The National tribune., 1892-05-12
EDITORS CHAT,
QUESTIONS IN ETIoUET.

QUESTIONS IN ETIQUET.
AC c. inquirer addresses the following ques-
tiens 10 tle Editor:
!. Is IL proper fer gentleman TO furnish postage
stamps a lady correspondent?
2 Al the table should guest begin eating
directly after being served, wax until al present
have been served?
Replying TO the first question: the Editor would
say that il would not be ia good for gentle
man TO send postage stamps TO a lady with whom
he might be in friendly correspondence. and it
certainly would be in for q lady TO ask
him for stamps
Should gentleman address lady upon any
subject requiring reply Tor his benefit. iie
would iHciose stamp for reply. This is entirely
too much overlooked by correspondents ia general
and great burden is too often imposed upon good
nature by the oversight.
The second question requires a more careful re-
ply; since, If one should say that a guest should
begin eating as served. an entirely wrong
suppression might be given of nice social require
nBeBt.
guest should and should not begin eating rs
soon as served. BY this is meant that when a
guest is served he should take up his fork touch
his food lightly, conveying a small portion now
and then 10 hs mouth but IN no case should he
begin actual course OF eating until ali at the
table have been served.
The object OF making a feint al eating is simply
TO break the Stiffness OF The occasion and rob a
company OF that funereaI aspect Thai it too often
assumes.
TABLE ETTQCET.
The host shonId be seated at one end Of The table
the hostess at the other.
The host seats The lady or honor al his right and
The hostess The gentleman OF honor al her right
The invited guests occupy The intervening seats.
lady and gentleman alternating.
The guests OF honor are distinguished by rank
or age. the elder taking precedence OF the younger
The honor guests should always he served first,
II there is 10 wait the table the guests
pass The plates The guests for whom intended If
your host passes plate TO you, without designa:-
ING II Tor another guest. be sure TO keep it,
IL is not in good taste TO pass things around and
around the circle and may he very embarrassing, to
your host and hostess. az sometimes a certain
thing Is intended for certain person. and you may
upset plans 10y being oiiiciouz.
A host alRy ask guest il he has any choice of
food as light meat, dark meat; hui il IS in bet
ter taste TO serve every plate with Iiite OF each
host should never give the whole leg Of fowl
O. half Of the breast 10 person By cutting a
slice from each ala al the table may have a variety
The table slonld not be overloaded with pickles
and spreads. One sort kills the other and gives
the table cluttored appearance.
Bread should be broken aud bHttered a. used hit
by Int Never lay s. slice OF bread ON the table.
cloth; butter IL and carry the whole or any large
part. 10 your mouth.
There should not be many little dishes on the
table to be filed with sloppy vegetables Corn,
peas, bears. slaw. and on, are better served on
The side Of The plate, with meats and potatoes
Small vegetables should not be eaten with a
spoon but, with fork; but OF course If the cook
puts too much thin dressing over her edbles one
must do the best he can.
DO not eat with your knife; it Is only intended
for cutting. The fork only should e used in carry
ing solid food TO your mouth. The fork j. used
also for soft cake. pie-eyerythng ia fact which il
will carry.
DO not fill your mouth full Of food that YOU
cannot answer a question that Is asked YOU This
is, OF all habits. most vulgar. besides injurious,
since food cannot be nlas,icAted when the mouth is
800 full.
W hen family or company comes 10 the table
even wien no grace is said all should sit quietly
for moment To fall upon the food al once is 200
much like animals in a menagerie.
DO not eat fast that your plate j. empty before
others have well begun. Look around YOU and
Time yourself TO the slowest. Aged people par
tieularly. embarrassed 10 find themselves alone
their food
Give some attention 10 Others and do not devogr
the food than il placed you without seeing that
Others are helped.
Ask politely for anything you may want and do
DOT reach across the table in front of your
Dor for anything.