Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-09-12
At Table---A few Points Of Etiquette.

At Table---A few Points OF Etiquette.
There are few points of etiquette not d-
rectly connected with the giving and receiv-
ing of dinners and teas, but which are of the
first Importance, as they concern individual
behavior. We would be inclined to think
every one acquainted with them, and allu-
sion to them matter of supererogation on
pur part, if it were not that we see them so
frequently violated. Those of our readers
who are. or have always been familiar with
them, will perhaps pardon our speaking of
them for the sake of those who are not.
We do not expect to see these gducheries
in the best society; but there are many peo-
pie perfectly well fitted for the best society
but for ignorance concerning these things,
which, although trifes in themselves, are of
such infinite Importance on the whole. For
instance, where all the requirements are not
fully known, if general cessation of con-
versation should suddenly supervene upon
the serving of the soup, would there be 81
lence in the place not at all ; the gap
would be filed with continuous bubbing
sound from the mouth of some one or other
unlucky wight, whose mother never taught
him to take soup properly, and who is pos
sibly disturbing and disgusting all those
that do better and who know how easily the
trouble might be avoided. Soup is to be
taken from the side of the spoon, not from
the tip, and 1t is not to be sucked in, but
The spoon being slightly tilted it is rather
poured into the mouth than otherwise; the
slightest inhalation is sufficient for the rest.
Another generally neglected obligation is
that of spreading butter on ones bread as it
les on ones plate, or but slightly lifted at
Dne end from the plate it is frequently
buttered in the air, bitten in gouges, and
still held in the face and eyes of the table,
with the marks of the teeth on it. This is
certainly not altogether pleasant, and it is
better to cut it bit at a time, after butter
ing it, and put piece by piece IN the mouth
with ones finger and thumb.
Let us mention few things concerning
he eating of which there is sometimes
doubt. A cream cake and anything of sim
liar nature should be eaten with knife and
fork, never bitten. Asparagus-w which should
always be served on bread or toast, so as to
lbsorb any superfluous moisture--may be
aiken from the finger and thumb; if it is fit
20 be set before you the whole of it may be
saten. Peas and beans, as we all know, re-
quire the fork only. Potatoes, if mashed,
hould be mashed with the fork. Green
corn should be eaten from the cob, but it
nust be held with a single hand, and not
after the fashion of the alderman's wife at
the Lord Mayors dinner. French artichokes
are TO be eaten with the fingers, slightly
pulled apart at the top and one of the leaves
pulled out with finger and thumb; the tleshy
end OF this leaf Is then dipped i'll the salad
.lressiug served with it, aud only that atom
Df paler color at the bottom of the leaf is
taken as it peels off between the lips, when
the dry portion is to be laid back on the
.llate. 1t is always served AS separate
'ourse by itselfi pretty hand looks very
pretty indeed when lingering French artl
choke. Celery, crosses, radishes and all that
sort of thing are, OF course 10 be eaten from
the fingers the salt should be laid upon ones
plate not upon the cloth. Fish is to be eaten
with the fork, without the assistance of the
knife; bit OF bread in the lett hand some
times helps one to master a refractory morse
1t is best to be very moderate in the be-
ginning OF dinner as one does not know
what is to follow, and all the rest may be
spoiled for one by an opposite course. We
remember the else OF lady in Mexico, who,
lining with the governor OF the province,
was served for the first course with hash.
She was somewhat surprised; but it was
very good hash, and she really made her
iinner upon it. But the next course was
also hash--there were seventeen courses OF
nash before the main dinner, of every de-
lcious delicacy under the sun, made its ap-
pearance. OF course tiny morsel OF each
nash, for the sake of the favoring, was all
she should have taken as 1t was, she sat
afterward like Tautalus.
Berries, OF course, are TO be eaten with a
spoon. In England they are served with
their hulls on, and three or four are colsd-
cred an ample quantity. But then IN Eng
aud they are many times the size OF ours.
There they take the big berry by the stem,
dip it into powdered sugar, and eat it as we
do the turnip radish 1t is not proper to
drink with spoon in the cup nor should
one, by the way, ever quite drain cup or
glass. Spoons are sometimes used with
puddi0gs, but forks are the better style. A
spoon should never be turned over in the
mouth. Ladies have frequently an affected
way OF holding the knife half way down its
length, as II II were too big for their hands
but this is as awkward way as it is weak (;
the knife should be grasped freely by the
handle only, the iore-inger being the only
one to touch the blade, and that only along
the back OF the blade at its root, and no
further down. In sending ones plate to be
helped second time, one should retain ones
hHllt anu 10TH, lOI tllt convenience Ol waiter
and carver At the conclusion OF course,
where they have been used, knife and fork
should be laid side by side on the plate
never crossed the old custom OF crossing
them was in obedience lo AN ancient re-
ligious formula. The servant should offer
everything at the left OF the guest, that the
guest may be at liberty TO use the right
hand. Ii one has been given napkin ring,
it is necessary 10 fold ones napkin and use
the ring otherwise the napkin should be
left uniolded. Ones teeth are not 10 be
picked at table, but if it is impossible to
hinder IL, IL should be done behind the nap
kin. One may pick bone at the table, but,
as with corn, only one hand is allowed 10
touch 1t; yet one Can usually get enough
from it with "A knife and fork, which is GER
tainly the more elegant way OF doing; and
10 take her teeth TO it gives the lady the
look OF caring little too much Tor the
| pleasures OF the table one Is, however, on
no account, 10 suck ones fingers after it.
Whenever there is any doubt as TO the
best way TO do thing, II is wise to follow
that which is the most rational, and that
will almost invariably he found to be the
proper etiquette There is reason for
everything IN polite usage thus Tie reason
why one does not blow IA thing 10 cool 1t, Is
not only that it is an inelegant aud vulgar
action intrinsically, but because IL may be
offensive 10 others-cannot help being SO,
Indeed; and it, moreover, implies haste,
which, whether resulting from greedlness VI
from desire to get away, is equally rude
and objectionable. Everything else may be
AS easily traced to its origin in the fiL aud
becoming, Hdrper's BazU.
! .
Peace at Home.