Evening star., 1936-08-08
Etiquette
Hints for
Children
w h en- Staying g for
Dinner at Play
mates House.
Star Staf Photo.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

BY ANGELO PATRi.
CHILDREN are often asked to stay
to dinner when they are visiting
at each others hcmes. They like
to do so, but often their visit is spoiled
by the feeling that they have made
some sort of mistake at the table.
They are not quite sure what went
wrong, hut they suffer under the un-
easy feeling that it was something
pretty bad.
We ought to prepare them for such
occasions. 1t is humiliating in the ex-
treme for a child to feel that he has
in some way transgressed socially.
Social errors bring punishment quite
out of all proportion to their i'm
portance, but that does not help the
children any. Knowing the accepted
way will help them, am offering a
few simple rules to that end.
When you enter the dining room
stand by the left side of the chair,
which your hostess indicates as yours.
until she seats herself. Then sit down
without fuss. If you are a boy help
the girl to your left with her chair.
II you are girl, move in front Of your
chair close to the table, seat yourself
as the chair is moved toward you by
the man or boy who is helping you.
If there is no man or boy follow your
hostess.
Pick up your napkin, unfold 1t half
way and lay it across your lap. Don't
swing it to the breeze like a banner.
Use it without fuss when you need to,
otherwise let it stay in your lap. When
you rise from the table fold it once
only, and lay it at the side of the
plate where you found it. Don't put
it back into its folds, however. It
is on its way to the laundry.
Don't touch your glass of water un-
til your hostess does. Follow her in
this as in everything. If wine Is
served just leave it. Your drink, as a
young person, is water or milk.
Don't attempt to be bright at table.
Listen more than you talk.
Speak up promptly when you are
asked a question. If you don't know
the answer, just say so. When offered
a choice of food, make your choice.
Don't say, Anything is good enough
for me-" That is awful. Your host
ess wants to please you. If she offers
you a choice between dark meat ana
light make your choice and smile ap-
preciatively.
Don't say, "No thank you," when
offered something, at the table unless
you really cannot eat it. Take some
thing of what Is offered and eat IL.
That is due your hostess, whose din
ner you are eating. She hopes you
fike it and is pleased when you show
that you enjoy it. Refuse second
helpings unless you are really hun
gry, and others are having them. II
YOU are watchful you can see whether
the others at table are about through
with their meal and so avoid begin
ming to eat another helping when
everybody else is ready for dessert.
Try to show that you are enjoying
yourself. Try to think about the
others at the table and be watchful
to see that they have what they want
of the dishes that are for general serv-
ice-relishes, olives, pickles, bread.
Ask for any you would like and say,
Thank you," and Please" to those
who pass them. Don't thank the
servant who waits on you at table.
You can make a point of thanking the
hostess when you are leaving, if you
get a chance. and good guests make
that possible.
When you say: THANK you for
pleasant time. It was kind of you
to let me stay" And go your way at
once. Never say, Thanks for the
eats" It Is not funny. It Is sheer
bad manners.
When In doubt. watch your hostess.
(Copyright. 1936.)