The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-06-25
THE TALE OF A FINGER BOWL.
Its Advent, Its Vogue and it's Final
pOwntbrOVv in Brownsville.

Its Advent, Its Vogue and it's Final
DOvvntbrOVv in Brownsville.
The Finger-bowl struck Brownsville
directly after the Sailed Almond. and
just before the Embroidered Centre
piece. Indeed. it followed so closely in
the Almonds wake that not more than
three persons in town had begun TO
say '.an-mon'-the rest pronounced it
almond, and were very fat-fooled
about ii.
The Binger-bowl was introduced by
Miss Jones at her tea-party. 1t was a
red glass one with dlmples. and Mss
Jones passed it around herself after
the guests had finished their tea. There
were floating upon the water sundl y
thin slices of lemon, and, of course, the
first two women drank out of it. Plea Sc
don't fancy that had you never seen or
heard of finger-bowls you would have
done better. Remember no printed di-
rections accompanied the bowl. Miss
Jones sister sat third in line. After
watching her, the rest did better.
Mrs. Petefish was the next to follow
the fashion She had two opalescent
bowls with crinkley edges. She said
that they were newer. And she dis
pensed with lemon. She let a ger
anium leaf float in each bowl, for, as
she said, ''geranium has a nasty taste,
and those who drink once won't try it
again" They didn't. And thus, at
two sittings Brownsville was educated
up TO the Finger-bowl. After that it
was the rage, for, as Mrs. Petefish re-
marked, There's one thing about We
Brownsvillites, We pick a thing up
quick
The male Brownsville never took
kindly to this. innovation. When it Us
Mo IsEr -,
nored it or else he tried to be funny
about it, and said that he would
pass" In his heart he hated it.
Still the popularity Of the finger
bowl increased, and it came on now in
half dozens, with fringed doylies I'M
derneath. Even the younger set
caught the craze and some of the
pretty girls would sit out dances to-
gether TO hear about new pattern of
drawn work for a finger-bowl doyley,
while the young men aWkWardly
waltzed about in pairs.
The men began TO sheer more openly
after this, and occasionally managed to
upset and break a bowl, as though by
accident; but there was no organized
revolt.
1t was not until Christmas that it
got its death warrant.
You see, there were a lot of children
in the Rev. Mr.. Goodman's family, and
dS times were nara ana MS salary be-
hind, the poor man was discouraged
and disheartened. SO when, on Christ
mas morning, a boy handed in a par
eel marked-''For Our Pastors Wife"
it was almost with tears in his eyes
that he carried it TO his spouse.
For you, dear" he said, with lit
tie quaver in his voice, as he began to
unwrap the paper covering; 'I do hope
it's a black silk gown, for you need
one so much. I don't mind all this
poverty myself, but for you, my brave
little woman, it is too and then he
saw the finger of them
red. blue, green, yellow, opal and
purple.
Bobby Petefsh looked at the world
through a rosy mist, and Bill Simpkins
surveyed his mother through a golden
glass.
What where did you boys get that
colored glass?" she queried, sharply.
In the alley behind the preachers
house, snickered Bill, producing a
pocketful OF glittering bits-red, blue,
green, yellow, opal and purple.
The reign Of the finger-bowl declined
rapidly after that, and now it is as a
tale that is told. And to this day,
when the Rev. Mr.. Goodman walks
abroad. the men of Brownsville say:
'Ah! there goes mani"