Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-09-12

with napkins to match, but after ii few
washings they become dull in tint and arc
not as pretty rs white, which grow whittier
with every summers bleaching. Large
white napkins are invariably used at
luncheon and tea. Some ladies like the
fringed napkins for tea, but they do not do
up well unless you have very careful
Iaundress. Never pin your napkin about
your chin; lay it across your lap, conven
lent to the hand, and lift one corner only
10 wipe the mouth. Too much starch
should never be put in napkins. At Il
fashionable meal never fold napkin but
leave it beside The plate, as used. If clean
napkins are laid away with some sweet
smelling herb. they come to The table
deiciously fresh and fragrant.
We do not know but the above para
graph, which we clip from an exchange
which prints it without comment, will
nswer just as well as another for a tex,
for little scold which has been gathering
at Cur tongues end f r some time.
There is altogether 100 much talk about
etiquette and fashion" and ''style,''
md quite too little of thoughtfuness, and
kindness and common sense, so that it is
come to pass that young people may be
justified in thinking that set of arbitrary
rules, formulated by nobody knows who,
nor what except that they hav~ more
ingenuity than common sense, and want
10 strain a point to be more costly and
extravagant than anybody else, are Of
more Importance than a proper self
respect and careful consideration Of the
lights and comforts and happiness of
others as well as our own. This etiquette
Of napkins! What are napkins for?
Manifestly TO protect ones person and
clothing from soling, and if this is their
lesign, why not use them in Il way which
shall protect them in the best manner,
md what lady with claim 10 common
,ense would choose to risk the soiling OF
nice dress by the accidental drops OF
coffee or ice cream. or other things to
follow the rule of laying the napkin across
ner lap and only raising one corner of it
wipe the mouthp
A proper independence of character
will lift the true lady above such s,nseless
arbitrary rules, and the in-b born tact ano
leicacy will guide her in sensible use o.
he napkin AS we'll as other articles OF
personal convenience.
A Soitcd napkin should rot pei haps bt
put II second time on the table, bu what i.
meant in the paragraph quoted is, that no
napkin should be used twice without
Washing, for 1t asserts that napkin rings
houll be abolished, and pen haps one
reason why is given in the expression
used-"old institution"
If people visiting our house Can use +
napkin but once (accident excepted) they
may expect 10 wash them themselves l
s well, if one takes only single meal Al
table, to lay the napkin aside as it il
used, for one would not care to use nap
kin another had used any more than &
omb or n tooth brush, but if person j.
'taying for II longer time IA proper care tc
ave ones hostess unnecessary worl
would lead one TO fold her napkin and lay
t aside in a ring or with some indication
of temporary ownership for the next meal
Anotter instance of etiquette run mad
is in the use of forks. In earlier times
when cur ancestors were lucky, and
thought we'll to-do. if they had their hall
dozen knives and two tined steel forks
they used their knives TO convey their fooc
to their mouths, rs two tined forks were
manfeslly untitled for that purpose But
later when silver forks came NOR. into
use with four tines near together making
he utensil almost a spoon, it came to be
thought vulgarlsm to eat with a knife
such ms was only practiced by farmers
and other like semi barbarous people-as
we once heard it expressed by worthy
divine and college president "where one
could drink from his saucer and eat with
his knife Just because he must Mt" From
his some whose OF ject OF alteration is
geniiIity, fashion, etiquette have, rs such
often do, un quite 10 the her extreme
and banished knives from tho desert plate,
and serve the pie with only fork with it
on the plate. 1t is Il touching sight to see
such an one struggling with "A piece of pie
with folk, trying TO cut the ioughe,
under crust, MASKING out the middle of
the pie, and bending the fork tines. chas-
ing the sliding mass around her plate, anG
al the time conscious how awkward it is
but supported somewhat by The idea that
she is true follower OF etiquette, vet
wondering why etiquette must be so very
absurd.
A knife suggests its use-an instrument
for cutting, and she who uses her fork fo
the purpose for which the knife was
designed makes rs sad mistake as the
one who reverses the error. Years ago
our teacher at an academy ,ari in a tllk
to the graduating class, remarxed that the
best guide for behavior was an earnest
desire to secure the happiness of others,
to make those about YOU teel at ease and
to forget to be self conscious or embtr.
rassed in your society. Some one has
given as reason why Monday is washing
day, that cleanliness is next to Goodness ~
and every true housewife will dAlght in
clean, fragrant linen, but she will hardly
think it necessary to furnish herself II
fresh napkin at every meal, or require it
of her friend she is visiting but she would
desire her own napkin ut each meal and
will SO use it as best to serve the en- for
which it was designed, ie to best protect
her person and dress.