note is the blending everywhere upon the table of the delicate
Dresden china colors, blue, pink, yellow and violet.

The fine flowers seen upon the royal china are scattered in embroidery
over the linen centerpiece; on this stands a Dresden bowl holding an
old-fashioned nosegay of pink rosebuds, hothouse daisies with their
yellow centers, pansies and heliotrope. These are tied loosely
together with a bow of blue ribbon, which gives the needed touch of
that color, unless one is able to get natural forget-me-nots or some
other fine blue flowers, like scillas. A few airy and smaller bunches
of the same flowers, in little cut-glass stands, are placed about the
table. The candelabra have pink rose shades.

The finger-bowl mats are embroidered to match the Dresden flower
centerpiece, and floating in the water of the bowls are the different
flowers--a few rose petals in one, a daisy in another and a pansy in
another until each has one. Every cup, saucer, plate or dish used is
of Dresden china, the greater the variety of their shapes the
prettier.

The ice cream is served in small satin cases, in the different pale
colors, blue, pink, violet and yellow. When boxes in these colors
cannot be procured plain white is used. On the top of each is tied a
little bunch of satin flowers composed of tiny pink rosebuds, blue
forget-me-nots, a daisy, a bit of heliotrope, or a few violets.

At the place of each guest is a name card, done in the Dresden design.
The cards are made of water-colors paper and the design painted in
water-color. The color of the painted ribbon bows in the designs given
varies in the different cards in blue, pink, yellow and violet, and
where the loop ends extend over the edge they are cut out, making the
ribbon look more realistic.

The sign of all Dresdenware from the royal factories is the tiny blue
crossed swords on the reverse or bottom of the dish, without which no
piece is genuine; so on the back of the cards one must be sure to
paint the sword sign in just the right shade of old blue, thus making
complete the idea of a veritable feast of royal Dresden.

CONCERNING TEAS.

The distinction between five o'clock teas, kettledrums, afternoon
receptions and high tea, is not very clearly drawn. Strictly speaking,
the afternoon or morning reception is the most formal, and has been
dwelt upon in a former chapter.

High Tea.

This is really the evening supper, which has also been described in
detail, al