoon tea bear simply the name of the hostess, and that of her daughter if the latter is " out," and in the corner is written or engraved " Tea " or "At Home," and the day and the hour of the entertainment. The card of any friend who is visiting the hostess, or who entertains with her, is enclosed in the same envelope. If the invited guest cannot be present, she sends her card, by post or by private hand, so that it may reach the hostess upon the day when she receives. Those people who live in the country, or who are so fortunate as to possess summer places out of town, can give charming outdoor teas, which far surpass in pleasantness anything that can be devised in the city. We Americans live too much in the house, and that, too, in a climate which offers great facilities for a freer mode of life. A tea on a lawn or veranda when the air is full of the perfume of flowers and the country is in its hohday trim is a delight to all those lucky enough to be invited to it. For such a kettle-drum, iced tea and lemonade or claretcup, sandwiches, and cake may be offered, with berries or other fruits when these are in season. FOR a small company the high tea is an excellent form of entertainment. It is not suitable for a large assembly, but when a limited number of guests have been invited to spend the evening in some such recreation as card-playing, it is very pleasant to ask them first to high tea. Or if the latter part of the evening is to be devoted to dancing, a chosen few of the guests may be invited to tea first, and the remainder requested to come later. In that case no supper should be offered to the dancers except cake, ices, and coffee. Should the dining-table be large enough to accommodate all the guests bidden to the high tea, it may be drawn to the requisite length, and all the company seated about it. But if, from the limited dimensions of the dining-room, or because it better suits the fancy of the hostess, small tables are pre- Z 1. Tr-^ ^.m !!. aZTX TT m ^i-ilJli: I'iJ--*: ZL 11^ llSI CLSr llil iLe light li :z.T Ij'.rr "ll"- Lr 55 ^i^ei n izjij be spread TT.ii ^.:ztt i 'i.i:r»rT •:«• & tea d: th. Flowers -1 ,.l1 1 V LL zlr: zllI'^ ::>:-i: a f reirr centie- T c-:-'r. i:i i ti^r^ huit l^ >Tr>a^' vases set abont Lcf^ 'uz. : :L-r.>r- In-iiTi-iiial l«>uqaets are not at all r:«^>es:Jirr. The places sbonld be ar- KiT.^'^i a.^ us:;^, t^ith small silver for each coir-!^, anl the csxial accompanimeDts of b Mtt^rr-j Lat^s — or of bread-and-butter plates — salt-celliirs, glasses, napkins, etc. If it is wiiira v.eatLer, the table mav be further Ixautified bv the bowls or baskets of fresh fruits that are to make part of the dessert, and, in winter, dishes of cake, of preserved or brandied fruits, etc., may be on the table. Should the hostess prefer, however, these may be placed on the sideboard, thus allowing space for the more substantial viands, \vhich at a tea are seldom relegated to the position on tlie side-table that they would take at dinner. At the head of the table sits the hostess, with the tea-tray in front of her. It by no means follows, howeyer, because this repast is called a tea that the Chinese herb should be en evidence. If the party is composed chiefly of young people, the chances are strongly in favor of their preference being for coffee or chocolate. They may be offered their choice of these beverages, which the hostess pours out, the servant passing them with cream and sugar, that each may add of these to suit himself. Kussian tea may possibly be offered, but even this is apt to be less popular than either chocolate or coffee.