The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-31
SPOONS AND FORKS.
An Interesting Historic Sketch ofTwo
rscfnI Tnhle Imnlemcnts.

An Interesting Historic sketch OF
Useful Table implements.
The custom Of collecting spoons OF var
ious dates and designs is one that great
" obtains with curiosity hunters at
present. says the LOndO Sketch. ana
from cObweDby Antiquarian 20 cOntriving
hostess the spoon Of authentic pedigree
Is equally interesting and cOvetdble. IN
one case for its inherited history, and
the other for It's added ornamental
value to the dinner table. Old 5aDiis-
NAL spoons are especially treasure trove
70 the collector. and some relies Of Dr.
nate Tudor times. which were lately UNI
edrthed IN Il Wiltshire village and sod
in King street, fetched the most eXtor-
Ona prices.
1t is curious % think that the only
implement our fOrbears fed themselves
with was the spOon-and as entertainers
in these days were lot required or sup
posed to provide their GUESTS with such
out-of-the-way luNuries each man brought
his own in his pocket.
As soon would a lady or gentleman Of
quality think OF travelling without q
spoon case in the days between Henry
VIII and James I as we mOderns would
be likely. on railway journeys. 10 go
without watches. All persons. then. re-
celved spoons from their %godparcnts.
moro or less ornate, according 10 the
means Of these worthy folk. the most
ordinary shape being the Apostle han-
die; but I'm old Catholic times various
sacred objects and iegands were com
monty engraved thereon with great clab-
grafton.
It was a Somcrsotshire squire. ono adj
venture seeking Tom Coryste. who final
~ delivered England from being alto
gether spoon fed. and gave II over 90 tho
enlightenment OF forks. This was when
James ! was king. and when few 81 his
subjects moved out OF their own country
for pleasure. the grand tour" being stll
unknown. and beyond Channel an undis-
coverable land 70 most true-b0rn Britons.
Master Coryate, a bon viyeur and lover
OF sights. did his devoirs OF sightseeing
with a thoroughncss not always possible
of repetition TO ears polite. At Cremona
he alto frogs. at Heidelberg drank wine
from the great cisk. at Venice saw for
the first time women on the stage. Here
he also saw some less orthadcX others,
whose high-heeled shoes %(chopIncs) es-
| pec.ally enthrailcd the receptive man
from Scmcrsctshire
But. Of stil life. the italian fan. the
Italian umbrella and the Italian fork
most pleased this travelled bucOlic. Not
for fifty years later did the parasol Of
MS Ut A4lflfA EHAAHfn NR+tN ~ ~
under Joras Hanway's Introduction.
But for laying forks on the table did
our ancestors stand undoubtedly indcbt-
ed to Tom COryate. At frst the c0nscr-
vative British constitution waged fierce
war on the Leathenish innovation; topical
fork attacking songs were sung on the
| stage. scnorous denunciation was lcvoled
from the pulpit.
But the fork had actually come 10 stay
malgre tout. and the better classes soon
found that. though fingers We're made
before forks, the latter could prove a
most valuable aide-de-camp 10 the former
and so three-pronged Steel tridonts grad
ually made themselves "a necessity TO the
dsirtier section Of society. though IL was
not anti the merry days Of Charles IL
that they became common with the mid
die classes. "A cut from the joint was
not possible. therefore. to a nation which
had spooned its "gallimaufrys' D fin
gered its "gobbets' OF meat for centuries.
Think OF a dinner party where the
guests hungrty grabbed choice bits from
the dishes in their immediate neighbor-
hood. and. having dipped their "gobbets'
In sauceboats which were mere common-
wealths OF gravy. then proceeded 10 grt
the dripping mOTsG indoors with the
best grace they might. Truly there are
cOmpcnsations for not having dwelt IN
We good old times. Silver forks were
considered the last extreme OF foppcry
in the Seventeenth Century. and even
early in our own good Queens reign,
~black-handled. steel-prOnsed instruments
were the only wear of lower and middle
classes.
In the days Of Queene Anne forks were
treated variously TO prongs, some being
made with two. while many counted 20
six. Yellow handles had a vogue one
year. green another. and so on. until
every shade in the rainbow was reached
MANY OF these quaint relics are stil pre-
served as heirlooms. and I'm one north
country mansion a set OF pink coral
handled. pesrl-in-laid forks are used on
great occasions. which tradition has 81
once graced Mistress Anne's own royal
board.
Now the e~lectro-plate has spread i.self
over the land. Mayfair and Belgravia
are barking back TO something away and
apart from even the chapened sterling
silver Of Widespread use. and fancy
c~hlna-handled forks. stained ivory and
SADIE have been seen on many dinner
tables Of the social elect during the sea-
son.
Aluminium Is being pressed into the
service. too. and IL is not unlikely that
the present plain fork OF unornamentel
aspect will be shortly relegated 10 the
hades OF lodging house. or suburban
abode. as out 81 tune with the artistic
intentions Of this highly ornate genera
ton.