The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1907-10-02
THE ART OF DINING OUT
A Few Suggestions
BY T. w. M'KaiI

men IN New York absolutely aching
for tips on how to behave themselves
when dining out To judge from this
kind of talk the average New Yorker,
when invited out to dine, doesn't
know whether It is good form to turn
up In his automobile toys, or whether
II is de rigger to introduce the subject
of aluminium corsets into the small
talk.
Upon your arrival at the house
where you have been invited to dine
you hand your hat and coat to the
servant II you have brought an UNI
brella, you hand that also. In any
well-regulated New York house these
articles will be returned to you in
tolerable state of preservation on
leaving; or. falling them. you will
probably have a chance to help your.
self to a selection of what you fancy
in the cloakroom You can often pick
up quite a new hat in this way for
nothing.
When dinner is announced II Is not
considered good form to rush for the
dining room to secure a front seat.
No matter how hungry you may be,
even IL you have shortened up your
lunch in anticipation of the free blow
out, II is considered bong tong to go
slowly. The march to the dining
room is always made to resemble a
funeral procession in order to give
the humorous guests a chance to re-
mark that they are about to assist
at the funeral Of the menu. Menu Is
a French word, but is now quite freely
used in this city. II means a list of
eatables set out in detail. and also
implies that you are to have several
minute snacks of things In general,
instead of one unrestrained go at any
thing in particular
When asked to take lady down to
dinner 1t is usual to put the lady on
the wall side of the staircase. so that
II she slips you can grip on the bal.
ulster and save the procession from
being bumped about a good deal.
There is no obligation on you to
work steadily through the menu If
you prefer to rest here and there.
Still. IL you are feeling exceptionally
AT, or have a bet on about II, no phys
ical force will be used to prevent you
from graphing with the entire lay
out. If during the repast you should
drop anything under the table, ii is
not regarded as good form to dive
down at once on your hands and
knees in order to recover It.
At dinner party a section Of the
menu is commonly handed round to
the guests BY the servants. and you
will be expected to dig out what you
need for your own personal use, and
let the balance go. However tempt
ing the dish may be. do not allow
yourself. In an excess of uncon-
trolled emotion. to pinch the lot. or
course, IL may happen that, quite in
advertenuy you may lift rather more
o. the course than you designed. In
that case. let the spoil lie where II fell,
and put the blame on the servant.
II would not be at all correct to re-
turn the surplus; neither should you
even II your neighbor is a very pretty
girl, insist on dumping upon her plate
the balance for which you have no
use. If she wants It she will ask for
Il.
When the soup is served you will
be expected TO eat 1t with the table.
spoon. The use of the knife when
eating soup is not recommended. as
you can only get up such mere
scrap at each scoop. and when the
courses are served one at a time you
will be apt TO keep the other guests
waiting. The knife Is only used for
cutting things with, and the pictur-
esque habit of chasing the peas or
the last drop of gravy round the plate
with the blade OF the knife is no
longer considered la mode in good
society.
No matter how hungry you may be,
you must leave yourself with breath
enough TO talk occasionally TO the
lady YOU have brought down TO dinner.
even II you don't care for the shade
her hair Is dyed. II you are telling
her funny story, You must not nudge
her with your elbow when you reach
the part where the laugh comes in.
neither is II usual 10 slap ladies on
the back when endeavoring to add to
their gayety.
When the guests begin 10 go home,
II is as well for you to make a move
also. II only to get a bulge on the
cloakroom. Al the same time. II you
have sufficient confidence in your
hostess. you may postpone your de-
parture little. though 1t is not at all
good form to wait till you are thrown
out.
1t is a good rule to take your leave
while you are stlll sober. as you can
always round OFF the corners OF your
eyhilaration at the club or nearest
saloon.