It's a problem of weight, you see, and breakage.

Aluminum isn't pretty, glass and silver are heavy, but we all love silver, and there's a pleasant sense of gorgeousness in this outfit." It did look rather impressive; silver tumblers, silver dishes, the whole dainty service--and so surprisingly light.
"You see she knows that it is very important to please the eye as well as the palate," said Mr.Porne.

"Now speaking of palates, let us all keep silent and taste this soup." They did keep silent in supreme contentment while the soup lasted.

Mrs.Ree laid down her spoon with the air of one roused from a lovely dream.
"Why--why--it's like Paris," she said in an awed tone.
"Isn't it ?" Mr.Porne agreed, "and not twice alike in a month, I think." "Why, there aren't thirty kinds of soup, are there ?" she urged.
"I never thought there were when we kept servants," said he.

"Three was about their limit, and greasy, at that." Mrs.Porne slipped the soup plates back in their place and served the meat.
"She does not give a fish course, does she ?" Mrs.Ree observed.
"Not at the table d'hote price," Mrs.Porne answered.