1872 The Gentleman's Table Guide (2nd edition)

PREFACE.

required. During considerable .experience in the service of various festivities to persons occupying distinguished positions in society, I have been frequently reminded of the necessity for some such simple book as that "which I now seek to supply. If there be one characteristic "which distinguish Enghshmen,it is a hearty hos pitality which is only satisfied by presenting an abundance of good things, and the best of their kind,to those who are its objects. There are manyladies andgentlemen who maintain a small, quiet household, where the servants are not expected to be versed in the precise method to..' be observed on special occasions. .There are gentlemen living in chambers who have no oppor tunity ofengaging a regular servant. There are ladies and gentlemen of refined taste who,being anxious that any festivity shall be celebrated "with a weU-appointed table and some recherche feature, hke to arrange the service for themselves, and to be able