After the napkin has been neatly spread upon the tray, place a plate in the middle of the side nearest to you, and then arrange the other dishes about it, with the tiny earthen teapot on the right, and the sugar-bowl and cream-pitcher of silver next to it; the knife, fork, and spoons should be on the right and left of the plate, never in front of it. The various dishes to be served should then be arranged symmetrically in other parts of the tray, not scattered about without the appearance of order. Never crowd a tray. Calculate beforehand how many dishes you will probably have, and select a size accordingly. Serve a single glass or a single cup on a small round or oval tray with a doily, never on a large tray, such as might be selected for a meal. When practicable use silver dishes for meats, soups, coffee, hot milk, or any hot food; when these cannot be had, use hot china. Avoid discords in color. Most women have an instinctive appreciation of color, and by giving some thought to the subject of harmonies, and observing the methods of others who are known to have good taste in such matters, bad blunders in the arrangement of a tray or a table may be avoided. _Red_ with _yellow_, _blue_ with _green_, and _yellow_ with _pink_ are inharmonious combinations of color; but _yellow_ with _white_, _blue_ with _white_, _dull orange_ with _brown_, _violet_, and _pale gold_ are exquisite together. A cup of chocolate in pale pink or dull red, coffee in buttercup yellow, especially when served without cream, and green tea in Nile green, appeal to the eye as well as to the taste, giving double pleasure--gratifying two senses instead of one. Color plays a very important part in serving food. It produces strong effects in some persons who are deeply moved by harmonies or discords in it, as others are by harmonies or discords in music. Color appeals to the esthetic side of some natures much more forcibly than many of us are aware. The story is told of a lady, possessed of unusually keen color-perception, who had been living for many months in a house furnished in monotonous hues, and in which the table was always set in plain white cloth and white china. Being invited to lunch with a friend in the neighborhood, she was moved to tears at the sight of a beautiful table, decorated with a scarlet cloth, flowers, and harmoniously contrasting colored china.