Evening journal., 1904-04-20
MANNERS AT TABLE
= LESSON IN THE LAWS AND UsAoEs
OF POLITE SOCIETY,"


Use OF the knife and the Fork.
To be well hammered Is to be a lady
or a gentleman, 70 observe punctil-
ously all the laws and usages OF socl-
ETY.. which is important unless one
would be ostracized.
II the function breakfast, luncheon
or dinner lis one OF ceremony and
gloves are worn to the table they are
removed as soon as one is seated and
laid ia the lap. The habit Of tucking
them in the sleeves. at the wrists is
most ineegant. The napkin Is unfold
cd 10 half It's amplitude and laid across
the lap Gentlemen do not tuck their
napkins In their waistcoats, no matter
how convenient they may flnd such an
arrangement. Nor is the napkin used
as II It were big cloth. One end is
all sufficient for touching the lips. The
napkins. at dinner placed upon the
plates, hold the dinner rolls or the
slices Of bread, which must be cut
generously thick. The bread is placed
upon the napkin, not within its folds.
Remove the bread as soon as seated
and place II at the left Of the plate.
The napkin, at the oad OF the meal, is
left unfolded at the left side.
Bread is always broken In small
pieces, never cut and never crumbled
into soup or sauce. Oysters and clans
are eaten without bread. Butter, OF
course. is not served at dinner. At
other meals don't butter an entire slice
OF bread at once Break II into small
pieces and put the butter upon each in
turn. Don't break the entire slice at
once into bits. Let 1t lie by the plate
and butter a piece as wanted.
Soup is taken from the side OF the
spoon, which is filed by drawing It up
from the edge OF the soup plate oppo-
site. IL is quite q breach OF savoir
falre TO fill Il with the movement to-
ward you. Soup, OF course. must be
taken noiselessly No one takes a sec
ond helping or tips the plate to secure
the last mouthful
Fish In days past was taken from a
fork supplemented by bit OF bread.
Nowadays a silver knife IS allowable.
forks and knives for fish being made
OF a special pattern. All vegetables
are eaten with a fork. asparagus with
a knife and fork although It may be
taken up with fingers II one prefers to
do so. A very safe rule at table, how
ever. is never TO touch any bit OF food
with the fingers, olives and hora
d'euvres generally excepted.
Ice cream is eaten with a fork In
America. In England a spoon Is used.
With all Difference to English cuytom.
n very safe rule is eat nothing with a
spoon that can be taken with fork.
Peaches and pears are peeled. cut in
half and then broken by the fork and
thus eaten. An orange may be cut in
half and then eaten with an orange
spoon OF II may be peeled entire. then
divided into sections and eaten with a
fork. As already said, II Is very safe
10 make the knife and fork do their
share and never to touch eatables OF
any kind with the fingers II possible
All pies are eaten with a fork only,
and most puddings. except custards,
which require a spoon. Soft cakes, like
layer cake OF eclairs. are taken with a
fork Jellies, no matter how hard, are
eaten with a spoon. Cheese is eaten
with fork.
There are dozens OF people who
would be mortally offended by the sug-
gestion that they 'ate with tho knife" ="
But they must bo careful how they
thrust a knife into a dish of sweets or
OF any sauce and convey that knifeful
20 pieces Of bread or cake. This is a
most unfortunate breach OF table man.
ners.
Don't use the knife IN this connection
, at all Sweets and sauces are not TO be
placed upon the bread in any case.
They are eaten when possible with a
{ fork; otherwise with a spoon
: Try to WELD your knife. fork and
spoon with as much quietude as possi-
BILE. Don't let fork or spoon jangle
upon the china. A half dozen jangling
or scraping plates make a frightful
concert.
, Although It is generally supposed
that every one calling himself well
bred knows that in using the knife and
fork movement OF the wrist and not
OF the elbow is the proper thing. we oc-
thnAohhAl1 ott btCpic hblub ~acAA CT
bows vigorously. The handle Of tho
knife should repose IN the center Of the
hand. and no part Of the hand should
touch the knife above the handle. In
using a fork only the half Of the han
die is covered by the hand.
Upon leaving the table the chair is
placed far enough back out OF the way
to enable the other guests to pass out
with ease.
One OF the fundamental rules to OBJ
serve is the manner OF sitting down al
the table. One should not sit on the
: edge Of the chair nor sideways. nor
q should the back rest continually on
, the back OF the chair. An easy, up
, right position is the proper one. The
e feet should rest on the foor and one
\ should sit far enough away from the
plate 70 be able TO use the knife and
fork without awkwardness.-New York
World.
Animals In India.
American and European visitors to
India are always amazed by the fear