The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-01-11
ON TABLE MANNERS
WHERE cLUMsiNEss IS ALWAYS
OBJECTIONABLE.
This Is Most Important Branch Of
knowledge Which Should Be I'm
parted Early In the Life
of Child.

The first thing child learns is the
road that lies between its little hand
and rosy mouth. Yet, despite this
early start in very important branch
of knowledge, nine out OF ten adult
persons eat improperly.
The reason of this, in the first In
stance, is that parents have neglected
to reprove the first signs of clumsi.
ness. thinking it all right if the child
only eats the meal set before 1t.
To eat gracefully, which is to say
noiselessly and properly, is one of the
first accomplishments demanded by
polite society. 1t is impossible to
know the elegant world without it
that is, to go on knowing it, for the
table-boor may have crept in once
somehow. And, though one may be
inclined to forgive the clumsy, hearty,
and really big boy somewhat, there
seems no excuse for the girl what
ever her age. AS she represents the
ornamental side of the human race,
| more Is expected of her than of the
! other sex.
As a we'll set table is the begin
ming Of table education, the girl who
finds her home neglected in this re-
spect should take it upon herself ia
make the family board more attrac
tive.
In the land In which we live what
constitutes bad manners at table
Eating noisily. voraciously. with the
elbow on the table, with the mouth
full when speaking; In the, guest dab
b.ng quantities of pepper and salt ant
other condiments upon the foot
served; in wearing the napkin as 1
bib instead OF placing 1t upon tn
knees; in not knowing the fork TO
this thing and the knife for that; II
buttering the bread in a whole slic
instead of breaking it off in morsel
and buttering those when ready to ca
them; In eating the soup from tn
tip Of the spoon instead of from tn
side; in the hostess or host apologiz
ing for the simplicity of the meal an
appointments when they can affor
nothing better; in the guest not know
ing that it is the height of indelicac
to ask for things not on the table
suppose there is no Worcestershire Q
mustard or olive oil in the house-an
in their going away without compl
menting the host or hostess upon tn
meal.
Along with these graver offense
there are some minor ones, thong
each and every 'shp" counts in tn
summing up. For example. the polit
. world expects you to know that yo
/ must eat asparagus with a fork an
not with the fingers; that the spaghe
ii must be rolled over the fork an
carried deftly to the mouth withol
hanging end, and never cut up; th'
green salad must also be disposed G
somehow, without cutting; that fish
a food for forks and never for knives
that you ought to understand, If yo
I don't already, that if you take
chicken or bird bone in the left har
and nibble it prettily, you would
doing quite permissible thin
whereas to hold the bone in bot
hands and eat greedily is an actu
impertinance.
To sum up the moral significance
table manners, 1t must be remembers
always that the offer of a meal in
private family is the highest comp
ment that can be paid 1t Is incur
I bent upon the guest then. to hold q
> that has passed at this. table as hol
: whether some defects, marked Il
{ meal or not. Which Is to say, the
. must be no unflattering discussion
, the entertainers upon going home. I
1 ungracious word concerning the me
| or its manner of serving. The hoste
' must be equally exquisite toward IL
!. departed guest, letting fall no wol
+ that would put her in any belittling
{ ungraceful light.