The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-20
THE FORK.
HISTORY OF THIS ARTICLE OF
DOMESTIC UTILITY.
Introduced in England from Italy
in Shakespearc's Time-Oppo-
sitiOn to Its Use-Former
Customs at the Table.

Knives are almost as old as fingers, re-
mains of them having been found among
the earliest relics of the race, but the use
of the fork as a table implement has not
been known quite three hundred years.
About the time Shakespeare was retiring
from the Globe Theatre to enjoy the life
of country squire at Stratford trav-
eled Englishman named Coryate intro
duced the table fork into England from
Italy. 1t is we'll known that our English
ancestors did not take kindly to innova-
tions. Not more than hundred years
since, Jonas Hanway was hisscd and
stoned in the streets of London for carry
ing an umbrella. Mr.. Coryate was not
stoned, but he was much abused for
using a fork at table. He was called
Furcifer, which is Latin for fork bearer
and also for gallows rogue. English
society was pricked by the pronged in
strument into quite passionate indigna-
ton. The pulpit denounced and the
stage dcrided it, while everybody for
time pushed the novelty aside with
words of disdain. An indignant
preacher declared to his hearers that
to touch meat with fork was
to declare imp:ously that Gods
comfortable creatures were not
worthy of being touched by
human hands. Beaumont and Fletcher
seasoned one of their plays with fling
at the fork carving traveller, and pop
ular writer urged all young men return
ing from their tours to lay aside the fork
OF Italy, as well as the Affected gesture
of France, and all strange apparel. But
Corvate persevered, and finally succeed
ed in thrusting the fork between the
teeth OF society. 1t at last became an es-
tablished institution of the table about
the close of Charles lis reign, in 1885,
though still derided and scorned py the
humber classes.
The earliest forks were made of iron
or steel, though some used by the very
wealthiest people were made OF silver.
The possessor of silver fork carried 1t
about with him in case, as he did his
knife and spoon. and when invited out
to dine was expected to use them.
The silver fork in the form we know
it was very rare until about the COM
mencement of the present century, and
within the memory Of people not old It's
introduction encountered no little oppo-
sition. Even now there are elderly peo-
ple who prefer the steel fork of their
Young DAYS to the silver fork. or its imi-
tation, that fashion now DEGREES to be
the one indispensable implement at ta-
BILE.
1t is hard to estimate what this insig-
ni6cant Italian device has doae for civil
ization and good manners. Before 1t
came into use table customs were not
pleasant. As is well known the ancients
ate at table in reclining position.
Neither knives nor forks were used.
Persons of rank kept carver for cutting
meat, who performed his duty according
to certain rules, using the only knife ut
table and cutting the food into small
pieces. Having no fork he would steady
the piece to be cut with his hand. In
eating solid food the fingers were used
to convey it to the mouth. Epicures
were in the habit of making the ends OF
their fingers callous that they might
handle the hottest food. For liquids,
spoons were used, but often hollow
piece of bread served as substitute.
Bread was not cut, but broken. Much
wiping of the hands was, Of course, ln-
dispensable, and for this purpose each
puest at feast carried his own napkin.
Plebeians were content to lick their fin
gers as we'll as their plattcrs, but the
moderate class. who could not afford
napkins, used the crumbs OF bread
kneaded into q dough. Sometimes
kind of dough was specially prepared Tor
the purpose. Upon the whole, those an.
cient epicures, OF whom we haze read
so much, Apicius, Lucullus, and the
rest, must have generally had an un-
cleanly and slobbering time of it at their
feasts. and Their long boards and togas
must have received much that was in.
tended for the mouth. The medieval
people had the advantage over the an
clients in their posture at table, sitting
upright, thus leaving both hands free TOR
action. But dining in that. olden time
must have rcsembled feasting at trough
more than anything else. The food was
placed on the table in great platters and
each rude feaster grabbed such portions
as he wished, or could get from dishes
brimming with thick gravy, and carried
the dripping morsel over the table to his
mouth. During the prevalence OF such
customs, the dame or demoiselle who
dipped only the tips of her fingers into
the sauce bowl, and continued to eat her
dinner without letting fragments OF food
drop from her lips to the table, was COM
mcnded for exemplary breeding. Queen
Elizabeth fingered her victuals with some
nicety, but she did finger them, and
dipped into the same dishes with her
courtiers. At the conclusion of meal the
dishes and cloth were removed, q laver
of water was passed, and the satisfied
feasters washed their lips and hands and
wiped them on a napkin. In those times
of no forks and much washing after
meals, the napkin was thing OF use,
and was indi .pensable for decency and
cleanliness. The introduction of the
fork made napkins no longer necessity,
and they began to disappear from the
tables of economical housckeepers.
Napkins retired before the victorious
forks. and soon became mere ornaments
of the table, when used at all. Inc
greatest ingenuity was exerted TO 1o'd
them in fantastic and curious ways, and
instructions for folding dinner napkins
in twcuty-six different fashions were in
vogue in Charles II. IS time. They were
folded to resemble birds, or fishes OF