AFTERNOON TEA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1849, 24 May 1888, Page 3

AFTERNOON TEA.

l^o- called afternoon tt>u has changed, and not very much for tho better, Bays tho " Philadelphia Times. " It first began by really boing tea, aud tea alone To that wub added uftor a while, sandwiches, pile" de-foio gras, finely-minced chicken and ham, ond sardines, a fow cake*, and a dish ot bon-bone The most fashionable tea of tho past season really amounted to a dinner, with the exception thut no one but the lady receiving was m full evening dress, and that, although ono sat down, still one did not Bit up to tho table. This was most beautifully spread. It was long and oval, with a cover of white satin darnaek that brought out tho cut glass and magnificent silvor m a much finer way than would any colored plush stripes or gold fringes . Decorative dishes were almost entirely of iiuitß, conspicuous among which wore the enormouß hothouse grapes that sell now at 7dola a pouud, and a good sized bunoh is two pounds. Over the dishes of fruit wero arranged tiny rose-colored parasols. The effect was rather pretty, especially as an enormous parasol of the same oolor shaded the li(>ht that came from tall standing lamps Terrapin, oysters cold Rama, bouillon, saudwichoii of all kinda, icos of overy tint and variety, sweets, champaguo, punch, coff ise, chocolate, and lemonade wore uorvod, and there wasn't a particle of toa to be had.