Lord Mayor's dinner
is a function--in fine, that is a function which is "a course of
action peculiarly pertaining to any public office in church or state."

The receptions and dinners which, in his official capacity as
President of the World's Fair, Mr. Higinbotham gave were functions.
But the receptions, dinners, high teas, given by people holding no
official position whatsoever, do not partake of the nature of
"functions."

Dinner Favors.

Favors may be simple or elaborate, as the purse of the giver may
dictate. Appropriateness and simplicity, however, show better taste
than the extraordinary vagaries in which some indulge.

Among the really admirable selections which are offered by dealers of
many sorts, nothing is better than the bonbonnieres shown by
confectioners of the higher grade. They are delightful in color,
exquisite in design, and while they are made into receptacles for
sweets for the time being, they can later be turned to a dozen more
permanent uses. One design which is, perhaps, the most elegant of all,
takes the form of an opera bag. It is made of the heaviest cream-white
silk and has embroidered on it in dainty ribbon work forget-me-nots,
tiny rosebuds, or jessamine. At the top it is finished with the
popular extension clasp of fine burnished gilt, and when in use as a
favor is lined with tinted paper and filled with the finest chocolates
or with candied violets.

Slippers, too, are seen, and, while not of glass, are suggestive of
Cinderella's tiny foot. They are crocheted of fine colored cord, are
stiffened and molded over a form, then fitted with a bag of silk and
tied with ribbons of the same shade. Like the bags, they are made the
excuse of sweets, and, like them, they add to the decorative effect,
for they stand in coquettish fashion before each cover and challenge
the admiration inspired in the prince of fairy legend.

Books and "booklets" are much in vogue and make as acceptable favors
as any that can be desired if only selected with judgment and with
care. Small volumes of verse bound in vellum are always good. Single
poems from any one of the recognized poets put up in artistic booklet
form are as nearly perfect as favors can be. Book covers, too, are
good, and some bookmarks are shown that are excellent both in color
and in their evident ability to withstand the usage they are sure to
get if they are allowed to do any service at all.

One clever hostess who gave a dinner, and who