The Meeker herald., 1892-05-21
SPOONS AND FORKS.

Their History from the Time of Prim-
tive Man to the Present Day.
Tho implements Of the table is tho
subject OF II charming article in tho
current number of the Revue de Fn-
mile. Plates, tumblers, knives,
spoons, forks, and snlt-ccllars are
called upon to give an account of
their creation, or rather oi their cvo-
luton. The plate comes first, and n
curious story is told Of the first china
plates, which, in the dark middle ages,
arrived in Europe from the east. As
soon ns the dainty ware with its curl
Gus hicroglyphics made its appear
nncc rumors became current that II II
them their whitcncss became immedi-
ntcly ciuIdcd, and, as tho fear OF
being poisoned was very great among
the rulers. the china plates were sub
stitutcd ior the more ancient test oi
dipping the tooth OF n serpent or u
piece OF horn of n unicorn into the
food. This fear OF poison prevailed
to such an extent that II bech me
the custom To bring Indlockcd
boxes oithc table. which We're opened
the moment dinner wn- served, and
which everybody kept his own kni!c
and spoon. Thus saint simon
writes: The king OF England sat
down with the queen on his right aud
our king ON liis lett. They all had
their pndlocked boxes 10y their side.
But long bcfor. the ari, tocrntic din
| ncT war" of the Chinese aud japanese
came across the scn wooden aud
metal pinuts had been in usc, which
had slowly developed from perfect
iintncss into the shnpcly snuces or
grnvi.s from running oil the Hat
plates pieces oi bread We're provided
by which the fluids Were sucked up,
aud which, nlt.r the neal, were grn'
ciously Distributed among the pco'
pl" oi inorr common clay.
The sovereign or gtpnd-c al TIE
middle ng,-s. seated In front oi his iint
plate, cut his food with a LniIc be-
gins in the darkness oi prehistoric
day. when the European savage mni"
himsclfnNc- oi stone. Each century.
almost each generation. tried 10 i'm.
prov. I'll, kni.r. aud the medieval
! dinner. who's. habits like these al
CASTOR lie Folk. w-nr somewhat p"'
ruiinr, could even indulge IN n-in,
his own pocket knii'' Ia preferences Ia
,li.nr,icl. supplied 10y hiS host. Lat.
or I'll. knii.-iinnll"s wcr" adorned
with fnnrihil carvings. the muSic aud
word, oi church hymns w"rr cut into
them, their sire and -hnpr varied al
most infinitely. nnd slowly they nr'
rived u, their present stat" o' pcricc'
tion.
| I'll. palm Of III, hnni WIS 'ho
spoons al ofprimitiy- mnn. Then .n'n'
| III. r'ign of the shed from til" -''i'
-hor-. but while In ancient Rome nnd
Gu-r- Ini ON tho banks ni the Nile
tho mll.blown spoon this sd" oi Tho
| Alps. even Ia the il.I"cn century
Gradually the handle grrw, became
iln,t.rnnd mnr'r rlnpoly, and ischoli
when I.nui. Nv. t-igu-L over Frame
the modern silver spoon. Wit dainty
decorations. had brcon'. d. r'is,i"ur.
The yoenbulnri-s nf nnci"ni .r-'-'
hny" no nnmc-quiynlrn' for the tern
fork. horde later dic,iornri"r sup
PLY ;h. deficiency. consequently II
may l., assumed tia, they u-"'
Father Adams fork. only. notuiih
standing tho inci tin, on u number
of c,i.itnici French paintings de
piriin. -c-n-r from nr,-'k history pi
mythology. men nni women nn
armed with fork. which might have
come from ~" shop ~ - modern .il
ycr-miih And 40 entirely wns "vcn
France devoted tu iis manner ~ eat
ing by the sol" assistance "f IL in
g-r-. wh-r- spoon or knit" would not
suiiic-. that til" first forks brought
nrro-- the mountains ut the end ol
the 'i,-cnth CENTURY wrr" received
with unii.-uis"J rrpusnnnrr. frui,
only was -ntcn with forks. and when.
IN 1911. Tom Corynt broush, some
pf iii. ,riicn,s from Italy the British
" looked upon him in utter -'upclnc'
ton nni dubbed him ''iur-ivcr -
tia, IL. the man oi the fork.