Etiquette Teaches Legal Lesson

Sharp, steel bladed knives like this gilded age “Bird Knife” (above) designed for cutting an individual game or fowl course, could be disastrous if it was being used also to eat one’s food from, as opposed to just using it for the cutting of one’s food. – Image of Gorham’s Chantilly pattern, “Bird Knife and Fork Set” from the Etiquipedia private library.

 

 

Taught Him a Lesson

Etiquette is responsible for a queer legal decision. A traveler on a German railway train attempted to eat a lunch, and, while in the act of conveying food to his mouth, the train stopped suddenly, and his cheek was badly eut on the edge of the knife he was using. 

The man sued the railway company for damages, but his claim was defeated on the grounds that it was a breach of etiquette for him to eat with a knife. The court recited unto him the chestnut that, “A man can not take advantage of his own wrong.” – The Morning Union, 1890

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia