Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-26
TABLE ETIQUETTE.
Henry Ward Reecher,s Declaration OF
Independence.


gentleman who sat at the table next to that
at which Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was seated
in hotel in this city is willing to make oath to
the statement that the distinguished pastor OF
Plymouth church ate with his knife. Send him
copy of 'Don't."-B1stoa Saturday Ereainy
Gazette.
Mr. Beecher eats with his knife on principle.
HE following from the New York Ledger OF
some years back. gives Mr.. Beecher's views on
this subject and will be read with interest at
this time:
MY DEAR Mr. BONNER: Amaug all the declara-
tons OF liberty which American mankind is SO
lOnu OF making, 1t seems strange that there is
no league. association. party or other combina-
ton to defend honest men against WORKOUT or
absurd customs.
For example, will any man tell me why am
forbidden by what is called good manners to
pour my tea into saucer and cool it there?
Much reprOach has been heaped upon strong
tea and coffee which properly belongs to hot
tea and coffee. Everyone knows how much the
efficient action of chemical agents is intensified
by heat. Scalding tea is far worse than strong
tea; but to be both sCalding and strong is an at
tack upon the human body which no man ought
TO venture who has any regard for health. But
etiquette forbids me to cool my coffee in any
other manner than by waiting Coffee cups. in
houses where the secret OF drinking good coffee
| is known, should be like the human heart, large
and deep, and in such cases the beverage will,
like true affection, cool very slowly. Hence
one who does not wish to wait till the meal is
over before drinking coffee, must either cool ii
In his saucer or drink it hot, or wait and drink
it after breakfast, and all because of the absurd
notion that it is not good manners to pour cot
fee into your saucer.
The spirit of 'seyenty-six' ought to rise with
every afi1icting gulp of hot coffee! The custom
is wanton AMI cruel. 1t is tyranny over the
inner man. carried on by force, If not by the
sword. count it, therefore, a duty to humanity
TO set at defiance the edictS of the LIQUID desDOt
hot drink. For the welfare of mankind refuse
TO burn my mouth or scald my stomach. In
behalf OF mute devoteeS of the superstitions OF
etiquette | raise plea for relief
Meantime. endowed with courage and armed
with principle. | rejoice in pouring forth the
fragrant liquid into capacious saucer and
before the wondering eyes, to raise the beverage
TO my lips. Superstition is rebuked. Health is
| justified of her children.
| Even more will be shocked when | avow nv.
| SELF as an advocate for the rights of the knife
Now, custom has reduced it to the mere func.
! ton OF cutting up ones food. That done it is
iaid down, and a fork serves every other pur-
pose. BY practice one gains unexpected deX-
teritJ in using fork for purposes to which it is
Ill adapted. The Chinese, in like manner make
awkward chOp-sticks rarely servceable, by
practice little short of legerdemain: but Is that
| good reason for the use of chop-stcks? A
| FORK, as now made is untitled to pierce any
| morsel upon its tines, and yet they are sharp
enough to atflict the tongue if carelessly used
Ihey are split so as to be useless for LIQUIDS and
| yet they are used as if they were spoons. The
1ork compels the manipulation to poke and push
ana Pile up the food material which tends to fall
PACK and apart; it Is made to pursue the dainty
t!d6lts. In which often the core of flavor resides
| around the plate in a hopeless chase and at
length bit o! bread is called in as ali auxiliary
| and thus, while the slim-legged fork, in one
| hand IS chasing a slim liquid mOuthful a wad
OF bread i'll the other goes hopping and sopping
| around to form corner and between the two
| Is at length accomplished what is called genteeI
! feeding,
Meanwhile. broad knife is fitted for the very
| junction which the fork refuses and the wad OF
! bread iii-periOrms The reasons for refusing the
| knife as an active feeding implement are worthy
/ OF the awkward practice. 1T is liable to cut
/ the mouth no more than fork is to stick into
| lip or tongue.
III men ate with raZOrS there would be some
reason for avoidance. But tabIe-knives are
Olunt-edged. 1t is even difficult to make them
cut when one tries, and if they are properly
used the back of the blade will be turned to the
mouth. We do not object to the fork, but we
demand restoration of the knife from Danish
ment. We do not desire to enforce it's use. but
such liberation as shall leave each one free to
use the knife for conveying food to the mouth
When that Is most convenient, and the fork when
mat Is preferred. Equal rights We demand for
oiack and white, for home-bOrn or Immigrant,
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