Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-03-24
Table Etiquette Ave hundred years

n Eus
Five hundred years ago when the battles
of Gressy and Poictiers had just been fought
----ere printing had been invented Or Ancri-
ca discovered, and before Chauccr had writ
ten his Canterbury Tales--at this time some
philanthrophic individual, whose name has
passed away into the darkness Of ages, was
seized with the idea of writing Boteef CIR
fasye or what would be called in The present
day the "Gentlemen's Pocket Companion
This curious manuscript was found IN az
ter centuries and Incorporated with the Sloane
MSS, which now belong to the British Muse
um a few years since it was hauled oht
from its dusty oIscufity, and printed exelu-
siveIy for the members Of a club Of literais
antiquaflans. But few copies were printed,
so that the one we have in our possession may
be considered almost as good as manuscript
The work is divided into three parts, and
contains iii all some eight hundrel and fifty
lines fi,s first part treats of behavior at
table, the second ffcs.is principally Of tho
moral Obligations, whilst tue tlifsas sspcs-
cial directions as 10 the duties Of the difercns
officers around great mans house. WlsAsa
we have to use the words Of the old author
we shall modernize them as much as posi-
tleaa pig e aeaf4
awhoso will learn Of curtasye lsaith tho
old writer may find it in this book, whether
he be gentleman, yeoman, or knayc. When
thou come TO a lords gate thou must leave
Tiny weapon with the porter at Che gate, and
ask leave 10 speak with thoss within, after
which thuh must bu patient age
J., hsg s' For If he be of high degree, 8
Then him fails TO come to thee 90
III rs Ifhe be gentleman of kin, fia
~ The porter will lead thee to him.iys
"Takc off thy gloves and thy hood at the
hall door, and if the company DO at meat sa.
lutte tho steward, counsellor, and treasurer,
then bow without noise to the gentlemen sit
ting at the right and left Of the hall. Stand
before the screen until the marshal or ubher
bid thee sit at table, when act quietly and
decently.
Pare thy bread in two, the upper crust
from the under. Cut the upper portion into
four quarters, and set them together as il
whole. Cut the lower crust in three, turn it
down, and lay it before thy trencherf Sit
upright, nor touch bread or wine, drink or
ale, until thy mess of meat be offered thee,
lest men say thou art glutton. Keep thy
nails clean, lest thy neighber be disgusted
"Bite not thy bread and lay it down
That is no curtasye to use in town ;agn
But break as much as thou wilt let
- The remnant FOR the poor thou shalt Jet
"Eat in peace, and avoid disputes and games
l .Iet never thy ciheels-Lc made too great
With morsel Of bread that ttssail shalt eat;
An apes mouth men say he makes
/ That bread and flesh in his check bakcs.
"Do not laugh or speak with thy mouth
full, nor sup thy pottago noisily. Let not
thy spoon stany' in thy dish, nor lay it onf
dish side, but cleanse IT, Soil not tho cloth
with thy fingers. Wipe thy mouth'ere drink
ing Cali not for dish that has been taken
from tho board Spit not on the board. nor
play with thy dog.ptee lies'os . slogxs
From tho direction relativcto to claiming the
nose at table, it seems pocket-handkerchieisf
Z
and napkins were not in fashion, as the diner
4 IS directed to wipe his fingers in his ippet or
his skirt 49, ~
"Cleanso not thy teeth at meat sitting
With knife or straw, stick nor wand.
Whilst thou hold meat in thy mouth bc-
leEGzHl ware q lit
:. To drink, that is unhonest cheer,
/ And-also physic forbids it,
And says thou may be cloked By that bit,
J Hit go thy wrong throat into
;. And stop thy wind, thou art fordo.'
'fDont tell scaudalous tales at table; don {
stroke the cat Avoid fouling tho board
cloth with thy knife. Blow not on thy meat {
nor eat with thy knife. Wipe not thy ttstli'
with the boardcloth. Lean not on thine cl-
bow, nor dip thy thumb into thy drink. Dip
not thy ask OF meat into the salt cellar. Spit.
not in the basin where thou washcst after
meat, nor spit like vagabond at any time.
i y s. 81 ----------zn <->psr -un----