The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-05-20

! man who had given MS Vile almost
every cause under heaven to regret that
she had married him. II don't under
stand how she endured him. said she,
except she added thoughtfully, THAT
he is the very cleanest man alive" In
the minor points of etiquette it is a
good plan to have decided views about
the fork. The minds Of most people
wabble good deal in regard to this
indispensable article. | do not mean
that they would offer the knife as
substitute, although have seen
German nobleman who had won the
iron cross and whose manners were Of
the finest, eat proudly and freely with
bis knife; but even among those who
are brought up from childhood on the
fork, there is a distinct uncertainty
during certain courses. They start
boldly with the fork in the right hand
shift, occasion tempting, to the left;
like Howells's country hero who dimes
for the irst time in Boston, and watches
the guests uncertainty and shifts his
fork from one hand to the other as his
mind veers.
If you start with your fork in either
hand, no matter which. it gives you
superiority to cling to that hand to the
bitter end.
There is general suspicion of
elegance attached to eating with ones
unsupported fork, rather than with the
knife and fork together. In salads
for instance, the knife is considered a
superfuity; one must shred ones lettuce
or epdive with the fork, and crust of
bread or tiny biscuit allowed one. l
find this general rule obtains; the more
inconveuient, the more elegant
But there is one exception, the Eng.
fish, and by consequence our admirers
# the English always eat fish in the
most sensible way, with knife and
fork.
In the family circle the different
dishes should be passed to the oldest
woman, in most cases. But if there is
very honored elderly man in family
OF women it is always delicate atten-
ton to pass to him first. Sometime s
the head of the table does not desire to
be interrupted the person Of next con-
sideration in this case should be served
first.
know lady who, no matter what
guests may be at the table, has he,
aged mother served first. l suppose
were an older lady than her mother
present, this rule would be waived
in her favor, but other motives to
consideration do not prevail.
In entering the room, in the morn.
ing it is proper to give the morning
greeting first to the person of first con,
s,deraton, although this may be mod |
fled by the circumstance Of some other
speaking as one enters; it is natural
then to return the salute before speak.
ing to any other.
1t is not bad plan-indecd it is a
very good plan-to have the service at
table ordinary, very much as it is at
times when there are guests. Then
the waitress Is not frustrated by mul.
titude of raw directions as we'll as the
unaccustomed risks of all the best
dishes.
The etiquette of service is practically
the same when there are guests. The
most honored guest is served first. The
gentleman of distinction takes out his
hostess and sits at her right hand-or
if you follow the English fashion, at her
left-and the lady to be complimented
is taken by the host and similarly
placed. Everything is passed first to
the honored guest. Any waitress
accustomed to serve family properly,
will not be disconnected if halt dozen
people are added to the number round
the table, or few courses to the dishes
served.
For the same reason, it is not amiss |
to have as good china in common use
as ones courage permits. There is
really less danger where the maid |
always has to take care, and thus care
fulness in handling becomes habit,
than whore the choice ware only comes
out on occasions Of state and so much is
said about it that every ones nerves are
culver
1t is such simple thing to wait on
table properly and maids o: average
intelligence SO readily learn the few
vital principles of serving, that the
greater the pity we should endure the
hap hazard makeshift that is called by
that name in many families. You may
not be able to persuade your waitress
to wear a cap although it would be
vastly becoming to her-and to you,
too. madam, perhaps-but you certainly
can. persuade her to wear clean whit,
apron. And by a very little thought
and rather mere than ordinary patience
which is virtue and for your souls
good to cultivate you can teach her
to pass each dish to the proper side OF
each person, to watch the tumbler and |
to quietly and neatly remove eacl
course at the right time. A tray c,
one of those little boat shaped Japan Sc
discs that are Tor sale anywhere 1T % |
cents apiece, lined with folded nap
kin or piece of white canton flannel
Ill l.. T. 4