Part 8

Some hae meat and canna eat, And some would eat that want it; But we hae meat, and we can eat, Sae let the Lord be thankit.

--Burns.

1) Do you know that table manners proclaim at once your social training?

2) Boys, at a dining table, draw back the chair for the girl or the woman next to you, push it under her as she sits down, and then take your own seat.

3) Girls and boys, let your napkin lie open across your lap.

4) At home leave your napkin folded neatly, or in its ring, if there is a ring. But, let it lie loose beside your plate when you are at a hotel; partly folded, when you are a guest in a private home.

5) Never use a toothpick at the table or in the presence of others. If it seems absolutely necessary to use one at the table, cover your lips with your napkin; elsewhere, with your handkerchief.

6) Hold your knife in your right hand, not as though it were a penholder, but so that you may easily press down on the back of the knife with your right forefinger.

7) In a similar position, when cutting food, hold your fork tines down with your left hand. But, in carrying food to your mouth, have the tines curve up, not down, and take your fork in your right hand between your thumb and forefinger, so that it rests comfortably near the tip of the second finger.

8) Never should your table knife be used for conveying food to your mouth.

9) You find your small bread and butter plate and butter spreader at your left. Never spread at once an entire slice of bread; break off a half or a quarter and spread it on your bread and butter plate,--not on the palm of your hand.

10) When your plate is passed for a second helping, let your knife and fork remain on it, side by side; also, when you have finished. Never rest your knife or fork partly on the table and partly on your plate or your napkin ring. Avoid mixing your food on your plate.

11) Use a fork when eating vegetables and salad,--and ice-cream, if an ice-cream fork is provided.

12) If cutting the lettuce leaves of your salad is necessary, cut with your fork.

13) Make the least possible noise in chewing, and none at all in taking food from a spoon. Sometimes, in eating crisp toast, for example, it is very difficult to avoid a crunching sound, but eat slowly, taking very small mouthfuls, and you can avoid noise.

14) Don't drink from a cup while it holds a spoon. When not using your teaspoon, let it lie on the saucer. Do not drink from your saucer. Stir quietly, and lay your spoon in your saucer at once.

15) At the table, keep your hands in your lap when you are not eating; toying with articles on the table is bad form.

16) Between courses, avoid lounging back in your chair; keep your spine straight, your body poised a little forward, and your mind occupied with the conversation which you are helping to make pleasant.

17) Eat a little less of everything than you might. Shrink from the slightest appearance of greediness.

18) Use knives, forks, and spoons in the order you find them. When in doubt, observe your hostess.

19) After dipping the tips of your fingers into your finger bowl, dry them lightly on your napkin.

20) When the hostess rises, boys, rise and draw back the chair of the girl or the woman next you as she rises, and let her precede you from the room.

DUTY TO YOURSELF

This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.

--Shakespeare.

1) Take a complete bath at least three times a week; better still, every day.

2) Keep your hair, teeth, finger nails, and clothes in good condition. Look well groomed.

3) If you eat, sleep, and exercise properly, your health and your complexion will be at their best. Consult your gymnasium teacher on the subject, or consult a reliable book.