The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-07-16
TABLE MANNERS.
BY sALLIE J. BATTEY.
From POmeroy's Democrat.

f 1hey comprise the sum total of ever
day experience. Great things come bu
seldom; and are many times unrecognizeC
until they pass; but the small things ar,
a part and parcel of our existence
There is no Sinking their significance OF
putting aside their demands.
What we really are is less a matter
for consideration, than what we seem tC
be. Personal induces are convincing
arguments in behalf of classes and denote
the social status of every man, woman OF
child. Every housewife feels the i'm
portance and absolute necessity of incul-
eating table manners. Without this
important feature in the management OF
family-confusion reigns supreme, and
disorder is the synonym of discomfort
The meats may be roasted toN turn.
The bread light and feathery; the pickles,
preserves, pies, and other things perfec-
ton in point of delicacy and wholesome
ness-yet who can enjoy even the feast
of a Sybarite, if the children of the
| household behave like heathens at table,
and swallow their food like a parcel of
half-starved animals? Growing hoys,
especially, full of the glow and glory Of
enjoyable outdoor exercise, are very apt
to regard the process of eating as a
secondary consideration, to which they
cannot possibly vouchsafe valuable time
taken from baseball, velocipede exercise
or croquet.
If they could only pause to remember
that half the ills of life, physical life,
come of the lack of proper digestion,
which evil is produced by needless mat
tention to systematic laws, table manners
would be esteemed an element not to be
disgraced in the achievement of CLASH
cal education.
For the benefit of our small friends of
the boisterous type we will give a few
rules, which are observed by all who
desire their presence agreeable at home
or abroad.
We have known people, excellent and
distinguished, who were really unwel
come visitors in homes of refinement
where culture is a leading principle,
simply because their thoughts were so
lofty as TO exclude all memory of COM
monplaces. Due credit was awarded to
their status Intellectually, yet it did not
weigh against small offenses to the detri- /
ment CT taste and breeding, which was
really of greater consequence, IN so much |
as it affected others more than himself.
This is a free country, thank Heaven, |
and we have all a right, social right, |
to accept what gives us happiness and to |
reject the annoyances which come of an
utter disregard of those about us. 1t is .
a pleasant and yet painful thing to be
fastidious and exacting with regard to
the small courtesies of life, yet that is |
better than to ignore the rudiments of
chiefest delight Difference and polite
ness win more business points than solid /
worth. Habit is monarch whose edicts
are supreme in our daily experience.
How necessary it is for our little friends /
to practice at home what is essential to |
success abroad, social, if not financial.
We have no objection to your buoyant !
life-your bats, balls or what not. A |
boy without spirit and character is fail |
ure, upon whom celebrations are wasted. |
But when you come home from your play /
remember that the house is mammals spec
ial province, and Difference to her wishes /
AMI desires should be your guiding princi-
pal of action. Go quietly to the table |
when the meal is ready, having previous
ly hung your hat upon its particular peg
as neatness and order demand. Re
main standing until the older members of
the family seat themselves; perhaps until
the grace or blessing is asked. Then be
careful to sit down easily and gracefully, /
without striking your elbows against the
table or your feet against the legs. Such
connections are annoying in the extreme.
Avoid creating clatter with the dishes
about you. Wait patiently until you are
helped, and by no means commence
eating until others are provided for.
Your bread may be laid upon the cloth
beside your plate, but to prevent muss-
ing your butter must be put upon the
small dish set for the purpose beside your
plate.
For vegetables use your fork. No one
but a consummate boar will shovel in food
with his knife, which was made to cut
ones food with and not to come in contact
with the lips. Do not gorge your food
or mix things inconsistency together.
Eat slowly and chew your food well. 1t
is a strong animal instinct denoting
lack of birth and breeding, which impels
persons of reckless habit to swallow down
their food like pigs, without proper mas
tication. OF course it must lie in great
hard wads in the stomach, and dyspepsia
is the natural and inevitable result. In
lifting a goblet of water to your lips be
careful not to slop it over, as many do.
There is well bred and dignified way in
which to do everything, and the position
determined for us socially depends in
great measure upon our table manners.
There is world of significance in the
drinking of cup of coffee. Some stir
the liquid so vigorously as to throw half
Of it into the saucer, perhaps upon the
tablecloth; then the cup is seized as if
the contents were something to be speedily /
got rid of, and swallowed with gurgling
report which sounds much like the slop-
ping of swine, to the disgust or amuse- 7
ment of those about them. Thus one of I
the most delightsOme of all our table /
beverages is so used as to become source I
of positive annoyance to those who esteem !
daintiness and delicacy essential to the |
manners at table at all times.
The fashion of slipping coffee with a
teaspoon is unanimous In cities, yet l
confess to enjoying mine in larger guam
titles; yet it is not in the least necessary
to make fEss about 1t or debar others
from the pleasure Of enjoying it with me,
and am sure my young friends will
agree with me.
After you have finished with your
meal, place your knife and fork diago-
nally across your plate, having previously
picked up any fragments of any bread
crumbs beside you on the cloth, leaving
tidy appearance behind you. For the
rest few general rules will suffice.
Never plunge your knife into the but
ter or your spoon into the sugar, or help
yourself to meat or vegetables with your
own fork, knife, or spoon. 1t is polite
at all times to eat what you want, but