The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-07
ETIQUETTE Az TABLE
TtilRTEENTH CENTURY MANNERS
THAT STILL HOLD GOOD.

Fra BQnvcsin. IL Holy Mnn, Who Liked
Polite Company Laid Down Sensible
Eules In Which Cleanliness and Tenn
pe-amcc Were insisted, Upon
Fifty Courtcsics OF the Table That
is tine title Of Il curious old manuscript of
the thirteenth century TO be found among
the numbcrlcss rolls OF ycllowcd and
shrivclcd parchmcnts which constitute tho
great wealth of tho Ambrosian library ut
Milan. 1t is written in verse by ono Fra
Bonvcsin, who appears to have been an
arbitcr of gO1d manners To the public of
six ccnturicA ago and who has not been
essentially improved upon by the numcr-
GUS writer's on etiquette of moro recent
years.
Fra Bonvcsin seems not only to have
possessed pretty good sense regarding tho
cardinal points of refined table manners
but also to have had an appreciation of
the more delicate touches of good breeding
and gcntility worthy of my Lord Chester
field himself
1t can do no harm to repeat some of tho
worthy monks udmontions for they arc
not only of interest us throwing light on
the civilization and customs of the time
but the greater number of them might bc
pasted in every mans hat with advantage
to the wcaccr, provided he would look at
them occaSionally-for almost every one
has ut least read or been told what good
manners are Tho practice of them is
what is lacking.
After imprcssing on his readers the ne
ccssity of cleanliness i'll personal appear
ancc ut table hc continues: do not he
in too great a hurry to take your seat ut
table before being invited. If YOU should
disturbance about the matter, but politely
yield
The Tubingen school, the Remains and
the IngcrsollS had not as yet unsettled tho
popular mind Oh certain important qucs-
tons and the necessity of saying grace
was of more consequence in Fra Bonvc-
sins day than ii might he considered now
One is particularly warned not to neglect
saying grace. lit is, to the extreme, glut-
tonous and vile ana showing great con-
tempt of the Lord to think of eating be-
fore having asked his blcssing''
This over, ono Is admonshed ''to sit de-
Gently mt the table, not with the legs
crossed nor with elbows on tho board"
''Do not'-mark this, you representa-
tive from the rural districts, you business
man with but II few moments to sDarc for
your lunch, you we'll gorgcd patrons of
nigh priced restaurants, mark this do
not ILL your mouth too full. The glutton
who II lis his mouth will not be able to re-
ply when spoken to-" And elsewhere tho
careful brother uttcrs an especial warning
against the breach Of good manners in
eating noisilY.
Evidently the worthy fratcr thought lit
tic of the table talk of that day, for his
next recommendation savors strongly of
the homcly but expressive mandate of our
,.t .irf l..
mouth Era BonvcSin 5 version is, When
eating, speak little, because in talking
ones food is apt to drop or he spluttcrcd :"
when thirsty, swallow your food before
drinking" Excellent hygicno us well rs
good manners.
In that early time dinner services were
not rs complete ms in later periods Each
guest was supposed to bring with him his
own knife and spoon, and there Wac but
ono drinking cup for the whole company
Tho following admonitions as to the use
of this cup are of interest: do not dirty
the cup in drinking Take it with both
hands firmly, so as not to spill the wine.
If not wishing to drink and your ncighbor
has dirticd the cup, wipe it before passing
it on
The fourteenth courtesy is admirable
and not only admirable, but applicable to
many diners out Of the present and to all
those amiable people whose conviviality is
in excess of their discretion: Beware of
taking too much wine. even if it be good,
for he cfcnds trcbly who does so against
his body and his SOUL while the vino ho
consumes is wasted" Prudent old Fra
BonVcsinl
IF any ono arrives during the meal"
one Is told mot to rise, but continue cat
ing The sixteenth courtesy is one par
ieit1 -it L.,
1t those who take soup are counSclcd not
to swallow their spoons" and are further
advised to correct themselves of this bad
habit rs soon as possible"
IF You should sncczo or cough cover
your mouth, and above all turn away from
the table"
The next courtesy has tie true Chester
fcldian stamp: Coed manners demand
that one should partakc, however little. of