The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-11
Girls Often Careless of Be
havior When Eating
Meals in Company,
MUST BE DAINTY
IN TAKING FOOD
One Thing Should Be Selected at
Time-How to Use
Napkin.

n would seem as If among girls Of
refinement there ought not to be any
need Of calling attention to the subject
Of table manners, and yet one often
sees girls who are supposed TO be well
bred doing such astonishingly bad man
nered things at the table that one is
forced TO believe that constant remind
ers are necessary.
Surely ali girls know that they should
not talk when they have food in their
mouths; but some forget the simple fact
and make themselves most unattrs Give
by an open-mouthed display OF partly
nlhsticated food, inevitably seen by the
person to whom they are talking As
If this were not bad enough in itself.
there is the further objection that it is
impossible 20 articuIate clearly when
the mouth contains food, and mumbling
is most reprehensible.
Take Small Bites.
You should be extremely dainty about
the amount OF food you put into your
mouth, taking very little at a time and
swallowing 1t before you follow it with
something else. IL is shocking to put
several things into your mouth at once
AZ If you were a barbarian who knew
Nv ihb'sA NaaAcNNA VI the customs OF
civilii alton. IF you take your food with
delicacy you dispose of it with ease and
speed. and you never commit the offense
OF mastieatins with your mouth open
or talking with It full.
Young girls are not supposed TO drink
wine, and etiquette used to prescribe
that when they attended dinners where
wine was served, they should turn the
wine glasses at their place upside down.
which signified TO the servants that the
glasses were not to be filled But this
Ne no longer the custom. The proper
thing now is TO permit the glasses to
he filled and then to leave them IN
touched. The servants. of course. are
quick TO perceive that YOU do not drink
the wine and so pass you by when they
SO the rounds again
Using the Napkin.
II is not good form 10 spread your
napkin ont over your lap, as IL YOU were
en- infant likely to drop half of what
You were eating. but instead you should
leave IL folded the long way. And when
YOU have occasion 10 raise ii 10 ycti-
lips DO SO wirS your right hand only,
and using merely the end of the napkin.
On no account put even the tip OF your
napkin In the finger bowl, as a girl was
seen 10 do recently when she wanted TO
rnoisten her lips. AT the end of dinner.
when the finger bowl is used. the lips
may be moistened by touching them
) lightly with the tips of the first and
second fingers OF the right hand which
have been deIicately dipped in water
To appear perfectly at ease under all
circumstances is an art which all girls
should strive to acquire. and nowhere
- this accomplishment more admfra BILE
than when dining out among strangers
where by being at ease yourself YOU
help others TO attain that agreeable
condition
Be at Your Best.
Dinner, whether at home or abroad. is
distinctly the festive meal OF the day.
occurring at an hour when people natu-
rally expect relaxation and enjoyment.
And you should make your contribution
nto the general entertainment By look
ing end by acting your prettiest the
latter embracing your conduct and your
conversation
II you are attending n . somewhat
formal dinner, remember that the con-
Versation Is never general on these oc-
castons, and that you are expected to
conflne your attentions TO the two per-
sons -etween whom you are seated