ices of
any kind. In fact, the silver can be limited to forks and spoons, and
the rest Sheffield or prince's plate. Silver is not expensive, but plate
is considered quite smart, and it has the advantage of being utterly
valueless from the burglar's point of view.

Individual salt and pepper affairs, cut or colored glass, or the hundred
and one knick-knacks which one sees advertised and which eventually find
their way to the boarding-house table, are vulgar.

Before your cloth is laid you should have a cover of felt placed over
the table, so as to form a shield between it and the damask or linen. In
the center goes a silver or plated fernery, filled with ferns and
asparagus vines, on a mirror tray, or an _epergne_ with fruit. Two
heavy, old-fashioned decanters in Queen Anne coasters should be placed,
one at your right and the other at the right of your _vis-a-vis_. These
contain sherry and claret. Four plain silver, plated, or china dishes
are at the corners with salted almonds, olives, _bonbons_, and fancy
cakes. If you wish to be very effective and have the money to spare, it
is smart at a dinner to have silver candlesticks with candles or tiny
lamps gleaming behind red or pink shades at each cover. Two or three
forks are laid at the left of each plate. If more are required, your
servant will replace them. On the right of the plate are the knives,
including one for the roast, with the tablespoon for the soup, if it is
a dinner, and the oyster fork. The napkins should be plain and flat, and
contain a roll of bread. These hints for arranging the table will do for
either luncheon or dinner. Not one of the articles is in itself
expensive, and you may possess them all with the accumulation of years.
If not, a simpler arrangement could be effected, or you could give the
entertainment at a restaurant instead of your rooms or house. The
invitations can be either verbal or written, but at best a luncheon or
dinner in a bachelor's apartments is regarded as a little frolic, and
you must try to preserve the spirit and waive the formalities.

A chaperon, of course, is necessary. The party can be limited to about
eight. If you have a manservant he should be dressed in black coat and
trousers, white shirt, standing collar and tie, and liveried waistcoat.
His duties are to open the door and to serve the luncheon. But a
manservant is not necessary. Some of the smartest bachelors in New York
give delightful little dinners and luncheon