How to Talk and Debate (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 Excerpt: ...ball, four musicians may be engaged--piano, cornet, violin, and violoncello. The cornet is often dispensed with in small assemblies, the violin and piano being sufficient. When the piano alone is used, however limited the number of guests, the hostess should secure the attendance of a professional pianist, because the guests ought not to be left to the mercy of those who happen to be present and can be prevailed on to play, while it often happens that those who oblige out of courtesy would prefer taking part in the dance. The place occupied by the orchestra is understood to be the top -f the room, but it is not always convenient to adhere strictly to this rule in a private room, but it is generally the end farthest from the door. The point should be ascertained by the dancers, as in quadrilles, the top couples lead off, and uncertainty leads to confusion. Refreshments must of course be provided for the guests during the. evening; and, as nothing should be handed round in the ball-room, a refreshment-room is absolutely necessary. The refreshment-room should, if possible, be on the same floor as the ball-room, because it is not only inconvenient, but dangerous, for ladies heated by the dance to encounter the draught of staircases, while it is most destructive to their dresses. Provide in the refreshment-room lemonade, tea and coffee, ices, biscuits, wafers, cake, and cracker-bonbons. Supper should be laid in a separate room. What it should comprise, must depend entirely on the taste and resources of those who give the ball. To order it in from a good confectioner is the simplest plan, but is apt to prove somewhat expensive. If provided at home, let it be done on a liberal, but not vulgarly profuse, scale. Substantial fare, ouch as fowls, ham, tongue, tur...