The scheme in Photograph II shows a more serious treatment of the dinner table. Soft yellow Wedge-wood was chosen for the tableware. The cloth was of fine yellow linen on to which a wide border of gray was appliqued which, in turn, was edged with a tiny border of violet embroidery picked out with peacock and orange. The four corners were held down by four gold tassels. From a shallow fluted bowl of salmon gray Capri pottery in the center arose graceful Spanish iris out of a bed of blue, yellow, lavender, and rose colored marbles, and through the stems of which a little marble figurine was visible. The candlesticks, porringers, goblets, and fruit bowls were of pewter. The candles were of deep yellow beeswax.

A subtle blending of warm and cool tones was brought about by the soft sulphur yellow of the china, the pinkish gray of the bowl with the note of white in the center, and the silvery sheen of the glassware and the pewter candlesticks and comports. Notes of contrast were supplied by black, coral, and emerald green fruits, the deep yellow of the candles and the blues of the flowers. The pewter and glass reflected the surrounding colors, giving all an air of iridescence and enchantment.

Another highly effective scheme was worked out with Canton ware, that beautiful Chinese porcelain with the landscape decoration in blue.

It was decided that the elaborate landscape decoration of the china would be enhanced by severe simplicity in linen. Gray white linen was chosen and at first no enrichment was thought necessary beside the simple hem. Finally a few simple lines of embroidery were added which gave a touch of charm without destroying the severity and restraint. A greenish gray bowl was used in the center. It was flat and showed the crab flower holders out of which purple iris arose. Four duck flower holders in little bowls were arranged on four sides of the center bowl, and there were two prim little figurines of a Japanese goddess. Comports of Canton ware were filled with black, yellow and green fruit. The charm of the Canton ware was, indeed, irresistible amid such an environment.

Photograph III shows a table decoration for a formal dinner which was inspired by the chaste elegance of two old Italian comports. These set a very high standard for the rest of the decoration to live up to, but it was achieved in surroundings of filet lace, oyster white linen, and lavender and white Wedgewood china. A long runner of oyster white linen was made to extend the full length of the table, and long narrow place mats were designed from an old pattern of filet lace. The runner and napkins were both edged with narrow crocheted filet. A beautiful set of white Wedgewood with a raised lavender figure was selected for the tableware, and for the center a miniature garden balustrade. Four little white boxes held the formal flower beds in the corners. These were filled with blue and violet dwarf ageratum. A tiny marble bird bath was placed in the center and four tall Corinthium column candlesticks stood as outposts at the four corners of the garden. The candlesticks were made even more unusual by the use of glass globes in place of candles and the reddish wax burned in them spread a ruddy glow over the table.

This scheme was often varied by the use of four small urns and a larger one in the center - originally medicine jars in an ancient Italian pharmacy. They were placed on lavender mats, filled sometimes with brilliant orange and yellow candulas, sometimes with yellow roses or lavender sweet peas. The use of black grapes in the white comports was a charming touch.

Some very remarkable sets of table decoration and service have been created by the Durant Kilns. For formal and elaborate functions these have been used with such striking effects that one foreign diplomat-connoisseur who saw them at a dinner given in his honor, carried a mental picture of them back to his own country and had them duplicated for his exclusive use.

One set is of white Italian majolica on a rose body. The comports and side dishes are shaped on the lines of a flat Greek urn with curved fluted handles. The plates and cups have a raised beaded edge of severe simplicity. This set is charming with a cloth of heavy linen of a soft salmon pink with cluny lace place doilies, and pale pink and white tulips with plenty of tulip foliage in the center bowl. A few pink hybiscus are marvelous floating in the finger bowls, and in the fruit dishes should be purple and white grapes, peaches and pink plums, or just a few flowers may be lightly laid in the dishes instead of the fruit. Pink candle shades with lace covers are used on the simple Grecian candlesticks. Pink laurel or rhododendron may replace the tulips.

This same scheme has been worked out in yellow with a yellow table cloth and yellow and orange flowers, or on a mahogany or oak table with white and green which is very refreshing in summer. White flowers and plenty of green leaves and ferns are used. For autumn old-rose button chrysanthemums are an appealing combination with either the pink or an old rose cloth.

An Egyptian set of turquoise blue pottery with winged golden dragons supporting the bowls and comports furnishes a very sumptuous decoration for the large banqueting table. It is superb on a table with a gold leaf top and very fine creamy filet lace doilies, three purple orchids in the center bowl and a single bunch of purple Hamburg grapes with leaves on each fruit dish, and dark purple pansies and mauve primula in the finger bowls. Thick yellow candles without shades give the finishing touch to this scheme.

The Egyptian set can be used equally well on a dark oak table, with purple thistles or yellow and orange flowers.

For a set of turquoise and aubergine (egg plant shade) pottery table decorations, there is a ravishing scheme of magenta petunias, turquoise linen, and orange candles.

For the breakfast table one finds innumerable refreshing and appetizing hand-decorated sets on creamy belleek with little prim bunches of bright enameled flowers, or on white china with substantial pink, green, or pastel shades of blue green, and yellow decorated borders. They can be used on white or cream linen place doilies with narrow colored borders to match, or upon a coarse white or cream linen cloth with colored place doilies. Any of the pale morning flowers fresh with dew make delightful center decorations, and for a house party or company breakfast there should be a stiff little paper frilled nosegay rolled in each napkin.

If breakfast is enjoyed in bed, it may be served on a dazzling white tray with an exquisite rose pink tray cover, and white china with a deep pink border; or the tray may have a green cover and sprigged peasant china; or a delft blue cover with delft blue and white china. For the "entre nous" breakfast there is an "entre nous" service of violet and lavender with the coffee pot, creamer, and sugar bowl all in one and lavender place doilies and napkins.

If the tastes and desires of the family have to be consulted in the setting of the family table, the tea table is the mistress's own, and in it she has full scope to work out her individual ideas and fancies. There are so many original and fascinating tea-sets on the market suitable to all purses and all decorative ideas that there is no longer any excuse for an uninteresting or unexpressive tea table.

For the slender purse there are most attractive Japanese tea sets in high luster and wonderful shades of mulberry, soft blue, rose, green, and deep and pale yellow. For use with them a large wicker or bamboo tray should be purchased and painted at home a deeper shade of the china or black touched with the color. The tray cloth and napkins should be designed of a harmonious tint of linen and finished with a crocheted, hemstitched, or drawn work edge, or a plain hem and a small cross stitch pattern.

For those who can afford the individually decorated sets and linens, there are sets on lavender Wedgewood with designs inspired by the cross stitch patterns in old samplers executed in blue, blue green and dull pink, and with trays enameled to match and tray covers and napkins of delightful blue linen with the motif of the china embroidered in cross stitch in the corners. Or there are sets on deep blue highly lustered ware decorated in soft yellow, rose and black, or on cream china with a bird motif in blue, rose and green with deep blue linens; or on crackled gray china in bright blue and old rose with a gray wicker tray and dull rose linens.

For porch or garden tea service there are whole wicker tables with appliances for protecting the contents of the uncovered dishes and keeping things warm. One charming set was on rose violet china with the decoration in indigo blue. The wicker table was enameled indigo and the tray cloth was indigo with a rose violet cross stitch motif, and the napkins rose violet with indigo embroidery. Little rose violet doilies whose four corners were weighted with jade beads protected the cream pitcher and the lemon dish and there was a tea cozy and muffin basket padded with rose violet with indigo embroidery.