and is bad for the digestion. Don't bite into a slice of bread and butter. Break the bread into suitable pieces for eating and butter each piece separately. Don't bend over your plate and give the effect of shoveling food into your mouth, and don't reach for things. Ask the waitress or the person nearest the dish to pass it, saying: "If you please."
WHEN IN DOUBT, USE THE FORK.
Never put a knife blade into your mouth. A witty man has said that a gentleman may take liberties with the English language, but not with his knife. A knife is used only for cutting food. A very small, sharp knife is for paring and dividing fruit, a small, blunt knife What Knives and Forks and Spoons are Forfor spreading butter on bread. So limited is the use of a knife in eating that, at dinners of many courses, you may have but one knife at your plate, but a dozen forks. All beverages are taken directly from a glass or cup, or sipped with a spoon. Soup, watery vegetables and fruit sauce, berries, grape fruit, halved oranges, cantaloupes, ices and soft puddings are eaten with a spoon. Bread, small dry sandwiches, crackers and cheese, When You May Use Your Fingerssmall cakes, many solid fruits, nuts, olives, pickles, celery, radishes, corn on the ear and firm stalks of asparagus are properly taken up in the fingers. Practically everything else is eaten with a fork—even peas, soft layer cake, club and mayonnaise sandwiches. Cream cheese should be put on a cracker with a butter spreader. A good rule is: when in doubt use a fork if possible. On an elaborately set table, a broad-tined fork is provided for eating ice cream.
HOW SOUP SHOULD BE EATEN
In eating soup, dip the edge of the spoon that is farthest from you, to fill it, and take the soup from the side. Don't tip the plate to get the last spoonful. The butter spreader when not in use, is laid on the bread and butter plate, a teaspoon in the saucer. Don't litter the table-cloth about your plate. Put bones, potato skins and other refuse on your bread and butter plate or at the side of your large plate. If asked, tell which part of the chicken you prefer, or if you like your beef rare or well done. You need not wait to begin to eat until everyone is served, but don't begin so soon as to leave everyone else behind. A meal isn't a race.
