The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1858-12-16


You may have heard of che student dining among
strangers, who refused everything upon the table
and when the lady, in polite despair, asked. as
there anything to which can help you ? !" replied
" I will take piece ofpie, if you please" 1t is
better to eat some things you do not like than to
be guilty of such i-breeding.
Do not eat in desperate haste, as if yoti had
not time to attend to the wants of the body God
gave you, nor eat your food in immense mouth.
fuls, nor swallow it without proper mastication
Prepare your food on the plate put gravy,
or condiments, or whatever you please on it
there but do not attempt to improve it after you
have once raised it from the plate. Do not ask
for meat, but mention the kind you wish
Do not take salt upon your knife and make
great gathering by striking on it with your fork,
that you may scatter it all over your food at
once but salt each mouthful as you eat it. either
by touching it to the salt, or by touching your
fork to the salt and thus seasoning your food.
Do not lean your arms on the table nor sit
too far back from the table, nor lounge in any
way. Carry your food to your mouth, instead
W yOuT WOUGL " TIE !OOUs
Never use your own knife to help yourself
1t is no more proper to do it than to help vonr.
self from your neighbours plate, and it is exceed.
ingly unpleasant to those who must be belnad
alter you, unless they are equally regardless Of
the deGcasies of life
If accidents happen at table, do not notice
them. 1t is bad enough to tip over a tumbler
and deluge the cloth, without having every eve
turned upon you in consequence of #, and every
mouth utter prolonged oh" Rather make
as little of it as possible quietly laying napkin
over it. So, everywhere, such little misfortunes
should be passed over lightly, and not be allowed
to disturb our self-possession.
1t is desirable to conduct the table dailv in
such way as to require no great change for
company. Our friends enjoy themselves better
when the usual order of family is not disturbed.
and they can feel that they do not add to the
labor and cares Of the housekeeper And this
additional care and anxiety detracts from, TIE
enjoyment of those who receive friends, quite as
much as from those who visit rs 1t is not well
to unnecessarily make "a toll of pleasure" If
the usual order is preserved, everything goes Oh,
much better; there are no Notifying mistakes no
blunders committed by the waiter, no appear.
ances to be suddenly dissolved and no preteu.
sions unpleasantly revealed OF course, / refer
not to ceremonious dinner, but to the entertain.
ment of our ordinary guests from day to day.
When was child recollect good old man
dined with the family where was spending the
Winter. He talked about "long sarce," and
''sh ort seree," and the lady of the house could
not understand him, nor imagine what he wanted.
but her husband was wise enough to know that
when he asked for "long saree,v he wanted
vegetable that sends its roots taporing down into
the earth, as the parsnip; ard By " short sarce,n
he meant tufnips and potatoes. Vegetables are
neither "saree nor sauce. Sauce is something
to give relish to food, as Worcestershire sauce
cranberry sauce, apple sauce 1t is better
to call what is placed on the table for us to eat,
food, rather thar fictuals "Victuals . is OBJ
solete i'll good society. We may speak of VIC
tuaing q ship, but We buy provisions, or eat
] food
! Bepartieular in regardto the cleanliness and
tidiness of your person whenever you go to the
table. Have your hair in nice order, your nails
clean, and your teeth clean, too; and your dress
such, that if a guest should Unexpectedly call,
you need not be ashamed of yourself,
Donot urge your friends to eat more than tEsy
desire, nor apologize for your dinner If it is
good enough for your family it Is good enough
Tor your friends. Ifyour cooking has been I'M
successful too many apologies dc not improve It.
Especially, Go not offer apology for that which
does not require IT, 1t looks too much like fish,
ing for compliments. 1t is not in good taste to
crowd table with great variety of food.
might have mentioned, that where fresh nap
kins are used at dinner, piece of bread may be
| folded in each, and the napkins aid iRthe plates
Bread for dinner, as it is not to be eaten with
butter should be cut in thick Slices and then cut
in rather small pieces.
The extension table is the moss desirable for
the dining room. By the addition of saves. this
can be made as large as yov wish for your room.
Do not select table with corners, but if you
have it, and cannot do better then be thankful
for what you have. The dinner will taste inst as
we'll even it the table on which it is placed does
not quite suit you.
The white French China is the most economi-
cal for use, when it can be afforded 1t is neat
and delicate, and if any pieces are lroken. there
is no difficulty iurepacing them. fit chip
-