than an actual thimbleful, though they need not
hold a pint, and should bear some relation to the laws of gravitation
in their poise upon the saucer. They should have a smooth rim. A
fluted edge is a most uncomfortable finish for a drinking vessel. The
wafer-basket may be silver, china or cut glass.

For the winter months many hostesses have introduced a variety on the
menu of the five o'clock tea table. Tea is a doubtful beverage in many
hands, and is wholly abjured by many women as injurious to the
complexion, hence a big, egg-shaped urn, beneath which a tiny alcohol
jet burns, is set up in the corner of the drawing-room. The urn is
filled with chicken bouillon, served piping hot in small silver cups,
and with an invigorating dash of sherry for those who prefer it so.
With the bouillon are served platters of toasted water biscuit that
have been sparingly buttered and lightly sprinkled with salt.
Sometimes, in place of salt, a powdering of cheese is grated over the
hot cracker, and for a relish at five o'clock nothing could be
preferable to this light, warm repast. Men, it is well to remark,
heartily advocate the change from insipid tea to the invigorating hot
bouillon.

Pages.

The special innovation for the benefit of women are two drawing-room
pages. These are small, well-trained little boys in buttons, livery or
done up in stippers, white linen and turbans, who at intervals of
fifteen minutes carry about among the callers large lacquer trays, on
which are spread violets and rose leaves, crystallized and salted nuts
with ginger. One is supposed to scoop up a few of the confections or
nuts as the pages pass.

Receiving Friends.

Those friends invited to pour tea or chocolate also come at the hour
named, and after removing their wraps seat themselves at their
particular tables, or at their end of the one long table. It is their
duty to dispense, besides the cups that cheer, words and smiles that
cheer also to every one who comes, no matter whether they know them or
not. Usually they can do much to make it lively for all in their
immediate vicinity. If the afternoon is a long one and guests numerous
several of the receiving party volunteer to relieve those at the urns,
and they spend an hour pleasantly about the rooms and beside the
hostess.

These are the kindly things expected of a woman who accepts an
invitation "to receive," and when she has done them gracefully and
prettily she is a social "sister of