A Table Etiquette Refresher from 1913

“When in doubt, use your fork” is a pretty fair table rule. The knife, of course, is absolutely tabooed except for cutting and spreading. The spoon is used only for liquids and soft desserts. Vegetables served as side dishes are usually eaten with a fork. –Forks at the table were not commonly used in the United States until the early 1800’s. This partial Sears and Roebuck catalog page above was from a 1912 catalog. Inexpensive silver plated knives, forks and spoons were made available to the masses. Just as today, basic table manners were featured in the news, so that every social class could sharpen their utensil skills.

GOOD TABLE MANNERS

It is sometimes difficult to make young people, particularly boys, appreciate the value of correct table manners. “Aw, what's the difference?” they ask when told not to eat with their knives.

The difference is that as a whole table etiquette is based upon the fundamental principles of convenience, neatness and self-restraint. Disregard of it causes the offender to appear slovenly, greedy and inconsiderate of the sensibilities of others, says the Woman's World.

Sit erect at the table. Don’t sprawl with your elbows on the table. Don't attempt to bring your mouth down to your food; raise the food to your mouth.

Don't shake your napkin out with a flourish; unfold it and spread it across your knees. Raise one corner of it to your lips as occasion arises.

In your own home, or in a house where you expect to be a guest for several meals, fold your napkin when you are through with it. If a guest for one meal only, crumple the napkin slightly and lay it unfolded beside your plate. The assumption is, of course, that it will not be used again until it is washed.

Do not break crackers into your soup. Look at the next person you see doing it and observe what an unsavory looking dish it produces. Never dip crackers or bread into any sort of liquid.

In dipping up soup move the spoon toward the outer edge of the dish. Take the soup from the side of the spoon.

“When in doubt, use your fork” is a pretty fair table rule. The knife, of course, is absolutely tabooed except for cutting and spreading. The spoon is used only for liquids and soft desserts. Vegetables served as side dishes are usually eaten with a fork.

In cutting meat, take the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left, cut off a proper mouthful, lay the knife down on the right side of the plate, transfer the fork to the right hand, holding the tines pointed downward, and raise the meat to the mouth.

It sounds slow, to be sure, but rapid eating is neither healthful nor pleasant to watch. – Organized Labor, 1913

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