The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1883-11-24
The Proper Csper.

A neatly printed, attractive little book
has just issued from the press of the APP
pleton's with the title ''Don't" 1t refers
10 mistakes and improprieties more or
less prevalent in conduct or speech" and
contains many valuable suggestions. But
ii is attuned TO tickle only ears polite,
and is calculated to strike the average
American citizen, who aspires to do the
proper thing, with dismay. There is usu-
ally q good deal of humbug about this
sort of thing, the form being laid more
stress on as a rule than the substance,
and il is perfectly safe for the individual
TO subject all such recommendations TO
the test of common sense In the light of
experience. 1t is important certainly to
know what things are disagreeable in So
ciety and avoid them, but, given the
knowledge, the heart, if it is a good one,
or can simulate a good one, will dictate
the rest. 1t is but fair to observe that
most promulgations of social forms lay
down some such principle as this, but
then they drift off into setting forth
rules, many of which are wholly super
fetal and fanciful. For those people who
can not think for themselves dogmas
have been more or less useful, whether in
politics, religion, or in the regulation of
social conduct, but We protest against be-
ing considered ill-mannered If We fail to
comply with certain things set down in
the books.
For instance, the censor in Don't tells
us not to eat soup from the end of the
spoon, but from the side. Now there are
numerous individuals wearing mustaches
who have given this subject careful con-
sideration, and they have, most of them,
come to the conclusion that ii is not only
more convenient but better hammered
for them to take this liquid food from
the end of the spoon rather than to dab
BILE their mustache through the whole
length of the trough, as it were, every
time they raise the spoon to their lips
1t is more agreeable to themselves and
TO those present. The law is also laid
down that you shall not leave your knife
and fork on you plate when sending for Q
second supply. This is well enough per
haps, but it strikes the author of Don't
as not being entirely orthodox, and he eE.
ters into a deep train of thought con
cerning il, which leaves him with the
impression that the strictly Just process!
to pursue is to divide the responsibility
and retain the knife in the hand while
the fork follows the fortune of the plate
The subject is rather too abstruse to re
ceive careful treatment in an editoria
article, ana, since aubnOr1tleS Qluer, W.
are compelled to leave it in a painful
state of uncertainty. We cordially in
dorse the injunction, however, not Il
spit bones and other rejected mat
ter out in a reckless manner, involving Al
il does the peace of mind and clothes o
ones neighbors, but to lower them care
fully to the plate with the fork. AnC
don't" says this authority, ''use stee
knife with FISH," and then to assure u
how unnecessary it is to do this, il ex
plains that silver knife is now places
by the side of each plate for the fsl
course. Now there are few secluded spot
into which the full light of civilization
has not penetrated where a silver knit
is not thus placed. In such an emeI
gency the only plan seems to be to omi
the fish.
We are also entreated not 10 wea
Soiled linen, and above all things not 3
blow the nose with the fingers. In wor
which concerns itself with fine and intri
cate points, these admonitions woul
scarcely seem to be necessary. The pei
son who bothers himself with the Difficult
problem as to the disposition of the knit
and fork when sending his plate for
second supply, very rarely, if ever, ha
any inclination to blow his nose with hi
fingers. stu it is well not TO leave an
points uncovered.