Young Queen's Kindness

About one hundred and ten years ago, Holland had a king who ruled his people wisely.  He was careful about the management of his country's business and his own household affairs.  Indeed, so thrifty was he that many of his subjects thought of him as stingy.

His queen was somewhat younger than he and he was proud of her.  He wasn't stingy about getting rich gifts for her, so she had all she wanted.

One day while the king was visiting some of the shops, he happened to notice an unusually beautiful tea set of very costly porcelain.  "That's just the thing for a gift for my queen," he thought, so he bought it for her.  She was delighted with it when it came as a gift from him.

The tea set was very fragile, though, and the king, knowing this, called all the servants of his palace together one day and told them sternly that if any of them ever broke even one piece of the set, that person would be dismissed from serving at the palace.

The king's servants loved him, and they all knew that he meant what he said, so the tea set was handled with utmost care.  But accidents will happen, as everyone knows, and to the most careful of people, too.

One day a teacup slipped from the hands of the king's chief butler, who was also his oldest and most trusted servant.  It would be be hard for us to imagine the grief of that faithful man.

He was so honest that he wouldn't have tried to hide what he had done even if  he could have one so.  Soon, with tears in his eyes, he carried the broken cup's pieces to the queen.

"Oh, your Majesty, see what I have done!  Now I shall have to leave the palace, and in disgrace, too!" he said.

The young queen was more sorry by far for this good old man than she was for the loss of the beautiful cup.  "Now, don't worry," she told him, smiling.  "Just bring me a little glue."

She carefully mended the cup, and when it was ready to give to him, she said, "Now, when we have our next state dinner I want you to put this mended cup beside my plate, and I want you yourself to pour the drink into it."

It wasn't long after this until there was another royal dinner.  Many knights and ladies were at the long state table, with the king at its head and the queen opposite him at the foot of the table.

The faithful old butler poured the hot drink into the mended cup as the queen had told him to do.  The glue was of a type that quickly melted, and the cup fell apart.  Instantly there was a little swish of the queen's big silken sleeve, and down went the cup's pieces to the floor.

"Oh, your Majesty!" exclaimed the queen.  "See what I have done!"

But he only smiled at her and said, "What does a little accident matter?"

The butler's heart overflowed with joy for this wonderful kindness of the queen who saved him from being dismissed by the king.

~ Norman C. Schlichter

Covering and the Art of the Table

 

The best part of preparing for dinner guests is setting the table!  The art of the table is a form of expression and through it seasons, foods, and personalities can be exhibited.  Linens, candles, flowers, and tableware all work together on the palette of the table, creating a picture of beauty, charm, or whimsy.  From traditional to quirky, a tablesetting is only limited by one's imagination.  Although an 'anything goes' approach is preferred by some, the proper principles of tablesetting are designed to facilitate service  for the comfort and enjoyment of each table guest.  

Most tablesettings start with a clean table.  Sometimes gleaming with polished charm, a lace, voile, or net cloth is placed over the table without pad or underlayer.  This allows the natural wood of the table to show through.  At other times, a pad (sometimes called a silence cloth) is placed on the table first and a full-size table cloth is placed over the top.  A proper overhang of the edges of the cloth on table are 10 to 15 inches, but can be even greater if a very large table is used.  For casual dining and entertaining, the more formal, full-size tablecoverings are usually replaced with something more casual.  Smaller luncheon cloths or placemats have become the norm for this type of entertaining.  

Table linens range from simple damask to colorful, embroidered pieces.  Each sets the tone for the table, enhancing and complimenting the china and accroutrements it displays.  


What's on your table today?

The Little Silver Teaspoon

Sometimes something as simple as a silver teaspoon can lighten a woman's heart!  This utilitarian culinary tool was designed to be used for stirring or sipping a cup of tea.  But most of us use it for so much more!  We use it for eating cereal or ice cream from a bowl; for serving sauces or dips; or for scooping into a sugar bowl so we can sprinkle sugar on cereal or tea.  Some of us even treasure the lowly teaspoon for the beauty it brings to our home.  Silver teaspoons in a pressed glass pitcher look beautiful on a sideboard or hutch.  A cluster of teaspoons bundled into one stack and tied with a satin ribbon becomes a lovely accessory when set on a lace doily and end table.  Sometimes silver teaspoons are tied with fishing line and are hung from an object to make a kitchen wind chime.  From tea service to home decor, the silver teaspoon serves many purposes as it becomes an object of hospitality.

When setting a tea table with a teaspoon, it requires a quick check in an etiquette book to determine proper placement.  Most entertainers place it next to the knife, but it really belongs with the teacup and saucer.  The cup and saucer belong next to the plate and flatware.  The teacup and saucer are placed to the right when table setting and the teaspoon belongs on the table to the right of the saucer.  All alone without fork or knife, its gracious charm can shine!

Some are reluctant to use silver teaspoons because they think they are too much work to maintain.  Silver tarnishes when exposed to air and over time silver turns from silver to gray and black.  Polishing with silver polish does not take much time, but an even more simple technique is to place silver teaspoons in a sink of warm, soapy water.  Add a foot or two of aluminum foil, all crumpled up, and let the silver soak for a few hours.  Then wash and dry as usual.  The tarnish should wipe right off!

When reviewing guidelines for teaspoon etiquette, one can smile at the comical rules they explain.  I am even reluctant to repeat them, but I think you might enjoy an overview and a smile as well:

*Do not use sweeping circular motions when stirring your tea.  Instead, place your teaspoon at the six o'clock position and fold the liquid towards the twelve o'clock position two or three times.

*Do not leave your teaspoon in your teacup.  Instead, place it on the right side of your saucer.

The lovely little teaspoon.  Utilitarian.  Useful.  Yet a tiny object that brings joy, especially when used to stir a superb cuppa tea!