HINTS FOR AFTERNOON TEAS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue V, 3 August 1895, Page 150

HINTS FOR AFTERNOON TEAS.

FTERNOON teas are becoming quite a cult, and much competition ensues between hostesses as to whose ’tea’ can be spoken ol as being the least ordinary and the smartest. There are all sorts of little details to which one must pay attention if the * tea ’ is to be a success. A solid slice of cake is a terror to the either assumed or really jaded appetite, which seems, however, able to get through an amazing amount of odds and ends. Sandwiches find special favour ; to begin with, they can be more easily held by gloved hands than any other species of food, unless it be the uninviting dry biscuit, and between the thinnest of bread and butter, cut into tri-

cornered shapes, cucumber, tomatoes, bananas, preserves of all description, pate de fois gras, anchovy paste, and chopped olives, all find themselves represented. One of the newest receptacles for holding these tasty little morsels is a kind of shamrock-shaped tray of Japanese lacquer in each of which a small plate can rest, and yet all be handed at the same time. Of course everyone is familiar with the three-storeyed bamboo trays which stand on lees and are, in fact, a table in themselves, and

here i give an illustration of an idea wii.cn can be carried out by anyone who desires to have a plate with a handle which certainly adds to the ease with which it may be passed to visitors. In the first place a twisted wire handle in the shape of the one that is sketched must be made, and from this runs a round of wire in which the plate rests ; ribbons of two colours are then twisted round and round the handle, and finished off with a bow at the top; clusters of ribbon ornament either side, and little pompons to match being sewn to the ends of the ribbon. Two colours are sometimes twisted in and out together, but if one side is entirely of one colour and the opposite a contrast, such as blue and amber, a still better effect is produced. In addition to being a great convenience these little handles give a sort of festive appearance to the table, and might easily be carried out for children’s tea parties in the schoolroom as well as for afternoon tea.

The highest price the late M. Worth ever received for a dress was £5,000. and it was mainly composed of valuable lace.

The custom of throwing bouquets to leading actresses has all but departed in England ; but at Hamburgh and Mayence it has recently been positively forbidden, on account of the extraordinary things it has become there a practice of enclosing in these huge floral tributes. A large bouquet thrown but lately to a prima donna contained a small terrier dog, which sprang out to the alarmed surprise of the lady in question. A BEAUTIFUL COMPLEXION. Apply Sulpholine Lotion. It drives away pimples,blotches, roughness, redness, and all disfigurements. Sulpholine develops a lovely skin. Is bottles. Made in London—(Advt.)