How to Prepare and Serve a Meal; and Interior Decoration Part 5

_Boiled Ham_: For Boiled Ham Champagne or Cider Sauce is best.

Potatoes in practically any form desired, Creamed, Chantilly, Escalloped, etc., with Spinach, Beet Greens, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts are vegetable choices.

_Pork_: Implies the presence of the apple, as Apple Sauce, Cider Apple Sauce, Fried Apples or Apple Croquettes, though Sauce Soubise or Sauce Piquant may also be used with it. Potatoes, if desired, and practically any vegetable are in order.

_Roast Veal_: A Brown Gravy or Sauce Soubise are proper for veal.

Rice, Spaghetti, Macaroni, are accompanying dishes; and practically all the usual garden vegetables are in order.

_Roast Venison_: A Wild Plum Sauce is especially appropriate, plus Currant Jelly. Potatoes should be Saratoga or French Fried. French String Beans and French Peas, Brussels Sprouts (with Chestnuts) and Mushrooms (in Brown Madeira Sauce) will add to the occasion.

CHAPTER XII

MENUS FOR A THANKSGIVING--A CHRISTMAS AND A LENTEN DINNER

[Footnote: From "A Book of Good Dinners for My Friend." f.a.n.n.y MERRITT FARMER.]

THANKSGIVING DINNER

Clam Soup, Browned Crackers. Halibut Rolls, Sauce Tartare, Dressed Cuc.u.mbers. Roast Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing, Giblet Gravy, Maitre d'Hotel Potatoes. Mashed Winter Squash, Onions in Cream, Cranberry Punch. Pear Salad, French Dressing, Thanksgiving Pudding, Hard Sauce, Vanilla Ice Cream, Hot Chocolate Sauce, Sponge Cake, a.s.sorted Nuts, Fruit, Black Coffee.

CHRISTMAS DINNER

Clam and Tomato Consomme. Browned Soup Rings. Olives and Salted Pecans.

Fillets of Sole, Mushroom Sauce. Roast Goose, Giblet Gravy, Frozen Apples. Riced Potatoes, Glazed Silver Skins. Pimento Timbales.

Chiffonade Salad. English Plum Pudding, Sherry Sauce. Coffee Ice Cream, Almond Cakes. Bonbons. Crackers and Cheese. Black Coffee.

LENTEN DINNER

Smoked Salmon and Anchovy Canapes. Tomato Bisque Soup. b.u.t.tered Croquettes, Croutons. Tartlets of Egg with Curry. Boiled Cod, Venetian Sauce. Hot Potato Salad. Cauliflower au Gratin. Cheese Souffle.

Chocolate Bavarian Cream. Black Coffee.

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM OF A BUFFET TABLE]

HOW TO PREPARE A MEAL

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM OF TABLE LAID FOR HOME DINNER WITHOUT SERVICE OF MAID]

[Ill.u.s.tration: LUNCHEON COVER IN DETAIL]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FORMAL DINNER COVER IN DETAIL]

INTERIOR DECORATION

CHAPTER I

LINES AND CURVES

Straight lines in a room call for straight lines in furniture, rugs and hangings. They make a room dignified and serious in appearance. Italian Renaissance chairs and other pieces of that period, and our modern Craftsman and Mission chairs (often hard and stiff examples of the straight-line type of furniture, just as Bokhara, Kazan and Afghan rugs are of the straight-line rug) are furniture of this kind. The severe line is also produced by velvet draperies topped by straight-lined lambrequins. A straight line is to be preferred to a weak curve. And it is usually possible to redeem too straight and rigid an appearance in furniture by relieving long, straight lines (as in tables) by carved ornamentation and the application of curved lines on a secondary plane, i. e., in parts of the legs. In general, when not too rigid, straight lines in interior decoration stand for repose, sobriety and dignity.

CURVED LINES

Curved lines in decoration and furniture are of various kinds. The rococo styles (Louis XV and the Regency) are overluxurious and often weak; the curves in Arabic or Celtic ornamentation vague and obscure.

The undulating curves of Persian rugs suggest movement. Curves, in general, which turn _up_, make an effect of animation and happiness. Wall papers and draperies used to emphasize such furniture curves lend an air of happy animation to the rooms in which they are used.

Contrast to stiff, straight lines is afforded by the use of the curved line in decoration, which offers soft, rich and lovely effects. In general, curved lines make for grace, flexibility and softness.

BROKEN LINES

Broken lines give us a feeling of life and movement. But they should not be used for the permanent decorative lines of a room--the lines of the walls, openings, hangings, draperies, carpets, or large, immovable pieces of furniture which have a fixed place. In pillows which break the long back line of a couch, in cornice moldings, lambrequin bottoms, chair backs, screens, etc., they lend life. But as a rule they should be sparingly used.

VERTICAL LINES

Vertical lines express aspiration and disquietude; diagonal lines, action. In wall paper designs and rug patterns the diagonal line is not always excellent. Diagonal lines are sometimes effective in rugs; but the feeling of energetic movement they produce in wall papers or drop patterns is objectionable. It annoys the eye and is usually inartistic.

CHAPTER II

FORM, COLOR AND PROPORTION

Never overemphasize one of the dimensions of _height, width_ and _depth_ at the expense of one of the others. They must be harmonized.

OBLONG

The proportions of any room are best when they make a normal impression on the eye. The oblong is the best decorative art _form_, as a rule. It can be used in nearly all ornaments, in walls, doors and windows, ceilings and floors, in rugs and furniture, because it is obvious.