DINNER-TABLE DECORATIONS.

Observer, Volume 6, Issue 147, 7 July 1883, Page 251

DINNER-TABLE DECORATIONS.

Eteet year more attention is given -to tlieflorill decoration of dinner-tables, and this year they " have perhaps been even more elaborately, «Tt ranged than usual. The old style of high; flow^v vases forming a sort of rampart down the centre' of the table has entirely passed away, thougb.»itis not thought necessary to make all the decorations so low as was the case two or three years ; ,ago« . The custom of having the dessort on the table is • . almost if not quite 'exploded. ; those' who have very handsome dessert services iibw v use tne ( raise2 dishes as receptacles for flowers. The device! i>f" coloured satin or velvet in the centre of the tattle' is not so common as last season '•. still it is often. seen, and if skilfully managed, has a good effect. I saw one table arranged for sixteen with a -piece of blue satin: in the centre ; round it were laid ' small bouqets of corn flowei'3 and white pinks, the stalks of each bouqet being partially concealed by the next. On the satin were placed . three baskets of wtiite china, tlie centre one being somewhat higher and larger than th.e,others, coutaimng white blush, and crimson peonies. Before each. guest was a specimen glass containing' a boutonuieje consisting of a rosebud'and a spray of stGphaaotis. Another table was arranged for twenty, and had a strip of moss-green plush in the centre, edged with, a rouching of plush and light chenile fribgej which, had almost the effect of an edging .of moss. On the plush were arranged small 'glass baskets,, containing eucharis lilies and other white flowers mingled with maiden-hair. The effect vr&s 4 ESr' tremely cool and pretty. The fashion of using crimson satin seems quite to have passed away ; and this is as well, as the appearance of coolness is much to be desired in a dining-room . Peonies have been very largely .usefl. in decoration this, season. One table I saw wa» covered all over with small china baskets, eachcontaining three — a white, pink, and crimsocuone.. ' Another, a rouud table for twelve, had fern leaves placed on the cloth in two rows intersecting • each. other in figures of eight, and at each intersection, was a glass containing a single crimson jaeonyIn the centre was a fine old silver cup filled "wifii , the same flowers and ferns. Silver receptacles x>f . all shapes look particularly well, filled with flowers. Coloured glass vases do not, in .my opinion., look, so pretty nor show off tlie flowers so well as plain . ones; they, in fact, rather distract tlie eye. Small , glass vases on looking-glass stands always loot . well, as they give brightness to' the table. Arery eff ective table the other night had a strip of «au-de-jSTiI watered silk in the centre, upon which were ■ placed ferns, begonia, and other coloured 'leaves,' with bandies of eucbarist lillies-; in the -ccntrey-oii a glass frtund, were nautilus shells of bog dc perle, iv which were aiTangedeacharis lillies and coloured leaves. Another I saw lately had a strip of look-ing-glass the length of the table, and raised about. :' three inches from it. The sloping skies were' ' covered with moss, from, 'which, a. fringe of fernß -lay on the cloth, and a smaller one on the glass itself. Wiitev-lillies were embedded in the tnpss, and a few wit'i leaves and buds were placed *>n the glass itself. To make them lay quite flatine* stalks must be cut quite out of tke heart of -the flower. , ' • ■ '■ If economy of flowers is an object, the ta"ble,iir not unusually wide, can be _i,iiude to look pretty with specimen glasses which require very few, intermingled vith small china figures bearingshells ov"any other tiny receptacles,, which can.be filled with bonbon;?.' The custom of tracing patterns on the cloth with leaves, ferns, or powers iis extivmeiy p retry, but ifc required much care, -as if not dona with perfect accuracy the effect is not pleasing. All the ornaments, water jugs,, Ac* should be placed on the table first. A very pi-etty table I sn-.v the other day had intersecting circles of variegated (green and white) lcaves>and at each intersection was ablosd'om of the large purple clematis. In the centre of each circle-was a specimen glass containing alternal-ely a bouquet of daisies and one of orange eseheholtzia. IFhe dark-leaved coleus formed Die outline oF anothertable, a. large marguerite being placed between every two leaves. The great point to remember.in all decorations is to use plenty of green, and 4a remember that vrhen there is no coloured centrepiece the gi*ouud work is whit?, and thnt, therefore, if white flowers are used, a double quantity of green should be employed. Those who have friends kind enough to send them flowers from the country should constantly impress tins upon them, or the green is very apt to be ' forgotten.. Indeed, if the selection is left to tlie gardener, . there will very probably be no leaves at all. Very maviy ladies always arrange the table decorutious themselves, and ihej are generally infinitely move satisfactory than when left 4o servants, and amply repay the not inconsiderable trouble. Servants, as a rule, fill vases far too full, and arc apt to emit Hie necessaryamount of green. On the arrival of a basket -of flowers, the best thing to be done with them is -to plunge them heiid-foremost. iulo -i basin of water,, and lmvc them therefor about a quarter of ah. hour ; they should then bn, taken out, the ends ol: the stalks cut, and put into water at onae, and be kept la a cool spot till placed upon the -table. Geraniums must, however, be exceptcd from the overhead bath, as it spoils the velvety texture of the petals. Ladies very cure hiLo f their flowers* generally direct; their gardeners to put a drop of strong gum into each geranium flower before packing, to prevent the petals shedding, as they are mucli inclined to do. It is> not generally known that flowers, fo i ravel well, should ' be gathered perfectly dry, and then put into water, nofc'loo closi-iy pi-cssed -iugv'.ther, for a few hours. . They ahould then bo- packed in a perfectly 'dry , box {\a air-tight one is best), and covered 'with , leaves without, any moisture.

The uulo.)AO'l-for avrmvi, aliovfc sojouvn, and :nr? : t«;viou-: di^.i^pearniic'D.'^li^v- Aiujbral, hns l>t;ei) the of ruiu-'a eoiijeoui^^n-ttLur-piivt of our good ■r;H;'.c?;:.s O£ Anoidatfil.' Suu)6"-e'uul i(. ,"waa -to lajid the iftt'oiMncv.s i.) iii ; ! CaveaiUri'u .v,fd ]3,-iWio uixi'rcicr case: ofibers, to uV.iiu extra lae-Aicnl dii^, as mnny ot tbe crow -.very su'fovi;:^ from * * mri I doioGl"," wlintover that, is— otbe-rs, tbni '.'. supply of ici was neeileil, the firemen. having 1 coinplfunecl oi 1 the excasswe li(?nt - v;bi]eatokingThe real reuson.howevcr, was to s#>if Messrs Miinro and .Milliaan, ot" .Hobson-sttsal;, waiitud to increase iLeir snp'ply of millinery, but us that well-known firm -have just ree'ei vetl a luvge choice assorfcmeu h of nil kindß of ladies' xnateriu], tliey thanlcecl the captain, liquored tip, anjl, the Austral iirop9^dedon her journey. If you-douctuj tlUs/go'JmdloOk'at'tlio'stocK. '. .