Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 14, Number 42, DeMotte, Jasper County, 1 September 1944 — Good Table Manners as They Were Back in 1884 [ARTICLE]

Good Table Manners as They Were Back in 1884

These excerpts are from the “Manual of Good Manners” published in 1844—quoted by Arthur Train in “Puritan’s Progress”: “Never be squinting and scowling and examining the victuals, to see if you can discover a coal or a speck or a hair; if you find one, take it out decently, and not make a great ado about it.” “Eat what you need before you rise from the table; and not be picking and eating afterwards. Never pocket victuals at the table, it denotes a thievish disposition.” “When you have done eating, clean your plate, knife and fork, lay the bones you have picked in a snug heap by the side of your plate, scrape up your crumbs, and cross your knife and fork on your plate.”