And "society," like the potentate of the parable
whose touch transformed every object into gold, has embellished
and adorned the all-too-common habit of eating, until there has
been evolved throughout the ages that most charming and exquisite
product of human culture--the formal dinner party. The gentleman
of today who delightedly dons his dress suit and escorts into a
ten-course dinner some lady mountain climber or other celebrity,
is probably little aware of what he owes to his forefathers for
having so painstakingly devised for him such a pleasant method of
spending his time.
But "before one runs, one must learn to walk"--and the joys of
the dinner-party are not to be partaken of without a long
preliminary course of training, as many a young man has learned
to his sorrow when he discovered that his inelegant use of knife
and fork was causing humorous comment up and down the "board" and
was drawing upon himself the haughty glances of an outraged
hostess. The first requisite of success in dining out is the
possession of a complete set of correct table manners--and these,
like anything worth while, can be achieved only by patient study
and daily practise.
TABLE MANNERS FOR CHILDREN
AS a matter of fact, it is never too early to begin to acquire
the technique of correct eating, and the nursery is the best
possible place for the first lessons in dining-room behavior.
Children should be taught at an early age the fundamentals of
"table" manners in such a way that by the time they have reached
the years of manhood the correct use of knife, fork, spoon and
fingerbowl is to them almost second nature.
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