The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-08-06
TABLE MANNERS.

Nothing is so important in the train
ing of family of children, after teach
ing them rcverance and to tell the truth,
as to give them good table manners. II
issaid by foreigners to be- great national
defect with us Americans. We do not,
as a nation, comport ourselves well at
table. In the first place we eat too fast,
and are very apt to make 4 noise with
our soup. Well-bred people put their
soup into their mouth without sound,
lifting up the spoon slowly, thinking
about it, and managing to swallow it
noiselessly. In the second place, we
are accused OF chewing our food with
the open mouth, and of putting too
much in the mouth at once. Again, We
are accused, particularly at railway sta.
tions and at hotels, of putting Our heads
in our plates, and Of eating with the
knife instead Of the fork.
Therefore child should be taught to
eat with his fork in the right hand early
and 10 manage knife and fork with ease
and composure. He removes them from
his plate when the plate is placed before
him with them on, and he crosses them
on his plate when he has finished, so
that they may be easily removed. He
also learns to use spoon properly, not
leaving it in his cup, which it may tip
over, but putting it in his saucer. He
breaks his bread neate.y, not covering
the table with crumbs /; nor does he
make bread pills of it, as some slovenly
people do.
No one should leave the table eating.
Let the food be swallowed slowly, and
a few minutes conversation follow the
las, drop of the final cup of coffee, which
generally ends the repast OF dinner. II
IS not well to talk or laugh loud at table
all well-bred people take quiet tone at
meals. A good appetite is no disgrace,
but the people who eat great deal,
ravenously and fast, are never consid-
cred refined. We should moderate our
appetites in all things, and learn to keep
the rebellious body in order.
Next to greediness, indecision should
be- avoided. Always refuse or accept
promptly. Tell your host il you prefer
white or dark meat /; do not give him
the labor Of choosing. Be firm in your
determination not TO take any kind Of
wine if you do not wish it. 1t is gener-
ally poured by the waiter, that he may
drink it himself after dinner. Never
play with food, nor handle the glass,
silver or china unnecessarily, but try to
be composed in manner even il you do
not feel so.
The mouth should be carefully wiped
with the napkin after soup, after drink
ing, and after eating anything which
can leave its straces on the lips. Gentle
men with mustaches should be very
careful in this respect. 1t isnot now the
fashion to pin the napkin up to the coat
or dress, although some elderly people
do it. The napkin is placed across the
lap, ready, at the right hand
II is no longer the custom, as il once
was, to wait until every one is helped.
The service Of 4 modern dinner rather
demands that every one eats what is
put before him when it is placed there.
A little tact will, however, decide this
question. A hostess must always notice
IL some one is behind the rest in finish
ing, and must fyefem to cat, to keep
him company, unless her guest is un-
reasonably long in getting through.
IL person is so unlucky rs to break
anything at table, the best apology is a
very short one. Do not lose your COM
posure, or trouble your hostess. She will
be far more sorry for you than you can
be for her, IL she is kindly, well-bred
person, and if she is not, her feelings
are Of not so much consequence.
II anything is to be removed from the
mouth, let it be done from behind the
napkin, and all use Of the tooth-pick
should be also from that obscurity. Nor
should one drink or speak with eatables
in the mouth.
In getting rid Of the skins of grapes,
or the pits Of fruit, much delicacy should
be cultivated. The hand is the proper
medium from the mouth to the plate
Some people eat instinctively with great
elegance, some never achieve elegance
in these minor matters, but all should
strive for il. There is no more repulsive
object than a person who eats noisily,
grossly, or inelegantly. DIR. Johnson is
remembered for his brutal way Of eating
almost as much as for his great learning