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Classic
Cook Books
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page 353
sugar have previously been placed. For tea, it is better to pour first and then
add cream and sugar. In winter plates should be warmed, not made hot.
INDIVIDUAL MANNERS.
Manners, at table and elsewhere, are made for the convenience and comfort of
men, and all social observances have now, or have had at some time, a good
reason and sound common sense behind them. It must be remembered, however, that
the source of all good manners is a nice perception of and kind consideration
for not only the rights but the feelings and even the whims of others. The
customs of society are adopted and observed to enable us to be more agreeable,
or at least not disagreeable, to friends. And nowhere is the distinction between
the gentleman and the boor more marked than at the table. Some persons are
morbidly sensitive, and even slight improprieties create disgust, and every true
gentleman is bound to respect their sensitiveness and avoid giving pain, whether
in sympathy with the feeling or not.
As this is not an etiquette book, we can only give a few hints. Once seated at
table, gloves are drawn off and laid in the lap under the napkin, which is
spread lightly, not tucked in. Raw oysters are eaten with a fork; soup from the
side of a spoon without noise, or tipping the plate. The mouth should not go to
the food, but food to the mouth. Eat without noise and with the lips closed.
Friends will not care to see how you masticate your food, unless they are of a
very investigating turn of mind. Bread should be broken, not cut, and should be
eaten by morsels, and not broken into soup or gravy. It is in bad taste to mix
food on the plate. Fish must be eaten with the fork. Maccaroni is cut and cheese
crumbled on the plate, and eaten with a fork. Pastry should be broken and eaten
with a fork, never cut with a knife. Game and chicken are cut, but never eaten
with the bones held in the fingers. Oranges are peeled without breaking the
inner skin, being held meantime on a fork. Pears are pared while held by the
stem. Cherry-stones, or other substances which are to be removed from the mouth,
are passed to the napkin held to the lips, and then returned to the plate. Salt
must be left on the side of the plate, and never on the table-cloth. Cut with
the knife, but never put it in the mouth; the fork must convey the food, and may
be held in either hand as convenient. (Of course, when the old-fashioned
two-tined fork is used, it would be absurd to practice this rule.) Food that can
not be held with a fork should be eaten with a spoon. Never help yourself to
butter or any other food with your own knife or fork. Never pick your teeth at
table, or make any sound with the mouth in eating. Bread eaten with meat should
not be buttered. Bread and butter is a dish for dessert. Eat slowly for both
health and manners. Do not lean your arms on the table, or sit too far back, or
lounge. Pay as little attention as possible to accidents. When asked "what do
you prefer?" name some part
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