AT HOME WITH THE LADY EDITOR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 29, 16 July 1892, Page 721

AT HOME WITH THE LADY EDITOR.

Under this heading I am very pleased to reply to all queries that are genuine and helpfid to the querist and others. Kindly write on one side oj the paper only, and address to the Lady Editor. IDEAS FOR AFTERNOON TEAS. In response to various queries on this point I will endeavour to give two or three suggestions which may possibly be of service. This form of entertainment is decidedly and deservedly popular. It is inexpensive, and should be informal. One hint I think might be adopted by all givers of kettledrums, as these festivities are frequently styled by uninvited men, and that is, ask your guests into your bed-room to remove their wraps, and if they have walked any distance and their shoes are damp—a frequent occurrence these wet days—give the wiser girls an opportunity of changing them. A pair of dainty in-door shoes is not at all a heavy parcel to carry, and the comfort of the wearer and benefit to your drawing-room carpet is indescribable. As regards removing wraps, it is uncomfortable and risky to sit in one’s out door clothes in a room well warmed, one, indeed, which too frequently becomes hot. Then, when the cold outer air is reached it certainly proves refreshing, yet generally manages to convey unpleasant after-effects, in the shape of a cold. And the victim, feeling warm at the time, wonders ‘ how on earth ’ she caught it. * * * * * * A very charming correspondent of mine suggests ‘ coloured ’ teas, and asks how best to carry out the idea. How would this do? Give a pretty pink tea. Your own frock is a dainty tea-gown of pink cashmere and silk. The tea equipage is pink. The cloth of the same hue. Lovely pink camellias, or pink geraniums or heath, or whatever pink flower is within reach, decorate the room. Over the usual piano drape you have hung a pretty pink cover, and fastened it up with pink camellias. When the lamps are lit, their pink shades show up exceedingly well. (These may be merely crinkled pink paper.) Now this would really cost very little, dear girls, and the effect would well repay the trouble. If you are rich, plenty of pink silk, tastefully arranged, will speedily transform your room into a veritable pink fairyland. If your tea-party is in honour of a bride, decorate entirely with white and green leaves. Now for the eatables. The tea and the cream had better be left severely alone. I have heard of an enterprising demoiselle who coloured the lumps of sugar a delicate pink with largely diluted cochineal. None of the party died. I do not know how she managed not to dissolve the sugar in the process. A great deal of pink icing decorates the cakes, and pink comfits are spread on the bread-and-butter, so that a delicate blush pervades all the good things provided. Of course any colour may be substituted for pink. The invitations must be written on pink paper. * * * * * * Suggestion number two is, 1 am bound to confess, not wholly my own, but I have never heard of its adoption into this colony, so I think anyone is quite safe in propounding it as an original kettledrum idea. It is called ‘ Literary Salad,’ and is a pretty device by which an afternoon teaparty can be entertained with very little extra labour. A few days beforehand dainty little invitations are sent out. These are written on pale green note-paper, but in other respects are in the usual form. The hostess seats herself before a table, on which is a plate of green leaves, and with a rap of her knife calls the ladies to order thus : • Ladies I want to serve a salad, and you are now invited to come up in turn and select a share. ’ Of course each one comes up in haste, eager to solve the mystery. The leaves are pieces of green tissue-paper, on each of which is pasted a slip of white letter-paper, bearing a quotation from some popular or standard author. As each guest passes the table she selects a leaf, and upon reading the quotation gives the name of the author. If she does this correctly the leaf is hers. If she fails she returns the leaf, but some time afterward has another trial in her turn. Some of the quickwitted ones will soon collect a large bouquet of the leaves, and to the one who gathers the largest there is given a pretty prize of some sort. # » * * * * Seeing that women are now to take a great interest in politics, a good idea, whilst the session lasts, would be to write out a short characteristic speech culled from those actually given in the House, and make the ladies guess the author in the same way as previously described. This would be a political education in itself. A very stylish kettledrum lately given at a fashionable English home was a Japanese tea, and the room was decor-

ated and in a measure furnished for the occasion. Japanese matting covered the floor; Satsuma vases and plaques adorned the walls, Japanese shades were placed on lamps and candlesticks, and the screens and lacquered tea tables were of the same manufacture. The deft maid servants were in the national costume, with hair piled high and thrust full of long ornamental pins. At another house where there is no lack of wealth to place ‘ impediments in fancy’s course,’ the Moorish style of furnishing and serving was affected. Divans covered with gay Oriental stuffs were placed against the walls, Moorish curtains and hangings adorned windows, doors and walls ; swinging censors and lamps hung from the ceiling, the former with scented tapers burning in them, and the only pottery displayed was Moorish in decoration and design. The rich, sweet Turkish coffee, almost as thick as syrup, was handed by small black pages, dressed in white Turkish trousers and vests, with sashes and turbans of bright silk. Oriental sweetmeats and nuts and dried and candied fruits were the only confections used. Even the napkins were brilliant with Oriental embroidery in gold and silver. LOVERS' FIVE O’CLOCK TEA CORNER. One of the new screens with an adjustable shelf that may be raised or let down at will, placed in front of a cosy corner, makes a charming retreat for lovers when indulging in the afternoon cup of tea. The frame-work is of wood and of such solidity as to support a shelf for cups and saucers. Japanese fretwork may be let in for a distance of twelve inches at the top of each panel. The curtains are suspended from a brass rod and may be of any of the usual materials. Ecru linen canvas tacked on and painted in oils is extremely pretty. It also affords a good background for one of the tapestry panels now so much in vogue. **# * * * I have a few other questions to answer now, so will merely suggest that some clever girl should send some more hints for afternoon teas which I will gladly publish. In reply to ‘ Matron,’ I believe the following is a good way of cleaning silk. Lay the breadth on a clean deal table, and following the grain of the silk, wash it with a thin lather of soft soap and soft water. Rinse frequently in clean, hard water, and roll in a cloth to dry. Next day sponge with sour porter or stout, and iion while wet, putting a thin cloth between the silk and the iron. The silk will be glossy and stiff, but the stiffness will wear off in the making »Pif- * if- * * * Bertha.—l have never tried to make my hair curl, but am told that this is an effective method of doing so. I take borax, two ounces : gum-arabic, one drachm ; add hot water (not boiling), one quart; stir, and as soon as the ingredients are dissolved add three tablespoonfuls of strong spirits of camphor. It is not expensive, and will not injure the hair as a hot curling-iron so frequently does. Essie L.—When a lady gives a masked ball she usually leaves her guests to choose their own costume, but it is quite permissible for her to propose that a quadrille should be danced by ladies and gentlemen all wearing dresses of the 17th Century, for instance. She would write them each a little note, having first made quite suie that it will be agreeable to the whole party to dance together, and ask them if they consent to wear a certain style of costume, or a costume of a particular period, for the purpose of forming a pretty quadrille party at her ball for which she has already sent them cards of invitation ; or she can leave the arrangement of the quadrille to any one lady or gentleman, who will then find out from her hostess who is invited, and form her set accordingly.