The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-04

From the Chicago Times-Herald.

The custom of collecting spoons of vari-
Gus dates and designs is one that greatly
obtains with curiosity hunters at present;
and from cobwebby antiquarian 10 con-
irving hostess the spoon of authentic ped
isree is equally interesting and coveta-
BILE in one case for its Inherited history
and the other for its inherited ornamental
value" to the dinner table. Old baptismal
spoons are especially treasure trove to the
collector, and some relics of ornate Tudor
times. which were lately unearthed In a
wiltshire village and sold in King street,
fetched the most extortionate prices.
It is curious TO think that the only i'm
plement our forbears fed themselves with
was the spoon-and as entertainers in these
days were not required or supposed to pro-
vide their guests with such out OF the way
luxuries each man brought his own in his
pocket.
AS soon would a lady or gentleman of
quality think of travelling without a spoon
case in the days between Henry VIII and
James as we moderns would be likely
on railway journeys to 60 without watches.
All persons, then, received spoons from
their godparents more or less ornate, &C.
cording to the means of these worthy fox,
the most ordinary shape being the Apostle
handle; but in old Catholic times various
sacred objects and legends were commonly
engraved thereon with great elaboration.
It was a Somersetshlre squire, one adj
venture seeking Tom Coryate. who finally
delivered England from being altogether
spoon fed, and gave ii over to the enlight-
eminent of forks This was when James l
was King and when few of his subjects
moved out of their own country for pleas
ure "the grand tour being still unknown,
and beyond channel an undiscOverable land
TO most true born Britons.
Master Coryate, bon viveur and lover
of slghtsA did his devoirs of sightseeing
tserhV, 1Tof q xyu
of repetition to ears polite. AT Cremona he
ate frogs at Heidelberg drank wine from
the great cask. at Venice saw for the first
time women on the stage. Here he also
sa w some less orthodox others, whose high
heeled shoes (chopines) especially enthrall-
ed the receptive man from Sornersetshire.
But, Of stiN life, the Italian fan, the Ital-
ian umbreHe and the Italian fork most
pleased this Travelled bucolic. Not for fif-
~ years later did the Darasol of his be-
wildered senses come to town." under
Jonas Hanway's introduction. But for lay
ing forks on their tables did our ances-
tors stand undoubtedly indebted TO Tom
Coryate. At first the conservative British
constitution waged fierce war on the heath
enish innovation; topical fork-attacklng
songs were sung on the stage, sonorous
denunciat.on was leveled from the pull
pit.
But the fork had actually come TO stay
AAldaBiS ApbAs e-hA N-i' btNtNi Sio7f'' SUN
found that though fingers were made be-
fore forks, the latter could prove most
valuable aid-de-camp 20 the former and
so three-pronged steel students gradually
made themselves necessity TO the daintleI
| section Of society, though 1t was not until
the merry days of Charles H. that they be-
came common with the jont' was not pos
sib!e, therefore, TO a nation which had
spooned it's "gallimaufrys" and fingered Its
"gobbets' of meat for centuries.
Think Of the dinner party where tho
guests hungrily grabbed choice bits from
tn dishes in their Immediate neighbor-
hood, and. having dipped Their "gobbets''
IN auceboats, which were mere common
wea, tbs Of gravy, then proceeded 10 get
the dripping morsei indoors with the
best grace they might. Truly there are
comp e1sations for not having dweit in ye
good Old times. Silver forks were consid-
cred the last extreme OF foppery in the