The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-04-18
Early Lessons III Etiquette.

The manner CT eating is, without
doubt, one of the surest tests of refine.
met. This test is as applicable to brutes
as to men. There is as much difference
in the refinement of individuals of the
canine and equine and bovine and feline
specics as in those OF the human species,
and the difference is seen most plainly in
their personal habits, and particularly in
their habits of eating. There is no pain
of the social sorts more exquisite than the
pain endured by a sensitive and refined
nature when by stress of circumstances
it is compelled to feed on busks with
swine. This was the crowning agony
that brought the prodigal son to himself,
and influenced him to return to his
fathers home, where the servants even
had good food and to spare.
The mother who would have her chill
dren form correct habits at the table
should begin early aud keep up the
-
training till it becomes second nature to
them to eat properly and behave fault
lessly. She must create proper senti.
ment in them by having the table we'll
appointed, the food prepared and served
daintily and the order of the service
unyarying. As to the table appointment,
the cloth should be scrupulously clean,
though it be only coarse material; it
should be nicely starched and ironed and
put on straight, its folds parallel with
the side of the room. The napkins, of
however coarse material, must also be
clean, carefully ironed and put on in
place.
The arrangement Of the dishes on the
table must be uniform, regular and taste.
ful; each dish, plate, spoon, glass, being
in its appointed place and kept there.
Any one accustomed to orderly appoint
ments by habit soon learns to feel the
necessity of taste and exactitude. These
are fearfully neglected in many families.
Table furniture of all sorts is hustled on
without regard to appearance or order,
the nappery is disgusting, the careless.
ness in disposing it equally SO, aud the
results are only such as might be expect.
ed. Children who are required to
behave at the table every day as they are
taught to behave when company is pres
ent, must sit down every day to as we'll
set table as is set for company.
AS to food Sit is impossible to feel
polite and we'll hammered over unpalata.
Bile, coarse, ill prepared, indigestible
food. Every mouthful of it provokes i'll
humor, resentment, dissatisfaction. The
house mother who insists on good table
manners must give her family good food.
How can one be gentle and polite and
sweet tempered on diet of sour bread,
muddy coffee, soggy potatoes, heavy pie.
crust, leather batter cakes? Chesterfield
himself would forget his manners if
compelled for any length of time to sub.
sisc on such diet.
AS to the methods of eating, with the
assistance of the knife and fork, the food
may be 30 divided as to relieve the incis-
ors of part of their work, and make
small mouthfuls pleasure. The
grinders indicate that grinding in the
mouth is part Of the process of nutri-
ton. Animals destitute of grinders bolt
their food. 1t is not fitting that human
| beings should eat as cats and dogs do,
| since they have such a "mill" ready for
use which dogs have not. The lips are
| so constructed that the noise of grinding,
| which is intolerable to ears polite, may
be efectually disguised;
This is a point that cannot be too
urgently insisted upon. Food, whether
liquid or solid, must be conveyed into the
mouth, and from the mouth downward,
silently. The position at the table
should be unconstrained and easy, the
person sitting erect or slightly bent for.
ward when eating, 80 that the mouth
may be directly over the plate; arms
should be held at the side, not extended
at right angle to the body. The elbows
should be kept off the table. Leaning
back in ones chair is grievous viola.
ton of table etiquette. The month and
fingers must be kept, during the process
of eating, absolutely clean.
The use of the fork to the exclusion OF
the knife in carrying food to the mouth
| is insisted on. Leave taking is permis'
sible only by permission of the hostess
Table talk should be light, agreeable,
general, each person present contributing
his or her quota to the general fund. and
children observing the excellent rule Of
being "seen and not heard" unless they
are in such majority that the conversa
tion is keyed to their level. Parents
who will be at the pains to set their chill
dren such examples as they wish to see
followed, and will hold themselves to 9
high standard of etiquette, will have nc
difficulty in attaining the results they
desire Christian Advocate.
- Richard Smith, of the Cincinnati
| Commercial Ga=ette, will not profit by
Murat Halstead's fate, but talks right
out and to the point. In conversation