Gilded Age Lawn Party Etiquette Humor

“In the matter of the cherries he was especially troubled, as he did not in the least know what was the proper method of disposing of the stones when once the fruit had passed his lips.”
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The etiquette rule for fruit stones and pits is this: Anything that goes in to one’s mouth with the fingers is removed politely from the mouth with the fingers  –Gilded Age diminutive cherry forks with gilded tines 

Far as He Could Go

The drummer was bidden to that festivity known as a “lawn party,” and among the refreshments provided upon that festive occasion were some cherries. The drummer was conscious that there were depths of social etiquette which he had never been able to sound, and as he was after all a fellow of sense, with the American adaptability, and did not wish to do that which was not according to the best usage, he bethought him that it were well to watch those about him with a view to getting clews (sic). 

In the matter of the cherries he was especially troubled, as he did not in the least know what was the proper method of disposing of the stones when once the fruit had passed his lips. He decided, therefore, that before he attempted to eat any of the luscious looking fruit he would wait and see what his young and beautiful hostess did in this delicate matter. 

“I watched her,” he goes on to say, “and soon had the pleasure of seeing her slip a cherry between her lips, redder than the fruit itself. I took up one from my own plate, preparing to eat it as soon as I saw how she disposed of the stone, but when she took the stone between her fingers and snapped it at her grandmother, I found myself quite as much at a loss as before– for you see, I had no grandmother there.” – Boston Courier, 1891

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