Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-02-15
NOuVeauX Richie Us. Old Regime.

In this get-me- rich-quick age. good
breeding and gentility are often adiudred
by the dexterOus manipulation Of six or
more knives, forks and spoons, placed in
bewildering fashion at ones place al
the functual dinner; and is an all sufT-
cient passport TO the realms Of what
nowadays constitutes good society.
This parvenu classification Of a lady
or gentleman recalls 20 my mind a
fashionable dinner I once attended at
the house Of a new made millionaire
whose shining dollars had bought for
him large and flourishing Family Tree
and most geOrgeously designed Coat
Of Arms
The array OF knives and forks were
unusually numerous and only an almost
daily attendance of such parvenu and
elaborate entertainments could have en-
abled one TO steer safely over the shoals
Of doubt, as 10 which knife or which
fork it was the fad Of the hour to use
next; and only then az the expense OF
pulverizing ones mental faculties and
ideas, freezing all good fellows ship. and
reducing wit and humor 20 a science Of
knives and forks.
Ii is amusing 20 recall that dinner
now: then it was an inferno Of horrors
TO me.
II was my first season in society and
while making some laughing sally my
side partner. inadvertently used a tiff
fany rose pattern fork, instead Of its
neighbor, less elaborate in design.
The blood Of youthful eighteen surCed
up in a torrent 20 my face; for the covert
but superciljous smile Of one Of the SER
eral elegant individuals STYLED buffers.
but in truth stern monitors Of the fash
ionsble school Of fsds. had not escaped
my notice.
In that supreme moment OF anguish !
wondered why had ever been created
to endure such ignominy; or why had
not died when young and innocent with
whooping cough, teething spasms or
some other respectable infantile malady.
Vague thoughts Of what my patrician
great grandmother OF old Knickerbocker
stock would think OF me, should her re.
leased spirit, floating through space, be
revisiting the haunts OF her CirlhoOd.
Or my farther of English forefathers, Of
noble, gentle birth; what would they
think OF such a ragged branch of their
once respectable Ancestral Tree:
Then, oh, blessed release from such
petty psryenu thraldom, Pride and in
dignaiion overwhelmed my former
humiliation, and I found myself trans
fixing with s. strong stare of hauteur,
the gentleman waiter, who writhed and
wriggled like Shiny reptile beneath nv
gaze.
! became inwardly hilarious and had
a frenzied desire 10 swallow my knife.or
drink from my finger bowl by way OF
celebrating my emancipation from The
/ tyranny of social shams
The correct use Of knife and fork gen
orally bespeaks gentle birth. good breed
ing and desirable environments but to be
compelled TO 80 through meaningless
faddish antics like a trained animal at
circus, with an unlimited number. is
scarcely necessary TO prove ones eligi-
bility to the title Of lady or gentlemen
or establish ones social status in society.
Let US loosen, rs far as possible. the
CALLING bands of Society's yoke. and en-
ulste rather. some OF the old time man
ners and customs Of hospitality 80 fast
/ slipping away from Us forever
/ The gentle, gracious, well-bred hostess
and her genial lord, who Wed in making
their guests and even the stranger within
their gates feel the benedcent spell OF
their cordial, high bred and courtly well
come.
That period when Colonial silver, rare
china and priceless glass grsced the
broad mahogany clawfoot table with
simple elegance void of all display.
When stesming yiands manufactured by
/ processes known only 10 Aunt Roses"
dusky brain and served by old black
"Pompev' with a quiet dignity and def
erence of manner that would cause
Sherry and Delmonico 10 dofT their hats
in admiration for the formers culinary
Attsinments, and their satellites drop
their Irish and Dutch Jaws in amazement
st the latter's superior and noiseless skill
in serving those dainty sristocratic
danes and gallant sons of the old regime
Those good old days, when Wit and
repsrtee scintillated nnder the benign
influence OF ten-year-old Port and Sherry
that would have put 10 the blush the
small cheap dinner talk of the average
society man Of today, exhilerated bv
countless glasses of Champagne.
Although conditions are greatly
changed, let not the Old regime become
only tradition TO Us amid the gaudy
and barbaric splendor OF this new rich
age
Old Roses reply to a request for one
of her famous recipes, shows alas how
far many OF Us have strayed from the
time hOnOred customs Of our forefAthers
La, chile honey; aints got no deCeits
jes goes by my constance. en- Marse
John en- de Lord puts de blessin on daI
en- makes EN- tas'e good"
VI r. e. W
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The Sunshine Of Spring.