The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-01-22
FL MANNERs q 90.

Days when F0Ison was Dreaded and
DiHhsa We're Few
An instructive article upon table
manners and customs a lew centuries
ago appeared recently in the Munich
News. While the information is inter
estingl it certainly tends 20 make men
Of the present age content with their
lot, and fills them with little envy Of
the comforts and enioyments of the
people OF other days. ''All the dishes
placed upon the table of Louis XIV"
says the journal, were tasted in the
presence o. the king before he himself
would touch them. The lord-in-Wait~
ing 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 meats were not served
as they are to-day. Each guest was
supplied with e spoon for the purpose
OF helping himself from the common
dish In simple families the mem bers
ate out of the same dish without having
the luxury Of a plate. It frequently
happened that in aristocratic circles
ladies would help their neighbors with
the spoons just taken from their
moutha- Men were often served with
sauce in this way Anne, of Austria,
the queen celebrated for her beautiful
hands once gave a piece Of meat to her
neigh Dor which she had just taken from
the plate with natures forks, and al
lowed him as a special favor to lick on
what remained on the hand
"It was a hygieuic 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 ezpedicuts. In order
70 direct the thoughts of the guests TO
pleasant things, the French. invented.
what they called sHtrements'-dra-
matte representations pautomimes,
tableaus, etc.-vyhich were introduced
between the courses As to-day, inter
esting guests who were able to eniven
the company was always Welcome
Certain subjects were consideEsd espe-
cislly appropriate for discussion at the
table It was at dinner that Mime. de
Montsspan, with whom Louis XIV.
was In love, once said: While at the
table We do not grow Gle In those
days wines aud liquids were not served
IS they ure now. Until late in the six
tesuth century it often happened that
one glass only was provided for an en-
tire dinner company. IL was consid-
cred good form to wash the lips
with the napkin before touching
the glass, as It was also necessary
for each guest 60 empty the glass
vsheu-it came 70 his turn A servant
often lse' plsts under the chin of q
tady while she was drinking in order
20 prevent the Eoiliug Of her dress At
a later day the hosts began 20 furnish
each guest with a glass The custom
Of drtnkinE 70 the health OF people
soon came in vogue A frequent cause
OF qusrrsiE was the failure to reply TO
such compliments Young men drank
The health OF their inamorates as Ions
aa there were letters in their respective
names But q young man who was not
in love need not become embsrrassed
g D H-~ T. IL T.
own name Women in those days drank
As much wine as men The marquise
Of litchelieu- was able 20 dispose Of as
touishing quantities OF the liquid The
duchess OF Bourbon set also a good ez-
ample 60 her daughters in this respect
Her Daughters, however, were not as
heavy drinkers as their mother Nine
I de AontespG-zE svas a friead of brandy.
She was otter able TO drink uot1emen
under the taule-'i-Chicago Times