THE HOUR OF DINING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11739, 12 September 1890, Page 3

THE HOUR OF DINING.

+ The Pariß correspondent of tho Daily Telegraph-writes:— A question of so«ial and gastronomic importance — nothing less, indeed, ithan the hour of dining is creating much discussion in fashionable and artistic circles here. Of late years the tendency has been to follow London, and to put dinner further and further back, until at last eight o'clock 'has now become the|recognised hour in " high|lift" for sitting down at table to the principal meal of the day. The good old bourgeois habit of serving dinner at six or half -past six ifl maintained in the restaurants of the Boulevards, but in fashionable resorts, in clubs aud in private houses, eight o'clock is invariably the hour selected. A waiter, say, at the Jockey Club would stare if a member asked for anything to eat at six o'clock in the evening, and would very likely remind him in a whisper that breakfast was " Just hoff ." " What are we coming to ?" is the question asked by inveterate diners-out of the old school, who complain bitterly of this prandial innovation. They add, " If this state of things continues it will be impossible to dine in town and attend thereat or concert the same evening." To this complaint there is an invariable response from their fellowsufferert>, " Yes, indeed! it has become a veritable abuse." Further grievance is made that the ladies who lead fashion are disposed to' despose dinner from the preeminent position it has hitherto held, in the diurnal programme of meals in favour of a copious supper at midnight.' They wish to minimise the former and enhancs the importance of tbe hitter. In this, also.they are accused of following tbe lead of English habits, and are anathematised accordingly as if they were leaders of a revolution. With the dinner question versus the supper question before them Parisian epicures will have plenty to talk about during the recess, and the next season may see the matter ripe for decision.

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