friends in the Ellen H. Richards house, Barbara Oakes said : " It seems to me that it is just as important to know how to use the forks and knives and spoons as it is to lay them straight on the table. Did you notice how differently people use their forks and spoons .? I wonder if Miss James would talk it over with us.'' Their teacher was glad to do so, and she made several helpful suggestions. Miss James said that the use of silver and dishes at the table varies in different coun- tries and at different periods. For instance, in old times in America it was considered quite proper to pour 8o FOOD AND HEALTH the tea out into the saucer and to drink from that ; and knives were made with round ends because the knife was once used for carrying food to the mouth. But there are certain principles of good manners that*we all can remember. Eating slowly, drinking either a hot or cold beverage when the mouth is empty, chew- ing food with the mouth closed and without making a noise, and, of course, not dropping food, are all de- tails that we should learn ; because otherwise we make ourselves disagree- able to other people. It is considered better to take soup from the side of the spoon than from the end. Sometimes peo- ple are worried as to whether they should hold the fork in the left or the right hand. Which hand to use really is not a matter of great importance, pro- vided the fork is managed nicely. The English cus- tom is to hold the fork in the left hand, lifting it to the mouth ; the French are inclined to hold the fork in the right hand, using it somewhat as one would a spoon. The important thing is to use the fork quietly and naturally and without spilling food. When we are invited to a formal luncheon or dinner, where there is quite an array of silver, we, of course, like to do as other people. The soup spoon we can easily know because it Fig. 40. — The fork is in the right hjind ready to carry food to the 'mouth. THE HOME SUPPER 8i is larger. Some people have a small fork with one broad tine for fish. Fish is usually supposed to be eaten with a fork as it does not need cutting. If there are two or three knives, the smallest is probably for the bread and butter, and the largest for cutting meat. If there are two forks, one smaller and one larger, the smaller is prob- ably for the salad and the larger for the meat dish. It is not worth while to be nervous and uncomfortable simply because the way of laying silver is not quite familiar. It is usually the custom to arrange silver at a formal affair in such a way that the outer pieces are used first. If you eat quietly and slowly, making as quiet motions as possible^ your manners will be acceptable. Talking at the table. There is one thing that does more at the meal than the table setting, and almost more than the good food. Do you know what it is .? If you happen to be feeling what you call "" out of sorts,'" make yourself tell an amusing story, and see what a flavor it adds to the supper. EXERCISES AND PROBLEMS 1. Discuss together different ways of setting and waiting on the table. 2. Make a list of dishes needed for a family of six or eight. 3. Send for some price list of dishes, and calculate the cost. 4. Make a simple plan for waiting on your home table. 5. Make suggestions for covering the table for breakfast, for a simple and a formal luncheon, and for a family dinner and a dinner when there are guests. 6. Make a drawing of one place laid for dinner. G 82 FOOD AND HEALTH Lesson io dishes suitable for supper What shall we have for supper ?

AI-modernized reading of the original text

friends in the Ellen H. Richards house, Barbara Oakes said : " It seems to me that it is just as important to know how to use the forks and knives and spoons as it is to lay them straight on the table. Did you notice how differently people use their forks and spoons .? I wonder if Miss James would talk it over with us.'' Their teacher was glad to do so, and she made several helpful suggestions. Miss James said that the use of silver and dishes at the table varies in different countries and at different periods. For instance, in old times in America it was considered quite proper to pour 8o the tea out into the saucer and to drink from that ; and knives were made with round ends because the knife was once used for carrying food to the mouth. But there are certain principles of good manners that we all can remember. Eating slowly, drinking either a hot or cold beverage when the mouth is empty, chewing food with the mouth closed and without making a noise, and, of course, not dropping food, are all details that we should learn ; because otherwise we make ourselves disagreeable to other people. It is considered better to take soup from the side of the spoon than from the end. Sometimes people are worried as to whether they should hold the fork in the left or the right hand. Which hand to use really is not a matter of great importance, provided the fork is managed nicely. The English custom is to hold the fork in the left hand, lifting it to the mouth ; the French are inclined to hold the fork in the right hand, using it somewhat as one would a spoon. The important thing is to use the fork quietly and naturally and without spilling food. When we are invited to a formal luncheon or dinner, where there is quite an array of silver, we, of course, like to do as other people. The soup spoon we can easily know because it Fig. 40. — The fork is in the right hand ready to carry food to the 'mouth. is larger. Some people have a small fork with one broad tine for fish. Fish is usually supposed to be eaten with a fork as it does not need cutting. If there are two or three knives, the smallest is probably for the bread and butter, and the largest for cutting meat. If there are two forks, one smaller and one larger, the smaller is probably for the salad and the larger for the meat dish. It is not worth while to be nervous and uncomfortable simply because the way of laying silver is not quite familiar. It is usually the custom to arrange silver at a formal affair in such a way that the outer pieces are used first. If you eat quietly and slowly, making as quiet motions as possible, your manners will be acceptable. Talking at the table. There is one thing that does more at the meal than the table setting, and almost more than the good food. Do you know what it is .? If you happen to be feelingwhat you call "out of sorts,"" make yourself tell an amusing story, and see what a flavor it adds to the supper. 1. Discuss together different ways of setting and waiting on the table. 2. Make a list of dishes needed for a family of six or eight. 3. Send for some price list of dishes, and calculate the cost. 4. Make a simple plan for waiting on your home table. 5. Make suggestions for covering the table for breakfast, for a simple and a formal luncheon, and for a family dinner and a dinner when there are guests. 6. Make a drawing of one place laid for dinner. G Lesson io dishes suitable for supper What shall we have for supper ?

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