FoodNetArchive

Vegetarian Cook Book

1904

Page 95

Presented as published in 1904. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Seat yourself quietly at the table, without dragging the chair forward; and in rising do not push the chair back from the table before attempting to rise. Sit in an upright position at the table, without leaning back in the chair or forward against the table. Never sit with the elbows on the table nor extended from the body when eating. Keep your feet in front of the chair, and not twisted around its legs nor extended too far under the table. In eating, do not lean over the plate nor incline the head to meet every mouthful. «.—- ..»--™— ...w Keep the hands away from the face and the head, andy when possible avoid coughing. It is never good manners to read at the table when others are present. Do not toy with the fork, knife, spoons, or anything about your plate. In serving, do not heap the plates. Always serve ladies first. In passing the plate for more, always remove the knife and fork, and do not continue eating until the plate has been returned. TABLE ETIQUETTE 389 In asking for anything at the table, address by name the one who can most conveniently serve you. When a plate is offered to you by the one serving; do not pass it to some one else unless asked to do so. Do not refuse to take the last piece on a plate, as there is supposed to be more. Should you observe that something is desired by another, do not hesitate to pass it, lifting the dish in doing so. Never lean forward across the table to reach for any- thing, nor reach in front of others. Never take so large a mouthful that you can not con- veniently speak. Chew the food with the mouth closed, and as quietly as possible. Eat slowly. Rapid eating is a violation of good manners, and the laws of health as well. The last bit of food in the mouth should be swallowed before leaving the table. Be careful not to soil the table-cloth. No waste matter should be laid on it. Salt should not be put on the table-cloth. If anything objectionable is found in the food, never betray the fact to others. Do not embarrass hostess or guests by appearing to notice accidents. Never speak about the exceUenee of your own food or dishes, nor offer apologies for them. Never urge a guest to eat food which he has declined. Never put toothpicks on the table, nor use them at the table. 390 VEGETAEIAN COOK BOOK At a public dining-room, ladies as well as gentlemen al- ways rise from the table if another stops to speak to them. At a private table, never leave until all have finished. Ladies should pass out of the dining-room before the gentlemen. Knives and forks should be held so that the handles rest in the palms of the hands ; and in using a knife, the fore- finger rests on the upper part of the blade. When it is necessary to use both knife and fork, the knife is held in the right hand and the fork in the left. In this case the food should be carried to the mouth with the fork in the left hand. It is never proper to transfer the fork from one hand to the other, but it should be used with ease in either hand. Hold the fork in the right hand in courses where no knife is required. Never carry food to the mouth with the knife. Do not use the back of the fork to carry food to the mouth. Never substitute a spoon where the fork can be used. Do not entirely fill the spoon, nor overload the fork.