n, and sprays of the same delicate plant tied
with baby ribbon of green gave a cool look to the whole. The largest
table was resplendent with cut glass vases filled with golden-rod.
White asters gave a hint of autumn's snow to the third table, and the
ingenuity of the hostess found pleasure in decorating the remaining
one with the delicate grasses and rich-colored small fruits of autumn.
Gold-banded china, cut glass and silver, which had been in the family
for three generations, supplemented the floral charms of the tables.

Choice Blending of Colors.

Autumn and yellow were the main ideas which guided the selection of
the menu for this golden-rod breakfast. Everything possible was in the
yellow tint or rich golden brown. With plenty of cream and fresh eggs
and the fresh fruits of the farm to work with the menu was an easy one
to furnish. Ices served in the shape of tiny melons and cakes
decorated with frosted sugar. As a memento of the feast each guest
retained her name card which bore a spray of pressed golden-rod
fastened with narrow yellow ribbon, and on it in golden script a verse
with some thought suggested by autumn or the flower.

Tiny garden hats of yellow straw, filled with golden-rod, accompanied
the name cards. The golden-rod in itself proved a veritable gold mine
as a help to conversation. Discussions as to whether or not it should
be chosen as the national flower; descriptions by travelers of where
they had seen it growing best, bright quotations of favorite authors
leading to discussions of poems or books by these authors, anecdotes
of travel all followed each other and naturally, led by the clever
hostess who, in her quaint gown of yellow, with golden-rod in her belt
and a spray tucked close to the wide tortoise shell comb which held
her golden hair, looked like the personification of the flower she had
honored at her breakfast.

Wine at a breakfast is optional. If used, two varieties are enough,
and should be in keeping with the principal dishes; claret, sherry,
Burgundy are suitable.

LUNCHEONS.

A luncheon is usually an entertainment given by a woman to women. From
whatever cause, luncheon parties are rapidly gaining popularity among
us. Macaulay wrote, "Dinner parties are mere formalities, but you
invite a man to breakfast because you want to see him," and the same
may apply to luncheon parties for ladies, these being almost
exclusively their affair.

Invitations to small luncheons are u