Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-04
THE PROPER CAPER.

A neatly printed, attractive little book
has Just issued from the press of the
Apeletons with the title Don't" 1t
refers to mistakes and improprieties
more or less prevalent in conduct or
speech and contains many valuable
suggestions. But it 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 usually good
deal of humbug about this sort of tuIng,
the form being laid more stress on as A
rule than the substance, and 1t Is per
fectly safe for the individual to subject
all such recommendations to the test of
common sense in the light of experience
II il important certainly to know what
things are dIsagreeable in society and
avoid them; but, gwen the knowledge,
the heart, if 1t Is a good one. or Can SIM
ulate good one, will dictate the rest.
1t is but fair to observe that most pro
INDICATIONS of social ferns lay down
some such principle as this, but then
they drift off into setting forth rules,
many of which are wholly superficial
and fanciful. For those people who can
not think for themselves dognas have
been more or less useful, whether IN poll
tics, religion, or in the regulation Of So
cial conduct, but we protest against be-
ing considered iil-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 mus
taches who have given this subject care
full consideration, and they have, most
of them, come to the conclusion that it
IL not only more convenient but better
hammered for them to take this liquid
food from the end of the spoon rather
than to dabble 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 them
selves and to those present. The law is
also laid down that you shall not leave
your knife and fork on your plate when
sending for a second supply. This is
we'll enough, perhaps. but il strikes the
author of Don't" al not being entirely
orthodox, and he enters into deep train
OF thought concerning it. which leaves
him with the impression that the strictly
just process to pursue il to divide the
responsibility and retain the kni fe in the
hand while the fork follows the fortune
of the plate. The subject is rather too
abstruse to receive careful treatment i'll
an editorial article, and, since authOri-
ties diifer, We are compelled to leave IL
in q painful state of uncertainty. We
cordially indorse the Injunction, how
eyer, not to spit bones and other rejected
matter out in reckless manner invOlv-
ing as it does the peace of mind and
clothes of one's neighbors, but to lower
them carefully to the plate with the fork
And don't, says this authority, "use a
steel knife with fish," and then, to as
sure as how unnecessary it is to do this.
he explains that a silver knife is now
placed by the side of each plate for the
fish course Now there are few secluded
spots into which the full light of civiliz-
alton has not penetrated where a silver
knife is not thus placed. la such AN
emergency the only plan seems TO be to
omit the fish.
We are also entreated not to wear
soiled linen. and, above all things, not
to blow the nose with the fingers. In "A
work which concerns itself with fine
and intricate points, these adMonitions
would scarcely seem to be necessary.
The person who bothers himself with
the difficult problem as to the DISPOSE
ton of the knife and fork when send
ing his plate for second supply very
rarely. If ever, has any inclination TO
blow his nose with his fingers. Still
1t is we'll not to leave any points IN
covered.