111 this case, of course, a colored cloth must be used for breakfast and lunch or for break- fast and tea. If the bare table is used at lunch, the housekeeper may manage to make shift with one breakfast cloth, with the ac- companying dozen napkins. If she can pos- ^sibly afford it, however, she should buy two colored cloths and two dozen colored nap- kins. For dinner use she must provide two white cloths with the napkins to match. These cloths may be about two and a quar- ter or two and a half yards long. Besides these, she should have one handsomer white cloth a little longer, to use when she wishes to entertain several guests. There is no rea- son in her purchasing the long table-cloths that range from twelve to sixteen feet in length, unless she has a very large dining- room and anticipates an occasional family party, which will oblige her to use the table in its most extended form. To buy table-cloth damask by the yard is cheaper than to purchase the cloth in one piece. The designs are often very pretty, but the separate cloth is usually more satis- 299 WHAT TO EAT — HOW TO SERVE IT factory. Large flaring patterns are out of place on a small table. Such designs as the old and always pleasing snow-drop pattern, or a little block or diamond, or ivy or fern leaves, or small stars or shells, one does not weary of so soon as of something more showy. It is not worth while to purchase a cloth chiefly on account of its attractive bor- der, for this is seldom seen. The centre fig- ures are those which receive the most atten- tion. In doing up table-cloths there should al- ways be a suspicion of starch used, but there should be none in the napkins. With the provision of table-linen described above and a set of fruit napkins, the house- keeper will be able to manage very easily. Of course she will desire tray cloths, side- board covers, centre-pieces, doilies, and the like, but these may be made by her own fin- gers. The costliness of these consists in the work bestowed upon them, and they can be made at home for half or less than half the price asked for them in the shops. By work- ing them herself play is given to the inge- 300 LINEN AND SILVER nuity of her fancy, and she may have the pleasure of knowing that she has some- thing different from what every one else can buy. The housewife can hardly have too many doilies. Not only are they useful to put un- der finger-bowls, and to lay on cake and bread plates, but they are admirable to place under hot dishes, to lay between a scallop- shell and the plate, under pAtes, etc. And when the home mistress has enough of these, she may set to work to provide herself with carving-cloths, corn and biscuit napkins, and the many other pretty pieces of table linen that are always in demand. There is very seldom a bride who does not receive enough small silver, such as forks and spoons, to supply her own table. If she is not so fortunate, however, she should, if pos- sible, try to buy solid silver, even if she can afford to get but half a dozen pieces of each kind. Should this be beyond her means, she will find plated silver in neat designs, al- though it will in time wear out, while the solid silver will last a lifetime or longer. It 301 WHAT TO EAT HOW TO SERVE IT never pays to buy thin silver, for this bends and dents easily.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

111 this case, of course, a colored cloth must be used for breakfast and lunch or for breakfast and tea. If the bare table is used at lunch, the housekeeper may manage to make shift with one breakfast cloth, with the accompanying dozen napkins. If she can possibly afford it, however, she should buy two colored cloths and two dozen colored napkins. For dinner use she must provide two white cloths with the napkins to match. These cloths may be about two and a quarter or two and a half yards long. Besides these, she should have one handsomer white cloth a little longer, to use when she wishes to entertain several guests. There is no reason in her purchasing the long table-cloths that range from twelve to sixteen feet in length, unless she has a very large diningroom and anticipates an occasional family party, which will oblige her to use the table in its most extended form. To buy table-cloth damask by the yard is cheaper than to purchase the cloth in one piece. The designs are often very pretty, but the separate cloth is usually more satis- factory. Large flaring patterns are out of place on a small table. Such designs as the old and always pleasing snow-drop pattern, or a little block or diamond, or ivy or fern leaves, or small stars or shells, one does not weary of so soon as of something more showy. It is not worth while to purchase a cloth chiefly on account of its attractive border, for this is seldom seen. The centre figures are those which receive the most attention. In doing up table-cloths there should always be a suspicion of starch used, but there should be none in the napkins. With the provision of table-linen described above and a set of fruit napkins, the housekeeper will be able to manage very easily. Of course she will desire tray cloths, sideboard covers, centre-pieces, doilies, and the like, but these may be made by her own fingers. The costliness of these consists in the work bestowed upon them, and they can be made at home for half or less than half the price asked for them in the shops. By working them herself play is given to the inge- nuity of her fancy, and she may have the pleasure of knowing that she has something different from what every one else can buy. The housewife can hardly have too many doilies. Not only are they useful to put under finger-bowls, and to lay on cake and bread plates, but they are admirable to place under hot dishes, to lay between a scallopshell and the plate, under plates, etc. And when the home mistress has enough of these, she may set to work to provide herself with carving-cloths, corn and biscuit napkins, and the many other pretty pieces of table linen that are always in demand. There is very seldom a bride who does not receive enough small silver, such as forks and spoons, to supply her own table. If she is not so fortunate, however, she should, if possible, try to buy solid silver, even if she can afford to get but half a dozen pieces of each kind. Should this be beyond her means, she will find plated silver in neat designs, although it will in time wear out, while the solid silver will last a lifetime or longer. It never pays to buy thin silver, for this bends and dents easily.

What to eat, how to serve it