The French proverb, 'La variete c'est la vie,' always appeals to me in many things, especially domestic ones. I know nothing such a test of a good housekeeper as a periodic change of biscuits. Everybody tires of the best biscuits in the world, and the new shape and the old biscuits of better quality should ring the changes. All through the summer a slight surprise and pleasure comes at the end of a little dinner if a buttonhole of sweet-smelling flowers and leaves are carefully tied up (fine wire does them the least clumsily) and dropped into the water in the finger-bowls. Nothing should be used but what is really sweet-Lemon-scented Verbena and Geranium leaves being the principal foundation; and in summer there ought always to be plenty of these two in the smallest gardens.

I think it may be a little amusement or help to some of you if I make a list of a few of my dinner-table decorations during the six months in the country: