Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-12
Dutch Etiquette

If YOU receive a general invitation to,
or pay a long visit in Dutch house, you
certainly have the satisfaction of knowing
that your hostess does not put herself out
of the way on your account She comes
down to breakfast with her hair in curl
papers or crimping pins, according to the
fashion of her couture; her person is
CARRIED in an old flannel dressing gown;
she wears neither collar nor brooch; and
| have indeed seen a lady appear at
breakfast with stOckingless feet thrust
into old, dOwn-trodden slippers; in short,
she is strictly en- deDli tOiiette, and makes
no pretense whatever of being anything
else She dresses in time for the second
breakfast-kofj, it is called.
Should visitor call between the two
meals she receives him or her, as the case
may be. She says:
Il do not profess to have made my
toilette"
Once or twice have suggested: "What
will he Think" and l have always re-
ceived the same airy reply:
But | do not make my toilette until
ko1U time.''
went to pay short visit at a house
where | only knew one of the daughters
a charming hOuse-where | met some of
the greatest artists and musical celebri-
ties in Europe. l arrived in time for dim
ner, and was delighted with everything.
The sale, filled with pictures and china,
won my keenest admiration, and finally
went to bed in one of the incest bedrooms
and most luxurious beds it was ever my
good fortune to have allotted to me. And
the next morning / arose, dressed, and
found my way to the butS kdnler, or ordinary
livIng-rOOm. On the stairs passed a stout,
elderly person, with queer white net on
her head, no HAIR to be seen, clad in a
very dirty gray cotton wrapper. She was
scOlding VOciterOusly at a man-serYant
and | took her for hOusekeeper, wonder
ing that the lady of the house would allow
her to 60 about, such an untidy object.
Judge of my surprise as she followed me
into the room and accosted me with:
"Well, child, will you not speak with
me this mOrningT'
1t was my hostess! | felt myself turn
scarlet as stammered out an apology.
| never should have known her except
from her voice; and the shrill tone of an
ger and the language in which she had
spoken prevented me from recognizing
that.
| cast furtive glances at her as | ate my
breakfast, not surprised that | had not
known her. How was it possible? / had
seen, the previous evening, a handsome.
fair-faced lady, dressed in the richest of
silken gowns, real lace around her fair
throat, her hair all waved and crimped-
brown, rich and shining; dignified, gra-
cious being, who could talk we'll and plea
sanity upon any subject, who spoke four
foreign languages fluently-and what did
find in the morning? just a dirty, I'M
tidy shrew! Really, / wondered how her
face could have become so dirty in those
few hOurs-it looked as if it had not been
washed for week.
Perhaps the etiquette which differs the
most from ours, is that of the table. !
cannot say / like it. No Dutch people
live in as good style as we do. | only
know two houses where the table Is pleas
ant to look atone, that of an enormously
wealthy ship owner at Rotterdam, the
other, that of a very wealthy professor.
The wife of the latter one said to me:
81 do like to see you eat. | like to see
you at my table. You do eat so prettily."
! laughed and disclaimed the cOmpli-
ment; but she was right-the English are
more elegant eaters than the Dutch. l
never saw Dutch man or wOman-nOt
even one who was a Countess in her own
right, and ought to have been a good
eXample-eat straight away with knife
as we do. They first cut the whole plate
full into pieces-a most disagreeable pro-
cess-then lay the knife on the edge of the
plate, farthest away from the eater, and
resting the left hand loosely folded, on the
table beside the plate, eat all with the
fork, shovel fashion. Why, using only the
fork, it is not proper to lay the left hand
on the knee l do not know. noticed
many points of that kind which they could
not explain, beyond that, ''Such thing is
etiquette"
l never saw food eaten otherwise.
Sometimes glass rests are provided for
each person, and very, very necessary
they are, for never is a change of cover
provided. | never saw such thing at a
friendly dinner, and once | was at a large
evening party, where l met some very
grand people, and saw a supper of thir-
teen courses served with one knife and
fork, and two spoons for each person.
The first time dined at the house of
the lady have just mentioned she said:
''If YOU will make a mark in your SER
viette. | will have it put aside, to be
ready when you come again."
l thanked her, and turned down the
corner of my dinner napkin, wondering
little that people who had dinner en-
camille of five courses and a lavish dessert,
should be so saving as to retain guests
serviette for another time. On my return
70 the house where l was staying l NEIL
toned the circumstance. and then it was
explained. 1t was merely delicate way
of telling me that she meant frequently
to invite me again. l dined there many
times, but / never saw the serViette with
the folded corner any more. This lady
copied my method of eating my dinner,
from the first time l dined there, and
made her children do the same. The last
time / was in Holland found that they
still kept up the custom.
As regards the other meals, they consist
of breakfast, k0fij and supper. They are
prepared entirely by the ladies of the
house. and are exactly alike, except that
there is tea at two meals-breakfast and
supper-and coffee at the one which bears
its name. Breakfast is early-from to g.
and often visitors are privileged to have
it in bed. They always ask if you prefer
il so.