The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-06
TABLE MANNERS 800 YEARS AGO.
Days When Poison Was Dreaded and
Dist es W ere Few.
From the Eeic York Tribune.

From tn heic York Tribune.
An instructive article upon table manners
and customs few years ago appeared re-
Gently in the Munich News. Whilo the
information is interesting, it certainly tends
to make men of the present age content
with their lot, and fills them with little envy
OF the comforts and enjoyments Of the peo-
pie of other days.
Gan the dishes PLACED upon the table of
Louis XIV" says the journal, "were tasted
in the presence OF the king before he him
self would touch them. The lord-in- waiting
was also obliged to rub the kings napkin.
knife, spoon and glass with piece of bread
which be then ate under the eyes OF his
majesty. But even at court dinners the
meals were not served as they are to-day.
Each guest was supplied with q spoon for
the purpose Of helping himself from
the common dish. In simple families
the members ate out of the same dish.
without having the luxury of a plate. 1t
frequently happened that in aristocratic
circles ladies would help their neighbors
with the spoons just taken from their
mouths. Men were often served with sauce
in this way. Anne of Austria, the queen
celebrated for her beautiful haud s, once
gave piece Of meat to her neighbor, which
she had Just taken from the plate with
natures forks. and allowed him, as special
favor, to lick off what remained on the
hand.
at was hygienic principle of those days
to avoid the discussion of weighty matters
at meal time. For this reason the people
attempted TO shorten the time by various
expedients. In order to direct the thoughts
Of the guests TO pleasant things. the French
invented what they called 'entrements,'
dramatic representations, pautomimes, tab
leaus, etc. which were introduced between
the courses. As to-day, interesting guests
who were able Co enIiven the company were
always welcome. Certain subjects were
considered especially appropriate for dis,
cussion at the table. IL was at dinner that
Nine. de Montespan. with whom Louis
XVI. was in love. once said: while at the
table we do not gr0SY old
"1u those DAYS wines and liquids we're not
served as they are now. Until late in the
sixteenth century it often happened that
one glass only was provided for an entire
dinner company. 1t was considered good
form to wash the lips with the napkin be-
fore touching the glass, as it was also neces-
sary for each guest to empty the glass when
it came to its tui n. A servant often held
plate under the chin of a lady while she
was drinking, in order TO prevent the
soiliug of her dress. AT later day
the hosts began to furnish each guest
with a glass. The custom of drinking to
the health OF people soon came In vogue. A
frequent cause of qusrrels was the failure
to reply to compliments. Young men
drank the health of their inamoratas as
often as there were letters in their respect
i've names. But young man who was not
in love need not become embarrassed on
this account; he simply drank TO his own
name.
"Women in those days drank as much
wine as men. The Marquise of Richelieu
was able to dispose Of astonishing quanti-
ties of the liquid. The Duchess Of Bourbon
set also good example to her daughters in
this respect. Her daughters, however,
were not as heavy drinkers as their mother.
Mime. de Montespan was friend of brandy.
She was often able TO drink noblemen un-
der the table"