The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-06-20
Forks.

Some of our readers may be surprised
to learn that the use of forks at the table
was not introduced into England earlier
than the reign of James l., and that this
piece of refinement was derived from the
Italians. The fact appears from the fol-
lowing curious extract from a book en-
titled, "Coryat's Crudities, hastily COB.
blcd up in five moneths- travels in France,
Savoy, Italy, Rhptia, Helvetia, CSwit
zerland), some parts of High Germany,
and the Netherlands" The book was
first published in 1911. "EIere l will
MENTION" says the traveller, "a thing that
might have been spoken of before in dis
course of the first Italian towne l OBJ
served a custom in all those Italian cities
and townes through which passed, that
is not used in any other country that l
saw in my travels; neither do 1 think
that any other nation of christendome
doth use but only Italy. The Italian
ard also most strangers that are com
morant in Italy, do alwaies at their
meales use a little forke when they cut
their mcate. For while with their
knife, which they hold in one hand
they cut the meate out of the dish, they
fasten their forkc, which they hold in
their other hand, upon the same dish.
So that whatsoever he be that sitting
in the company of any Others at meale,
should unadvisedly touch the dish of
meate with his fingers from which all
doe cut, he will give occasion of offense
unto the company, as having trans
crossed the laws of good manners; in
somuch that for his error he shall be
at least brow beaten, if not reprehended
in words. This forme of feeding, | I'M
derstand, is generally used in all places
in Italy, their forkes being for the
most part made of yron or steele and
some of silver; but those are used only
by gentlemen. The reason of this their
curiosity is. because the Italian cannot
by any means indure to have his dish
touched with fingers, seeing all mems
fingers are not alike cleane. Hereupon
| myself thought good to initiate the
Italian fashion by this .f9rked cutting of
meate, not only while was in Italy, but
also in Germany, aud oftentimes in Eng
land since 1 came home; being once
quipped for that frequent using of my
forke by certain learned gentleman
familiar friend of mine, one master Lau-
renee Whitaker, who in his merry humor
doubted not at table to call me Purcifer,
only for using fork at feeding, but for
no other cause"
The use of forks was much ridculed
in England, as an effeminate piece of
tinery; in one of Beaumont and Fetch
er's plays, ''your fork carving traveller"
is spoken of with much contempt; and
Ben Jonson has joined in the laugh
against them in his Devils an ASS
Meercraft says 10 Gilthead and Sledge,
"Have | deserved this from you two for all
My pains at court to get you such patent
Githead-For what!
Meercraft-Upon my project of the forkes
Sledge-Forks! What be they'
Meercraft-The laudable use Of forks,
Brought into custom here as they are in
Italy.
To the sparing O napkins"
*Purcifer literally meant a slave, who for
punishment of some fault, was made to carry
a fork or gallows upon his neck through the
city, with his hands tied to it, hence it came
to signify generally a rogue; a villain
Chicago Eye.