Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-10-18

The greatest chemist Of modern times
remarks that the civilization of coun-
try or family is Indicated by its con-
sumption Of soap. Perhaps as much
may be said of the toothpick, for IT is
certain that America uses more tooth
picks than do the effete monarchies and
despotisms of the Old World. A bar
barian does not use toothpicks, either
because his teeth are sound, which is
the rare exception, or because he Is a
barbarian, which is the rule. A man
vino uses q toothpick is civilized. But
there are degrees Of civilization and re-
finement, and In order to find scien-
tific basis for the proper classification
of toothplck using people, one might
either use the material of the toOthpick
as foundation, or the manner in which
the toothpick is handled.
There arc tootbplcks cf wood or auills,
ivory or metal. The wooden toothpicks
may be subdivided into those of hard OF
soft wood, of which the former are pre-
ferable. Then again, division may
be based upon the point of the tooth
pick. Probably the best wooden tooth
picks come from Japan; they are short,
and can be used without being noticed.
The quill toothpicks are either simple
or ornamented. Ivory and golden tooth
picks are permanent article, while
nearly all others are used once and then
should be thrown away. Good tooth
picks are more or less elastic, and nearly
all of them are SO cheap that everybody
can afford to use them iudiciously. A
tootbpick per Sc is strictly indifferent
that is to say. It has no moral or
aesthetic value, the latter being bestowed
by him or ner who uses it. In this re-
spect the toothpick resembles an act
it derives its dignity or vulgarity from
the person behind it. And there lies
the essence of the matter.
Imagine a lady in faultless attire,
handsome and admirable, with tooth
pick In her mouth. The spectacle is
not pleasing. Or imagine a dinner
party. the last course of which consists
of toothpicks banded around by the
walters and then applied by the whole
company. The sight Is perfectly un-
pleasant. Every civilized man, woman
and child has the right to use a tooth
pick, but have they the right to use
toethpicks to the discomfort of Others !?
And to fine organizations the visible use
of the tcothpick is source of disgust.
A man who uses toothpick in public
shows either that he Is not aware of the
annoyance which he gives to others, or
he deties good manners and prefers to
be set down as indelicate and gross.
The same rule applies with double force
to a woman, for women are tine natural
and conventional guardians of good
manners. When sensible men are in
doubt on a matter of politeness or fine
propriety they consult lady. What,
then, can be said of lady who carries
a toothpick in her mouth? She might
rs well rinse her mouth or brush her
teeth in public.
The truth is that the associations of
a toothpick are necessarily indelicate,
for the toothpick reminds one of bad
teeth or food particles held in the wrong
place. The toothpick is, therefore, a
toilet article, and ranks with the tooth
brush, the nail cleaner or the ear spoon.
These articles have to be used, but not
in public. Every hand is marred by
unclean tinger-nails, but the nails ought
not to be cleaned npublic. Nor should
teeth be brushed or picked in public.
In hotel lobbies there are always men
not really gentlemen-and, alas occa-
sionally women with a toothpick in
their mouth. Quite likely these same
persons eat with their knives and cut
their finger-nalls at the dinner table.
But in this matter their example is not
commendable.