Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-14
AT DINNER.
what 70 do and what Not 70 do

From the Boston Globe.
Don't be In a hurry, for hurry implies confusion
and disorder. II you are confused you viii surely
upset a dish either upon yourself or upon your
neighbor.
Don't eat with your knife, for, as some writer has
said. "that is q relic OF barbarism."
Don't hang your napkin to your collar-button or
stun It inside your collar. 1t was made to protect
your lap, not your necktfe
D0at make kissing sound when you take soup,
or some one may mistake you for a caliope.
When you raise your spoon to your lips raise It
laterally to the mouth. Don't bring your elbow
around It az right angles with your face.
raisins and small fruit. That is dangerous
Don't forget that there are other people at the
table as well as yourself. and that you are In DUTY
bound TO be as softcitouS for their comfort you
would be for your own. Therefore don't spread
yourself all over the table
Don't saw your mouth with your napkin, and
don't reach in front OF another guest to get any
thing that he might pass you IL you had asked for
IT, assuming, of course, that the walter was not
Don't DE afraid to be cheerful and happy at
meals. "Cheerfulness is full Of significance; 1t
suggests good health, a clear conscience, and a
Soul at peace with all human nature.- cheerful
ness is the mother OF good digestion.
Don't De AFRAID to eat hard cheese with the
thumb and Ioreflnger. OF course the soft cheeses
VIII nave 10 De eaten otherwise. Putting a small
portion OF soft cheese upon your bread with the
edge OF the knife, as you would butter, Is the
The foregoing chapter OF sdon'ts,"i If carefully
observed, will enable the diffident or those who
nave not been particularly schooled in etiquette
Uhere is no established school or manners, and
newspaper and magazines editors are constantly
asked for advice TO the form for doing thus
path.
A good advice is land mothers should teach it
1ncessantly) to the fork almost constantly and
put little upon 1t at time. In this way the food
Is conveyed 10 the moutn-neyer with the knife
although In some countries this mode is still kept
up' even amongst royalty. Although
MANNERS ARE NOT SCIENCE,
ana we have no standard to judge by, yet eti-
quette Is always the admitted legislator Of the
present, and We must conform to its laws.
IL you have strawberries and cream, soup,
them with spoon. These things, because OF
their JuicineSS cannot be eaten with fork Fish
should be eaten with knife and fork, and every
Weli-fegulated house, when 1t serves oysters on
the halr SHE'LL will place q small silver fork be-
side each guests plate.
green stems, then they are invariably 10 be taken
up In the fingers lby the stem) and eaten one at a
time.
Fruit like pears and apples is first peeled, then
quaftered and then taken up In the fingers and
eaten.
With salads the knife and fork is used, il the
Saltd has not been cut up before being served.
No hostess who understands table etiquette,
nor waiter who has been well trained, viii ever
mink OF Offering you more than a ladle full OF
soup, analf you are at a private Or fashionable
dinner anywhere except a hoteD. and the dinner
Is too hot, or you do not happen to like certain
dfsh AFTER It has been served, pretend 10 eat 1t,
The everlasting friend or the host and hostess.
Don't stop short and sit back In your chair. That
Is Inc most embarrassing Kind or embarrassment
Tor both yourself your host, and your associates.
Your napkin Is 10 protect y0urlap. With the
corners you may when necessary gently wipe the
mouth. Men with bushy mOustacheS are permit
Tea 10 DO little vigorous rubbing, IL aptly
termed. saving" This would be objectionable
IN men with smooth faces.