Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-03

Arthur chose round table for his knights, and
not, as perfdiOus chroniclers have suggested,
lest they should be jealous of the seat Of honor.
1t is shock to our feelings to learn that the
surface OF this table was of marble and that it
contained, according to one authority, thirteen
seats. No wonder it was 80 difficult to fill up
the last. Perhaps, however, the later versions
are correct, and King Arthur had really places
knights The earliest legend claims that the
twelve seats were in memory Of the Apostles
and the thirteenth was left for Judas Iscariot.
The first table-clOth Of the Irishism may be ex-
cused) was napkin! At least there is no word
in the Latin vernacular of the early period to
convey the meaning Of table covering, and
many writer's allude to the polished wood of the
table as seen at meals, and to the fashion Of
having it polished by slaves between the courses
The only thing answering the cloth was the
"mappa," or linen napkin, which was fastened
across the breast, much as table napkin is to-
day by careless eater. Generally speaking q
guest took his 4" mappa" with him when he was
invited to dinner, and sometimes, as we remem-
Der Of C9cilinus, made use Of it to conceal
dainty bits of food and carry them away. Dam
they frequently used their fingers to eat with
(even in later days when they ought to have
known better, these "mappa" were quite nee
essary for purposes Of cleanliness.
Dinner in wealthy Romans house was
brought in upon trays, and the trays, which
were often of silver, were also covered with
napkins or "mappea." and we find they were
not behind US In having them fringed and en-
broidered In cunning devices, and the Roman
lady of domestic turn prided herself upon her
linen-closet as much as the thrifty housewife of
New England or the German hdus,n,a4er does
to-day when she stores away pile after pile of
hOmespun linen in readiness for the marriage
day of her little daughter.
And so throughout the ages we note the same
instructive connection between tables and pros
perity, and coming down to modern times find
ourselves involved in perfect labyrinth of tables
and their furnishings. 1t has, however, we are
ashamed to say, been reserved to our own day
to invent the combination table-an article of
modern furniture which is never what 1t pre-
tends to be. but is in turn settee q bed or a
table. Imagine the nicely Of the mind that con-
ceived 1t! The possibility OF enjoying meal
arranged upon ones bed turned upside down,
does not seem exactly consistent with the views
promulgated in an esthetic age! But the his
tOrian Of the nineteenth century, If he survives
the revelations his researches must inevitably
lead to. will be man of sufficient mental caliber
to stand great shocks He need never be be-
guiled into calling spade q spade, for half the
time it will be wheelDarr0W. 1t would really
appear as II the days Of sunfoWers and lilies
were to be Intimately associated with recollec-
ti0ns Of circus metam0rphoses, and no one need
be surprised to-day to see chair turn into .
chandelier or . sofa become rocking horse
But let rs at least draw the line somewhere, and
try TO be honest ID our tables. We VIII not
eyen dnslee that tlle ehell ~ ox fhe Noed z