Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-21
TABLE MANNERS LONG AGO.
Days when Poison Was Dreaded and DIshe
Were Few.


An instructive article upon table manners
and customs n few centuries ago appeared re-
Gently in the Munich Secs. While the informa-
ton 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 people Of other days.
"An the dishes placed upon the table Of
Louis XIV" says the journal were tasted in
the presence Of the king before he himself
would touch them. The lord-in-w waiting WAS
also obliged TO rub the kings napkin. knife
spoon and glass with a piece of bread, which
he then ate under the eyes of his majesty. But
even at court dinners the meals were not
served as they are today. Each gucst was sup
piled with a spoon for the purpose of help
ing 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 hands. once gave
piece OF meat to her neighbor, which she had
just taken from the plate with natures forks.
| and allowed him, as a special favor, to lick of
what remained on the hand.
1T was hygienic principle of those DAYS TO
avoid the discussion Of weghty matters at meal
time. For this reason the people attempted 10
shorten the time by various erpedients. In
order to direct the thoughts of the guests TO
pleasant things, the French invented what they
called entrements, dramatic representations,
pantomimes, tableaus. &c, which were intro
duced between the courses As today, inter
esflng guests who were able to enliyen the
company were always welcome. Certain sub
Jects were considered especially appropriate
Tor discussion at the table. Ii was at dinner
that Madame de Montespan, with whom Louis
NV was in love, once said: While at the table
We DO not grow old
In those days wines and liquids were not
served as they are now. Until late in the six
| teenth century it often happened that one glass
only was provided for entire dinner COM
pany. 1t was considered good form 30 wash
| the lips with the napkin before touching the
glass. as 1t was also necessary for each guest
empty the glass when il came to his turn.
servant often held plate under the chin Of
lady while she drinking, in Or
der to prevent the soiling of her dress
At q later day the hosts began to furnish
each guest with glass. The custom of drink
ing to the health of people soon came in vogue
frequent cause of quarrels the failure to
reply TO such compliments. Young men drank
the health of their inamoratas as often as there
were letters in their respective names. But a
young man who was not in love need not be-
come 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 quantities of the
liquid. The Duchess of Bourbon set also q
good example to her daughters in this respect
Her daughters, however, were not heavy
drinkers as their mother. Madame de Monte
span was a friend of brandy. She was often
aple to drink noblemen under the table"