Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-12-29

Who is wise enough 10 tell why the head
of a man must needs be uncovered III public
places and places OF worship, while 1t Is con-
sidered quite improper i0r woman to re-
move the covering from hers And why,
in eastern countries, must the dust-solled
boots OF the street be laid aside for slippers
which are worn only in the temples and
mosques dedicated to religious worship,
while no. only the heads of men but the
faces of women are covered There are,
perhaps, no people more punculious IN the
observance of forms than the Germans. and
none, from the standpoint of an American.
whose habits at table are more uncouth. In
the very best society you will often see per-
sons sit in an awkward distance from the
table the arms will be quite outspread, and
the elbows elevated, while carving their
food, which is taken into the mouth in ex-
tremely large pieces, and in rapid succession,
and not unfrequently conveyed by the knife
as well as by the fork. No one privileged to
partake ofa professional supper IN German
metropolis would think OF calling the men
and women met with there Doors, because of
the peculiarities of their table habits. One
forgets these very soon, but never the social
delights OF the occasion. This IS
then one instance of the possibility
of rising above preconceived proprieties,
and of recognizing the nobility OF men and
women whose ways are not our ways
An American ambassador to foreign court
had some very distinguished guests to break
fast with him they were unaccustomed to
the use of knife and fork. The host and
hostess, seeing their dilemma. laid aside
their knife and fork. and requested their
guests to do the same and they were bid
den to partake of their food according to
their own methods, which they did and the
delicate Difference to their habits was very
highly appreciated by them.
In Spain, at public tables, we were not un-
frequently proffered tit-bit poised upon the
fork of our native neighbor seated opposite
to us. 1t was something that pertained es-
pecially to the Spanish cuisine, and he de-
sired to call our attention to lis excellence,
and this was his familiar method of doing
1t.
In Norway we often eat our bonny-clab-
ber from the same dish with others. The
section of each partaker was indicated by .
line drawn across it. and each confined his
dip to bis own boundaries At country
wedding that we had the pleasure of attend
ing in Norway, many of the entremets were
passed among the guests, each eating In turn
from the same dish, with the same spoon. At
much or as little as he desired. The native
beer ofthe country was drank from one glass,
passed from guest to guest. At very en-
| ioyable entertainment given us by profes
sor and his family, in the delightful old uni
versiry town. Upsala, a like custom of par
| taking from the same dish with others VIZ:
observed.
There are universal elements Of gooG
| breeding, common to all civilized people
and it is always refreshing TO find them OBJ
served. Superficial society manners car
never supply the place of innate gentility
and he who judges of character by its bauble,
will often pass the true diamond unnoticed
and take for real that which is only gilded.
MARY Stafford Blake in New Age.