The daily gazette., 1876-05-11
FORKS

very polite-saying that "fingers were
made before forks" and that they must
of necessity have been used by our
forefathers to convey food to the
mouth before the invention of those
useful articles, is evident from the
fact that forks were not introduced
into England before the reign of
James |. The English derived this
piece OF refinement from the Italians.
The fact appears from the following
curious extracts from q book entitled:
"Coryat's Crudities; or, Five Months
Travels in France, Savoy, Italy and
High Germany" This book was pub
lished in 1911. II observed a Gu stom," "
said the traveller. "in all those italian
cities through which l passed, that is
not used in any other country that |
saw in my travels, neither do l think
that any other natien of Christcndom
doth use it, only Italy. The Italians
do always ut their meals use little
fork when they cut their meat. For
while with their knife, which they
hold in one hand, they cut their meat
out of their dish. they fasten their
fork, which they hold with the other
hand, on the dish. SO that whesoever
he be that setting in the company of
others at meals, should unadvisedly
touch the dish of meat with the fingers,
he will give occasion for offense unto
the company, insomuch that for his
error against good manners he shall be
brow beaten. if not reprehendcd by
words. This is because the Italians
cannot by any means endure to have
their meat touched with fingers, seeing
all mems fingers are not alike clean"
And I'VE cannot find fault with the
Italians for their desire to be particu.
lar in this regard.
The use of forks was at first much
ridiculed in England as an effeminite
piece of tinery. In one of Beaumon
and Fletcher's plays your "fork car
rying" traveller is spoken of with
much contempt and Ben. johnson has
Joined in the laugh against them in his
Devils an Ass" act ", scene 4:
"Ilave Ideserved this from you
two. for all my'pains at court to get
you each patentg"
For what?"
Upon my project of the forks
Forks What be they z"
The laudable use of forks, brought
into use as they are in Italy, to the
sparing O Napkins
The word FORKS" occur only once or
twice in the Bible-once in the Panta-
teuch, where mention is made of "hesh
forks" evidently invented to take the
meat out of the pot. The other instance
is an account Of the riches of Solomon's
tempt e where singular enough, the Vul-
gate has the word furca," which the
English translation renders Spoon"
The Greeks, with all their elegance,
where Ignorant OF the use Of forks in eat
ing. Even Lucullus was not acquainted
with the luxury. A two-branch instrn-
ment Or two was foand at Herculanem,
but it is clear they were not used at n
table in any period of the Roman his
tory.
l he trst instance that history records
of the use OF forks was at tho table of
John, the good duke of burgundy, and
he had only two. At that period the
loaves were made round; they were cat
in slices, which We're piled by the side of
the carver or ecyrye trdnchdnt (cutting
square,. lie had Il pointed carving knife,
and skewer of drawn silver or gold
which he stuck into the joint. Having
cat of slice, he took it on the knife and
placed 1T on slice of bread, which was
w. ~ ps4p buc9t "A ith VI Dduncn
of mutton had always peice of paper
wrapped round the shank, which the car
yer took hold Of with the left hand when
he carved thejoint. In England, one hun
dred years ago, "a silver tube or holder for
placing on the end of the shank was con-
sldered necessary part of the appoint
mcnt5 OF a genteel table. 1t was custo-
mary at one time in France, when gen
tleman was invited tc dinner, for him to
send his servant with his knife, fork and
spoon; or, If he had no servant he carried
them with him in his pocket. The peas
antry OF the Tyrol, and of parts Of Ger
many and Swi!zerland, generally carry
case in their pockets containing a knife,
fosk and spoon. In our day, the manner
OF using the fork Is considered sign Of
the good or ill breeding Of the person
using 1T. Germans generally grasp it
with clenched fist. 1t is not necessary,
however, IN these days of style and ele-
! gance, to describe how or in what manner
this very useful article should be ham
died, as every one knows what the lsales
OF polite society are in this regard. R31s