Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1886 — Table Manners. [ARTICLE]

Table Manners.

Good table manners are founded on habits of punctuality, neatness, and order, united with that politeness which springs readily from a kind heart. Everything at the table should be done moderately. l)o not be impatient to be served, or feel, while eating, that you must hurry and get through so that you can rush off to something else. This is bad enough when it is necessary; it is almost inexcusable when it is not. Avoid all unusual noise when eating. Never fill the mouth very full nor talk ■with the mouth full. Never leave the table with food in the mouth. Never sit a foot off from the table, nor jammed up close against it, Never soil the tablecloth if it is possible to avoid it. D.on’t be greedy, and don’t try to eat all the good things you can, and don’t carry off anything in your pocket to eat afterward. Don’t speak of it if you see any one else greedy. It is never polite to appear to notice faults of others in company. Do not encourage a dog or cat to play with you at the table. Do not cut your bread—break it. Never express a choice for any particular part of a dish, unless requested to do so. When asked what part of a chicken you will have, save other people the trouble of choosing for you, and say Avliat you will have, making some choice, though really not particular, as you might say. Never hold hones in your fingers while you eat from them. Cut the meat with a knife, and do not make an effort to clean your plate or the bone you have been earing from too clean.

Do not attract attention to yourself by calling loudly for anything, or by any boisterous conduct. We haw seen children avlio made their wants known by giving two or three loud knocks on the table Avitli handles of their kni\'es, calling at the same time, water! butter! potatoes! milk! or whatever else they happened to *vant at the time. We have seen others sit at the table, and Avliile carving was being done, rub their fingers on the edge of the plate in front of them and feel around the inside of the tumbler also, so that when a plate A\’ith food upon it was exchanged for theirs the person receiving it felt unpleasantly. Don’t be like such children. Never handle dishes unnecessarily at the table, or play Avitli your spoon, knife, or fork. “A man is known by his company, and his company by his •manners.” Do not pare an apple, peach,'or pear for another at the table without holding it Avith a fork.