If a dish be on the table, some parts of which are preferred
to others, according to the taste of the individuals, all should
have the opportunity of choice. You will simply ask each
one if he has any preference for a particular part; if he replies
in the negative, you are not to repeat the question, nor insist
that he must have a preference. Do not attempt to eulogize
your dishes, or apologize that you cannot recommend them, —
this is extremely bad taste; as is also the vaunting of the excel-
lence of your wines, etc, etc. Do not insist upon your guests
partaking of particular dishes. Do not ask persons more than
once, and never force a supply upon their plates. It is ill-bred,
though common, to press any one to eat; and, moreover, it is
a great annoyance to be crammed like turkeys. Neither send
away your plate, nor relin uish your knife and fork till your
guests have finished.
Soup being removed, the gentleman who supports the lady
of the house on the right, should request the honor of taking
wine with her. This movement will be the signal for the rest.
Should he neglect to do this, you must challenge some lady.
Until the cloth be removed, you must not drink wine
except with another. If you are asked to take wine, it is a
breach of etiquette to refuse. In performing this ceremony,
(which is very agreeable if the wine be good,) you catch the
person's eye and bow politely. It is not necessary to say any-
thing.
If you have children, never introduce them after dinner,
unless particularly asked for, and then avoid it if possible.
Never make any observations to your servants at dinner,
other than to request them to provide you with what you require,
or take away that which may be removed.
With the dessert, you will have a small plate, two wine-
glasses, and doyleSy placed before each guest. If fresh fruit
be on the table, as pears, apples, nectarines, etc., a knife with a
silver or silver-plated blade should be placed by the side oi
HOUSEHOLD. 99
each plate; a steel blade, in addition to being discolored by
the juice, imparts an unpleasant flavor to the fruit.
As Guest. — To dine out, it is usually understood that you
must be invited. There are, however, some gentlemen who
have attained to that high degree of refinement which enables
them to dispense with such a stupid ceremony. They drop in
as dinner is being served up, when it is impossible that the
party on whom they intrude can do other than to request them
to stay and dine, though we suspect he has a much stronger
inclination to kick the unwelcome guest into the street. We
would recommend you to eschew such practices; but when
invited, return an answer in plain terms, accepting or declining.
If you accept, be there at the appointed time. It is inconven-
ient, on many accounts, to yourself and your friends, to be
either too late or too early. You will probably have to wait a
little time before dinner is announced. During this short
period, render yourself as agreeable as possible to the assembled
company.
Page 64
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
If a dish be on the table, some parts of which are preferred to others, according to the taste of the individuals, all should have the opportunity of choice. You will simply ask each one if he has any preference for a particular part; if he replies in the negative, you are not to repeat the question, nor insist that he must have a preference. Do not attempt to eulogize your dishes, or apologize that you cannot recommend them, — this is extremely bad taste; as is also the vaunting of the excellence of your wines, etc, etc. Do not insist upon your guests partaking of particular dishes. Do not ask persons more than once, and never force a supply upon their plates. It is ill-bred, though common, to press any one to eat; and, moreover, it is a great annoyance to be crammed like turkeys. Neither send away your plate, nor relinquish your knife and fork till your guests have finished.
Soup being removed, the gentleman who supports the lady of the house on the right, should request the honor of taking wine with her. This movement will be the signal for the rest. Should he neglect to do this, you must challenge some lady. Until the cloth be removed, you must not drink wine except with another. If you are asked to take wine, it is a breach of etiquette to refuse. In performing this ceremony, (which is very agreeable if the wine be good,) you catch the person's eye and bow politely. It is not necessary to say anything.
If you have children, never introduce them after dinner, unless particularly asked for, and then avoid it if possible.
Never make any observations to your servants at dinner, other than to request them to provide you with what you require, or take away that which may be removed.
With the dessert, you will have a small plate, two wineglasses, and doyles, placed before each guest. If fresh fruit be on the table, as pears, apples, nectarines, etc., a knife with a silver or silver-plated blade should be placed by the side oi
each plate; a steel blade, in addition to being discolored by the juice, imparts an unpleasant flavor to the fruit.
As Guest. — To dine out, it is usually understood that you must be invited. There are, however, some gentlemen who have attained to that high degree of refinement which enables them to dispense with such a stupid ceremony. They drop in as dinner is being served up, when it is impossible that the party on whom they intrude can do other than to request them to stay and dine, though we suspect he has a much stronger inclination to kick the unwelcome guest into the street. We would recommend you to eschew such practices; but when invited, return an answer in plain terms, accepting or declining. If you accept, be there at the appointed time. It is inconvenient, on many accounts, to yourself and your friends, to be either too late or too early. You will probably have to wait a little time before dinner is announced. During this short period, render yourself as agreeable as possible to the assembled company.