Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1889-04-03
TABLE ETIQUETTE.

Some Useful Hints on the Uses Of zh:sS5, |
Forks. Spoons and Fingers.
Those who are very particular hold
the large end Of spear of aspara.
gus with fork while with the tip end
of a knife they daintily separate the
tender green tops from the white end,
which is then put aside. Others take
The white end between the fingers and
carry it to the mouth. Both are cor
rect, but the former is much more
dainty and easily done. :,
The etiquette of eating soft boiled
egg has been the subject OF moro than
one clever essay. The English custom
is to eat it directly from the shell, when
of course small egg cup and egg
spoon are necessary. The American
way is to break the egg into o cup or
glass by striking the egg in the cen
ter and turning the contents into the
glass. In this case it is usually eaten
with teaspoon, as an egg spoon, un-
less extra large, would be too small,
and we have seen the egg held by a
corner of the napkin, but this is not
only tiresome but difficult TO do nicely
without soiling the napkin.
Celery is always taken from the
dish and carried to the mouth by the
fingers. If individual salts are not
provided, it is etiquette to use one
half of the butter plate for salt. II
salt shakers are used, hold the celery
in the left hand just over the rim OF
your plate and gently sprinkle it with
salt, and the old custom OF putting 9
spoonful of salt on the cloth is still In
practice. When corn is served on the
cob it must be taken in the fingers
only managed very daintily. We
have seen pretty little doylies for the
purpose of holding it, but it is ques
ton il that is not carrying table linen
too far. Many housekeepers, and cs
peciallyi in the south, serve corn as {
separate course, when finger bowls arr
placed by each plate and removed
with the course.
Lettuce when served without dress
ing is always pulled to pieces with tn
fingers. This is usually the lady
: duty and there is no prettier pictur
than that Of a young lady preparing.
: plate of fresh, crisp lettuce leaves il
this way, for the tender green show
off to perfection her dainty whit
hands and she may be as exquisitel,
neat about it as she likes, and it is on
of the most fascinating and becomin
of table duties that hostess can pos
sibly provide for her lady guests, t
l' assist in helping the gentlemen at
social or informal meal.
Water cress is also taken in the fiji
% gers and the prettiest way Of servin
" t is to obtain long low sided baskt
or dish, in the bottom OF which lay
n folded napkin, then heap tho cress {
n as to fill the basket and you have M
|, only an enjoyable, but a very orn
mental dish for the breakfast table.
ID When slice Of lemon is serve
70 with fish or meat it is much more co
rect to take the slice in the finger
n. double the ends together and gent
squeeze the juice over the article tha
~ to use knife for that purpose, as
D. sometimes done.
In 1t is always proper to help ones sc
nj to bread, cheese and lump sugar,
tongs are not provided, with the Fl
gers. Never use your own knife, TO
r. or spoon to take from the dish. 1t
II. also correct if a plate Of hot, unbrok
biscuits is passed, to not only break /.
or for yourself with your fingers, but
~ your neighbor also. When things Q
III passed, help yourself as quickly as p
IN sible, for you must not keep 9TH
waiting and never insist on some 9
I'm else being served before you, If
1. host or hostess has honored you fiji
e. Mary Barr Munroe in Good Hou
u" keeping.