The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-04-12
.Anderspt1 gHtelligentea.
How to Handle Knife, Fork and Spoon.

To begin with, we know that the knife
never should be used as medium of
conveying food from the plate to the
mouth; then the very naturalness and
ease of the movement suggests (what ia.
BILE etiquette demands) that the fork be
raised laterally with the right hand
never twisted around so as to bring the
points of the fork at right angle with
the mouth. To do that awkward wrench
ing Of the elbow is necessary. Happily in
this instance the easy and natural way is
the way of"good" society.
Among the re6nements Of this general
idea We class the taking but little food on
the fork at time, moderation in this re.
spect being regarded as decided evidence
fgood breeding and neat habits.
In:considering the spoon all authorities
agree that it is to be used for soup. straw.
berries and cream, melons .uat are too
juicy to be eaten with fork, preserves
and all kindred dishes.
With those who practice the last limit
of elegance" each cover is accompanied
by'two large silver knives, a small silver
knife and fork for fish, an oyster, fork ta'
blespoon and three large forks. In the
center of this ornament is the napkin, in
the clean folds of which is wrapped a
piece OF bread. As each plate or cover is
used the accompanying knife, fork aud
spoon go with it. The Law has it thatfsh
must be eaten with silver knife and fork.
Most "made" dishes can and should be
eaten with the fork, but when it comes to
roast beef and the like, Of course the knife
also, is dispensable. :.
Between dinner proper and dessert
everything on the table save the cloth
must be removed. Then each eitter is
provided with dessert plate, spoon, knife
and fork. Fresh fruits, such. as apples
and pears, should be peeled with silver
knife, quartered and conveyed to the
mouth with the fingers. 1t lis also neces.
'sary to peel oranges, but it has of late
come to be regarded as good thing to
adopt the Spanish fashion, having hem
peeled by the servapts and served on q
silver fork, the handle Of which serves as
q convenient means for getting at the
fruit. Fashions as we'll as good taste re.
quires that grapes be eaten behind the
half closed hand, letting the skin fall into
the hand unnoticed and dropped thence
to the plate.
Unless the salad be cut up before it is
brought forward, both knife and forks are
essential, a fact that is too obvious to re-
uuire elaboration. This necessitates a sal
ad knife and fork in addition to the
equipments already listed. The fact tha
salt.cellars are now placed with eact
/ plate makes it permissible to serve
oneself in this particular with the knife
For the black coffee after dinner tht
tiniest Of spoons are used. Some con
scientious lawgives have so profoundly
felt their responsibility as to CAREFUL,
instruct US to guard against putting tn!
spoon too far into the mouth. Particu
larly has the soup spoon its rocks OF
which it may be wrecked, one Of which il
the kissing sound that often accompanies
comp taking, and which excites the
amazement of the we'll bred diner out.
Weare told that there are always per
sons happy in their fashion Of eating al
in everything that falls to them to do
Refined manners at table are regarded al
infallible proof of innate politeness or O
early good breeding. Detroit Free Press