Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-24
THE ETIQUETTE OF WINE DRINKING.
As Applied to Abstainers and Their kn-
tertainers.

As Applied tn Abstatners and Their Ia
tertainers-
In these days of dinner giving and OF
tho very usual serving of wine upon the
tables OF the rich and well To do the con.
scientious abstainer finds it difficult Us
ever To do his duty. He is often the
guest of men and women whom he feels
To b. in many respects far better than
himself. and yet they serve wine. which
his sanse of right viii not allow him TO
drink. OF course he allows the servant
to al his glass. II toasts are offered hs
lifts his glass TO his lips. OF course also
he says nothing to any one unless COM
PEELED To do SO regarding his feelings in
the matter.
There is an equally plain code. it
would seem, for the host and hostess OF
such guest. but from the fact that it is
seldom observed it may not perhaps be
quite SO obvious as ut first it appears.
1t seems reasonable that a host OF
hostess. upon observing that a guest sits
through course after course without
touching his wine should reflect that n
mention of the subject would very likely
produce embarrassment. 1t is a rule OF
good society that no word should be ut.
tered therein which may produce en-
barrassment. The guest presumably
does not care to admit to one at whose
table he is sitting. and whom he sees
partaking of wine and pressing it upon
others. that he does not think it right
to enjoy that beverage. Only phari-
see of the pharisees could relish such a
course as that.
If attention, therefore, is called to his
abstinence he can only, as thousands
have done before him, make some pre-
text to cover his eccentricity. He can
say, wine does not agree with me-" or
wine affects my head" or his nerves
or digestion or something of that sort,
some one of which must be true. II
pushed further he must of course admit
that his conscience supplies his chief rea-
son, thus indirectly condemning his
host and hostess. and very likely every
other guest at the table.
Upon stating the case in this plain
way the breach of propriety committed
by those who question guest concern
ing his reasons for refusing to drink
wine becomes glaringly evident Yet
this is done constantly by otherwise
well bred people. A host and hostess
should never seem to observe that a
guest does not drink his wine. He has
manifested his good opinion of them, in
II general way. by appearing at their
table. They should not drive him to
emphasize. in such a place, whatever diff
ferences there may be between them.
a lady was once entertaining at lunch
con Il woman whom she had supposed to
be lady also, and whom, although a
stranger. she had called upon and invited
to her table out of regard for the mutual
friend for whom the party was given
No wine was served with this luncheon.
One of the ladies present, warm pro-
hbitionist, injudiciously remarked upon
the fact. The stranger took up the sub
lect with unnecessary energy and calm
ly declared amid the silence of the as
tonished company that she was rendered
very uncomfortable by being obliged TO
take a meal without wine.
The hostess, unable to endure the re-
Fiction that n partaker at her table
should be afflicted with the pangs of in
digestion in consequence, managed to
lnger with her strange guest for a few
moments after the rest and ordered
brought for her glass of peptonized
sherry, the only drink of the kind which
the house contained, and which she con-
descendingly drank.
KATE yyPSOS CLARK