Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1884-09-14
ENGLISH EVERYDAY DINNERS.
q Contrast 10 the A0eriean Dinner-
National Common Sense.
u

a Contrast 10 the Aaericsn Daaasr-
National Common Sense.
IHarpers Baxarl
In no respect can American and Eng
l.sb etiquette he eontrasted more fully
than In the matter Of the every day din
ner, which in America finds lady in
plain silk dress, high-necked and long
sleeyed, but at which the English lady
always appears in q semi-grand toilet,
with open pompadour corsage and elbow
sleeves, If not in low-necked, full-dress
attire; while her daughters are uniformly
sleeveless. and generally in white dresses,
often low-n( ed in depth Of win
ter. At DIN Y all the men are
in evening d even if there is
no one present at tn 'me but the family.
The dinner is moi as good as the or
binary American dinner, except in. the
matter of fish, which is usually very
fine. The vegetables are few and poor,
and the sweets" As they call dessert,
are very bad. A gooseberry tart is all
that is offered TO ole at an ordinary
dinner. although fine Strawberries and a
pine are often brough in afterward.
The dinner is always ser ell with much
state, and aftcrward the ladies' all COM
bine 10 amuse the guests by their tai
ents There is no false shame in Eng
land about singing and playing the
piano. Even poor performers do
their best, and contribute very
much 10 the pleasure Of the com
pany. Al the table people do not
talk much, nor do they gesticulate as
Americans do. They eat very quietly.
and speak in low tones. No matters Of
family history. or religion, or political
differences are discussed before the serv-
ants. Talking with the mouth full is
considered an objectionable vulgarity.
All small preferences for any particular
dish are kept in the background. No
hostess ever apologies. or appears to
hear or see anything disagrecable. II
the omelette sOufiee is failure she does
not observe it: the servant Offers and
withdraws it. nor is any ole disturbed
thereby. As soon rs one is helped he
must begin TO eat, not waiting for any
one else. II the Wand il too hot or too
cold, or is not what the visitor likes. be
pretends to eat il, playing with knife
and fork
No guest ever passes q plate or helps
TO anything; the servant docs all that.
Soup is taken from the side Of the spoon
noiselessly. Soup and fish are NOT par.
taken Of o second time. IF there IL
joint and the master carves, ii is proper
however, TO ask for second cut. Bread
Is passed by the servant, and must be
broken, not cut, afterward. Il is con-
sidered gauche to be undecided as to
whether you will take clear soup or thick
soup; decide quickly. In refusing wine,
simply say, Thanks; the servant
knows then that you do not take any.
The servants retire after handing the
dessert, and few minutes free con-
versation is allowed. Then the lady of
the house gives the signal for rising.
Toasts and taking wine with people sre
entirely out Of fashion; nor do the gen.
tlemen remain long in the dining-room.
At the English dinner-table, from the
plainest to the highest, there Is etiquette,
manner, fine service, and everything
that Englishmen enjoy. The wit, the
eourtier. the beauty, and the poet aim
at appearing well at dinner. The pleas.
ures of the table. says Savarin, bring
neither enchantment. ecstacy. nor trans
ports, but they gain in duration what
they lose in intensity: they incline ne
favorably toward all other pleasures
at least help 10 console Us for the lox
of them.
At very ew houses, even thar of a
duke. does me ser 80 elegant table
and such profusion of flowers - at
every milliouairet table in New York;
but one does see superb old family sill
vet and the most beautiful table linen
even 1t very plain abode. The table
n almost uniformly lighted with wax
candles. Hot coffee Is served immedi-
ately after dinner in the drawing
Plum pudding, . sweet onelet. or q
very rich plum tart 10 often served in the
middle Of dinner, before the game. The
salad always comes last, with thu
cheese. This Is utterly unlike our Amer.
lean etiquette.
Tea Il served in English country
houses four or hve times day. IL IL.
ways brought to your bedkde bseoss ris-
ing; II is poured at breakfast and
at lunch; i 10 necessary Of hfe
at 5 O'clock; ii Is drunk Just bclorc RuinR
to bed. Probably the cold, damp az
mate has much TO do with this; ed de
Ten Is never very strong, but y eassllsnt
being always freshly drawn, not stsDsd,
aud 10 most refreshing. t'
Servants make the round Of IL 80
In pairs. Offering the cosiinsnla -
sauces, the vegetables a11 ~ w.,
The common sense Of ~ HnGll1k -
breaks out In thslr dinnsrA 70 -
too grat display Of vsaltA b eonc1
cred bourgeois and vulur 10 = 49,
A choice but not oysrsunptuOas -
mests you in ths ~ hs1aoa - =
d, N plata elolisA vssl1 nsNF ~ ~
| mlftpd. Eyen lo6Is Z - 1900