Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-01-02
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Days when Poison Was Dreaded sNd
nIshra Were Few

Dishes Were Few.
An instructive article on table manners
and customs few centuries ago APP
peared recently in the Munich AeWS.
While the information is interesting, it
certainly tends to make men Of the pres.
ant age content with their lot. and Rll
them. with little envy Of the comforts
and enjoyments of the people Of other
days
"All the dishes placed upon the table
af Louis XIV, says the journal, "weN
lasted in the presence OF the king before
he himself would touch them. The
.ord in waiting was also Obliged to rub
the kings napkin, knife, spoon, and glass
with 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 to-day Each guest
was supplied with spoon for the pur-
bose OF helping himself from the com.
mon dish. In simple families the members
ate out Of the same dish. without having
the luxury OF plate. Itfrequently hap.
pened that in aristooratic circles ladies
would help their neighbors with the
spoons Just taken from their mouths.
Men were often served with sauce ia this
way. Anne Of Austria, the queen eele-
brated for her beautiful hands. once gave
q 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.
ut was a hygienic principle Of those
days to avoid the discussion OF weighty
matters at meal time. For this reason
the people attempted 10 shorten the time
by various expedients. In order 20 direct
the thoughts of the guests TO pleasant
things, the French invented what they
called 'entrements,' dramatic representa-
tions, pautomimes, tableaux, etc which
were introduced between the courses. As
to-day, interesting guests who were able
to enliven the company were always well
tonne. Certain subjects were considered
especially appropriate for discussion az the
table. IL was at dinner that Madame de
Montespan, with whom Louis XIV was
In love, once said While at the table
we do not grow old.
"In those days wines aud liquids were
not served as they are now. Until late
in the 10th century itoften happened that
one glass only was provided for an entirs
dinner company. IL was considered good
form TO wash the lips with the napkin
before touching the glass, as il was
also necessary for each guest TO empty
the glass when il came TO its turn. a
servant often held a plate under the chin
OF lady while she was drinking, In order
TO prevent the soiling Of her dress. Tho
custom of drinking to the health OF people
soon came in vogue. A frequent cause Of
luarrels was the failure to reply 10 such
compliments. Young men drank the
health of their inamoratas as often as
there were letters in their respective
names. But young man who WAS not in
love need not become embarrassed on this
account; he simply drank 10 his own
name.
women in those days drank as much
wine as men The Marquise OF Richeleu
was able to dispose of astonishing guam
titles Of the liquid. The Duchess ~
Bourbon set also good example 10 her
daughters in this respect Her daugh-
ters, however, were not as heavy drink
ers as their mother. Mmo. de MontespHn
was friend of brandy. She was oflcn
lble to drink noblemen under the table.