Soiled dishes she removes from
the right with her right hand, placing them on her tray one at a time,
platter and serving dishes first, then individual dishes and silver
until everything belonging to the course has been removed. Crumbs are
taken up from the left with a crumb knife or napkin, never with a
brush. Many housekeepers prefer to dismiss the maid after the main
part of the meal is served, ringing for her when her services are
necessary, thus insuring a greater privacy during the charmed hour, and
affording an opportunity for those little thoughtful attentions when
each serves his neighbor as himself.

THE BREAKFAST TABLE

The breakfast table is usually laid with centerpiece and plate doilies
these days, and it may not be ill-timed to suggest that every effort be
made to have this meal cheery and attractive, for it is, alas, too
often suggestive of funeral baked meats and left-over megrims from the
night before. If fruit is to be served, followed by a cereal and a
meat or other heavier course, each place is provided with a fruit plate
with its doily and knife, a breakfast knife and fork, a dessert spoon,
two teaspoons, and a finger bowl. The fruit should be on the table
when the family assemble, with the cups and saucers and other
accompaniments of the coffee service arranged before the mistress's
place. Warm sauce dishes for the cereal and warm plates for the course
which follows it must be in readiness.

LUNCHEON

Luncheon is the simplest, daintiest, most informal meal of the
day--just a little halting place between breakfast and dinner, where
one's pretty china comes out strongly. The setting of the doily-spread
table follows the usual arrangement. Everything necessary for serving
tea is placed at the head of the table, with the meat or other
substantial dish at the opposite end. Most of the food is placed on
the table before the meal is announced, and as there are usually but
two courses the plates are changed only once. The only difference
between luncheon and tea being the hour of serving, the same rules
govern both. The lunch cloth or the hemstitched linen strips may be
used instead of the place doilies.

DINNER

Dinner is a more solemn matter. On goes our immaculate tablecloth now,
over a thick pad, its one crease exactly in the middle of the table,
and all wrinkles and unevennesses made smooth and straight.
Centerpiece and posy go squarely--or roundly--in the center, with