Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-27
Dinner.Table Additions.

THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE FINGER-BOWL
"Pray tender some information" writes A
H., sin regard to f1nger-bowls after dinner.'
The history of dinner. table etiquette, as far as
the cleansing of the fingers goes has caused a
great deal OF discussion, In Notes and
duei les some Information was asked about 1t
number of years ago, but not any very satisfac-
tory responses were received. Table manners
and table eQuipage have been derived from the
French. Strange as 1t may seem, great many
dinner amenities owe their origin to the east
Bibliophie Jacob says somewhere that the nap
kiDs during repast were possibly brought into
use in Europe after the Crusades. Oriental
habits at dinner where the Turk of the old
school to-day having no knife OF fork, plunge5
his fingers In the pillau, is but acontinuation OF
customs OF the times OF Saladln. The Oriental
is excessively clean in his habits, and between
the lingering Of the vtandS and some of the
manipulations of a cook wi 4 his dishes, really
the difference is only this-that the Turk who
guest does it in view of every one, while the
cooks prior actions are not seen. AS fountains
were ever squirting and gufgling In Haroun al
Raschid's banqueting halls opportunities to
have been ever at hand. Oriental people retain
the habit Of hand or finger washing after a
dinner. The method Is not, perhaps, adapted
to our customs, yet it Is very sensible one. A
servant, after the repast, makes the round of
the table (the guests are seated on low cushions
on the floor, holding copper vessel, provided
with very long put narrow spout: In the
tiny stream OF water Is poured over the fin
gers of the guest into the basin, while another
servant follows with towel. The first portion
towel usually serves for all the guests, kind
of universal sack towel, delicate minded Euro
peans rather dislike the custom. 1t is not nee
eSsary to 60 further back, and refer to the Bio
lIcal habits before and after partaking OF food.
AS to the more modern custom, Brillat, Saravln,
whose book on the Physiotoge du govt was writ
ten in the early part OF this cen century, inXelghs
about forty years ago that some people in good
society-they were most always women-com-
menced to wash out their mouths (rincer Ia
bouche) after their meals" Brillat Sarayin dep
recates the custom, and calls it useless, inde-
cent and disgusting, rather directing, however,
his criticism against the mouth-rinsing than
the finger. dipping. IL Is useless, he writes,
"because the mouth is in excellent condition
at the end Of repasJ, when fruit has been par
taken of, or a last glass Of wine or water has
ing Of the mouth after dinner Is a disgusting
habit, and no screening OF this operation, by
placing the hand before the mouth, can conceal
Its objectionable features. II an after-dnner
ablution has to be performed, especially when
fruit is eaten, 1t should be restricted to the use
Of the hnge--bowl alone. The smaller goblet
then introduced In the fnger-bowl should be
discarded, unless, in order to add to the para
phernalia. No attempt to lay down the laws OF
etiquette can be attempted in this column, yet
If A. II. may have observed the behavior Of any
Quirer must have noticed that not one person
month glass To drive If entirelv o,,s ~ nse If
mouIu glass: ~ uliVe IL euIilely ouI VI USE IL
would be only necessary for some one to follow
quietly, yet not too markedly, the actions Of a
pretty woman In the act of cleansing her mouth.
Were she great lady, armed with triple CUR
ass Of aplonlb, she could not stand even the
semblance of a few inquiring looks in which
some mute astonishment was mingled. Now
can there be any action at dinner table among
welLbred people which, when observed, should
cause Inconvenience? Finger bowls, then are
not objectionable, but goblets in the finger
bowls for other usages are certainly as Savarin
calls them in,,tile, irdecente. ct degoutante.-
1Netc York Times.