The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-19
TABLE ETIQUETTE,

LhO NhlOdSO 4NOho 1u4ly dIOuSSu W tiiC
needs of the people of the city in which it is
published, has undertaken the herculean task
of imparting little judicious information on
the simplest rules of etiquette hoping, doubt
less, to lead gradually up to the CONNIE
il-faut-ness of polite society elsewhere. The
News makes some good points, while others
are faulty and open to objection. A glance at
some of them will reveal their character, the
words inclosed by quotation marks being the
opinion of that paper:
'The best thing about plate of soup is to
know how to drink it." Elsewhere than in
Chicago fashionable people eat soup the old
way of drinking it from the side of the plate
having been generally discarded.
cit is never permissible to call for soup the
second time" To avoid the necessity of call
ing the second time, you should speak up like
an orator at the outset, so that no mistake
will be made.
'TThe manner in which the spoon shall reach
the mouth is an open question" This may
be an open question at Chicago, but people
elsewhere have come to insist that but one end
of the spoon shall be used to convey food from
plate to mouth.
"The hand and mouth should be in sympa-
thy-that is to say, the mouth should not be
kept open in expectation of the well-laden
forks arrival" This point is well-taken. It
is painful sight to see Chicago man enter
the salle-a-manger with mouth distended in
anticipation of his dinner. Well-bred people
their seats at table before opening their
mouths
at is needless to say that to put the knife
into the mouth at any time during the meal
would be an objectionable offense." At any
rate the handle should be left exposed in order
to prevent accidents.
'When eating grapes the half-closed hand
should be placed to the lips and the stones and
skin adroitly allowed to fall into the fingers,
and quickly placed on one side of the dessert
plate" This rule is ambiguous, in that it
fails to specify which side of the plate. How
ever, it is evident enough that the old rule of
slipping them into the vest pocket has been
drop them under the table,
"Melons are eaten with fork unless
served with cream, when a spoon is used"
The News should have gone on to say that it
is now considered rude to call for second
plate of melons, the first half-dozen being re-
garded as enough. If the melons are too large
be taken out and jolted in halves on the front
steps.
cat all dinners it is proper for YOU soon af-
ter the meal is under way, to catch your hosts
Cor hostess's) eye and drink his health. A
rather ceremonious raising of the glass and
inclination of the head sutfices." In Louis
vile it is different There the guest is ex
pected to attract the attention of the host by
throwing slice of bread at him Though some
use pickle) and say: ''Heres looking at you,
Major or some such felicitous remark.
'The ladies will carelessly throw their nap
kins on the table at the left of the plate, or on
the seat of the chair, as is the custom in
English circles" Formerly it was en- regle to
carefully fold the napkin as indicated by the
creases, and neatly tuck it away in the pocket.
The News concludes its timely remarks on
this new subject by declaring that 'it is in
dicative of the gourmand to overload the fork
with bit of meat some vegetable, and a
piece of pickle" nor does it excuse one to add
to these a slice of pie, loaf of bread and a
pate de foie gras The structures made by the
News are excellent in the main, and it is to
be hoped that an improvement will be noted
in Chicago society.