BREAKFASTS
=Breakfast Parties= have in certain circles become a feature, and
invitations to breakfast are issued both by card and by note.
In official circles breakfast parties are frequently given, the morning
hours up to one o'clock being the only disengaged portion of the day,
and thus the opportunity is taken for offering and receiving
hospitality, and of enjoying the society of friends and acquaintances.
The breakfast hour varies from ten to eleven, according to
circumstances, and the meal somewhat resembles a luncheon, fish,
_entrees_, game, and cold viands being given, with the addition of tea,
coffee, and liqueurs.
Punctuality on these occasions is almost imperative, as breakfast cannot
be prolonged beyond a given limit, and therefore it is not considered
necessary to wait the coming of a late guest.
The guests go in to breakfast as to luncheon. When a party consists of
both ladies and gentlemen, the hostess should lead the way with the lady
of highest rank, followed by the other ladies, the gentlemen following
with the host.
When a party consists of gentlemen only, the host should lead the way
with the gentleman of highest rank, and should indicate to the
principal of the gentlemen present the places he wishes them to occupy
at table; the remainder of the company should seat themselves according
to inclination.
The table should be laid as for luncheon, and decorated with flowers and
fruit. Tea and coffee should be served from a side table by the servants
in attendance.
All dishes should be handed as at luncheon.
For the details of "Breakfast-table Arrangements and Serving Breakfast,"
see the work entitled "Waiting at Table."
The guests usually leave as soon as breakfast is over, unless the ladies
are invited by the hostess to accompany her to the drawing-room, or the
gentlemen are invited by the host to smoke a cigarette or cigar previous
to their departure.
* * * * *
=House Party Breakfasts.=--In the country the breakfast hour varies from
9 to 10.30, and in some country houses it is an understood thing that
the guests are at liberty to come down to breakfast at any time between
nine and half-past ten. In not a few country houses the hostess and the
ladies breakfast in their own rooms, and the gentlemen of the party
breakfast with the host in the breakfast-room.
The breakfast gong is a signal for assembling in the breakfast-room or
dining-room, but it is not the custom to wait for any one beyond five or
ten minutes.
The host and hostess at once take their places at the breakfast-table.
When the house-party is a large one, and space permits, a number of
small tables should be arranged in the breakfast-room, in addition to a
long breakfast-table.
The servants should remain in attendance during breakfast to wait upon
the guests.
There is no general move made from the breakfast table as in the case of
luncheon or dinner; the hostess generally remains until the whole of the
guests have at least commenced breakfast, save in the case of very late
comers, for whom she would not be expected to remain at the head of the
breakfast-table.
The guests leave the breakfast-table as soon as they have finished
breakfast, without waiting for any intimation from the hostess to do so.