New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-26
DUTCH ETIQUETTE.
From The Leisure Ho1,r

ODLCH EiIQCEIIE.
From The Leisure Hour
IL you receive a general invitation TO or pay a
long visit IN Dutch house, you certainly have the
satisfaction of knowing that your hostess does not
put herself out of the way on your account. She
comes down to breakfast with her hair in curl
papers or crlmpng pins, according TO the fashion OF
her couture: her person Is garbe1 in an Old flannel
dressing gown; she wears neither collar nor
brooch; and | have indeed seen lady appear at
breakfast with stocklngless feet, thrust into old,
dOwn-tTodden slippers in short she is strictly en-
deHa toilette, and makes no pretence whatever Of
beng anything else She dresses in time for the
second breakfast-kofJ it is called.
Should visitor call between the two meals, she
receives him her, as the case may be. She says:
do not profess to have made my toilette"
Once CT twice have suggested: What will he
think y and have always received the same airy
reply: do not make my toilette until koBV time"
| went to pay a short visit at house where only
knew of tire daughters-a charming house -
where met soue of the greatest artists and musi-
cal celebrities in Europe l arrived in time for
SALE filed with pictures and china. won my keeDest
admiration, and finally | welt to roost in one OF
the incest bedrooms and most utterly luxurious
beds it was my good fortune to have allotted
to me. And the next morning arose, dressed, and
found my way to the has SGmeT or ordinary living
room. On the stairs passed stout elderly person,
with queer white net on her head. no hair to Do
seen, clad in very dirty gray cotton wrapper.
She was scolding voeiferously at a nan servant.
and / took her for housekeeper, wondering tho
lady of the house would allow her to go about such
an untidy object Judge of my surprise when she
well, you chlld, and will you not SPEAK with me
this morning ~ 1t my hOstessl l felt myself
turn scarlet as | stammered out an apology,
never should have known her except trom her
voice and the shri tone OF anger and the language
in which she spoke prevented me from recognizing
that
not surprised that had not known her. How was
it possible? | had seen the previous evening q
handsome faT-faced lady, dressed IN the richest or
slken gowns, real lace round her fair throat her
hair all waved and crilnped-brown, rich and shin
ing; dgnifed gracious being who could talk
well and pleasantly upon any subject who spoke
four foreign languages tluentlv-and what did find
the mornlngf Just dirty, untidy shrew!
Really, | wondered how her face could have be-
come SO dirty in those few hours-it looked if it
had not been washed for week.
Perhaps the etiquette which differs the most
from ours is that of the table. l cannot say Ike
it. No Dutch people live in as good style as we
do | only know two houses where the table is
pleasant to look atone that, OF an enormously
wealthy shipowner at Rotterdam, the other that
of a very wealthy professor The wife of tue latter
once said to me 81 do like to you eat. | like
to see you at my table. You do eat so prettily" l
lau ghed and disclaimed the compliment; but she
was right--the English are more elegant eaters
than the Dutch. | never saw Dntch man or
own right, and ought to have been good example
eat straight away with knife and fork rs we do.
They first cut the whole plateful into pieces-a most
dsagreeabe process-then lay the knife on tho
edge of the plate farthest away from the eater. and
resting the left hand loosely folded, on the tablc
beside the plate, eat AL with the fork, shovel
to lay the left hand on the knee, do not know. l
noticed many points of that kind which they could
not explain beyond that such thing is etiquette"
| never saw food eaten otherwise. Sometimes
glass rests provided for each person, ana very
very necessary they are, for never is change OF
cover provided. 1 never saw such thing ut a
friendly dinner, and once was at a large evening
party where | met grand people, and
saw a supper OF thirteen courses served with ono
knife and fork and two spoons for each person.
The first time | dlned at the house of the lady
have Just mentioned, she said, Ii you will make
mark in your serviette will have it put aside TO 10
ready when you come again."
| thanked her, and turned down the corner o. my
dinner napkin wondering a little that people WHO
had dinner fa1Riiie of live courses and lavish
dessert should he so saving as TO retain guests
serylette for another time. On my return to tho
house where was staying mentioned the circum-
stance. and then II was explained. III was merely
delicate way of telling me that she meant ire
quently to invite again. dIned there many
times but never saw the servette with the folded
corner any more This lady copied my method or
eating my dinner from the first time dined there,
and made her children do the same. The last tnno
| was in Holland | found they still kept mp tho
custom.
As regards the other meals, they consist of break
fast kotj and supper They are prepared entirety
by the adies of the house, and are exactly alike eX
cept that there Is tea at two measIbreakiast anu
slpper-and coffee at the one which bears IT'S name
Breakfast Is early-frOm ; TO :l-and often VISITORS
are privileged to have it III bed. Ihey always ASA
As / have said, the minor meals are prepared by
the ladies'; they are precisely aliNe. ino wv
board usually concealed in the wall. and WIN sew
eraI pictures hing on the papered door, whicn 70
vour horror suddenly swings forward. In the HsDD
kaDer one of the ladies first fetches white clolu
obout ward square, which she places III the cenre
of the Table. For dinner a large one Is used as
with US Then she brings out 4 very shah l,ay,
bearing cups saucers, plates. aud knives-tleso i1S'
black -handled-puttng one for each person.
She sets the slop-basln and cups IN olutr anu
brings out little spirit lamp with SILVER slah. VI
which TO set the teapot odJettere whichever IS 10
he used and box Of matches. She sets tpe yea,
cadiy handy or if it must be coffee, grihds up Nti
lii tie hand mill q sufficient quantity LOT the mcdl.
Then she gets the butterpot. which IS deep iou,u
pot of common deli. with axlid. Is Is hlleu 10 'po
brim with butter, and emptied not by cutting as
we do but by each person scraping out Win ms
own knife rs much rs wishes 10 use ior rich
piece OF bread he takes IL is not pretty iashon'
by any means ~, . ,..,u
of bread of which she cuts several slices ABOUT al
inch thick, usually allottLg two for each person.
They remain in the basket with the bread, anu no
douIcy is used Near the basket stands Tray
size smaller with black bread currant ioaf ginger
bread made with honey, d-cake, or some suc1
dainty There is always cheese which Is handed
round and often pot of some thick. sticky SUD
stance like very dark treace, called 9PPet sHoop.
No one could ever tell me how II was made, except
that Il was of apples. | bought some in Brussels.
lint | could not understand the French OF tho
woman from whom l got 1t. found her FLEMISH
1ppei stroov is delicious and though sweet, not
nj alf sckly When the meal is ready. maid APP
pears bringing jug of milk never saw cream
and large brass pan like an upright coal pan, 10
which is a brasier of burning charcoal and kot,io
the little spirit lamp lighted, and the meal Is realy.
1t is eaten in the same ungrateul FASHION as uiia
ner the bread buttered and cheese, may
coin such term, for tho cheeee Is CUT IN !he .har