Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-05-04
now THE BOTS LEARN
THEIR TABLE MANNERS RIGHT

manners at the State Agriculture
College was written by Dickinson
county student. The class u eyi
IDENTIFY doing its work right
Dear Mother: You probably hav'
been wondering what sort Of a TIME
we senior boys have been havini
eating properly the Junior girls copk
ing. Several weeks ago told vol
that more than 100 Of the senior
boys were going to eat their din
ners at tho domestic science bupd-
ling this term. They could not &C
| commodate that many boys at once
50 we we're divided into divisions
OF thirty. Every division to taht
| ten meals. For the benefit Of both
boys and girls, the domestic science
department has published a little
| pamphlet, liable service and ETH
| quctte." Mine was purchased sew.
| eral days ago, folded and placed In
my hip pocket for ready reference
at any time, but dinner time. Today
was the first day for our division 70
eat at the D. s. and these are gone
of the fist sensations.
For some reason several OF the
boys were slow to get away from
their last classes before dinner. To
tell the truth, two or three OF NJ
were primping little before start
ing out on SO important an adven-
ture. When we left our building
several boys were ahead Of us on
their way to dinner. They were
joking one another but acted as II
the psychological moment had come.
They had been looking forward to
this event but almost wished they
could dodge 1t. We caught up with
the bunch and ten or twelve of US
entered the building.
Hats came off as soon as we were
inside the door, entirely contrary
to the way we act In the main hall,
where we wear our hats as we do
on the street. This was a strange
place and we were using all our
manners today. A few senior girls,
with smiles that did not give a fell
low any more confidence in him
self, were watching the boys come
in. We were all nervous. After
f. ing a place to leave our hats,
we went into a class room to walt.
Somebody found pamphlet con-
tanning some good advice to the girls
and a little diseration on love
that made a good appetizer for the
dinner. Some of the boys were very
much interested too in an imitation
house. 1t was made of square
paste board box with windows cut
at the right place, and common old
green curtains and the lace ones
hung properly. We were enjoying
ourselves real we'll with these visions
of another world, when Mrs. Van
zile, dean OF women, disturbed our
equilibrium again by calling us from
this reverie to dinner, On the way
to the dining room an old bachelor"
grabbed my arm and said, "How
are your knees old boy?" / replied
that mine were still servlceable. He
confessed that his shook little.
At the dining room door we were
given cards which told US to which
table we were assigned. l was the
last man to reach our table and had
to take the place remaining, which
happened to be that Of host. say
1t happened so for I don't believe
the other fellows had thought where
the proper place for the host was.
know | did not think of 1t until
the hostess told me what an import
ant position ! was to occupy. From
now on we will have to forget the
rest Of the crowd and deal with our
family, for this was an informal
dinner today. The boys and do
nestle science instructor we're as
signed to every table and we were
too busy to watch them all.
Our first trick was to sit down
to the table without moving our
chairs. That is quite a stunt II your
chair is close enough to make eat
ing easy. Strange to stay our fam
lily was not very well acquainted
with the lady Of the house and she
had to make-herself acquainted with
all Of US for there was no time for
introductions. Next was spreading
the napkin and looked for some
thing to eat. Dainty hand painted
menu cards were at the left Of our
plates. The first thing on them was
orange punch and as looked up,
the hostess was caught In the act
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