Edwardian Etiquette Humor

The multiplicity of forks and knives and spoons staggered him. The soup nearly made him faint. But he took his courage and an olive in both hands, and launched forth pluckily.—  Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna and Zinaida Skobelyeva, Duchess of Leuchtenberg. Photographed in 1890.
— Photo source, Twitter

A Little Pleasantry

He tried it on the Duchess, according to the rules

If seated next to a lady at dinner and if at a loss for a topic, touch lightly on the weather. Then turn to dress. If that fails, try a little pleasantry.” With these words from “Etiquette For the Populace” stamped upon his memory. Mr. Quickrich, who had made a million out of candles and thus gained a sudden entry into society, escorted the Duchess of Dash into the dining room. The multiplicity of forks and knives and spoons staggered him. The soup nearly made him faint. But he took his courage and an olive in both hands, and launched forth pluckily.

“Bloomin’ dull day, Duch, ain't it?” he began, recalling topic number one. “Ahem!" he coughed as he remembered the next topic, dress. “Er– do you wear flannel next the skin?” A marble shoulder nearly knocked him in the eye– a very cold and frigid shoulder. “Hum.” muttered Quickrich. “Rather hard to get along with. Let's see. I'll try a pleasantry.” The Duchess of Dash’s back was turned to him. He protruded a fore finger and jabbed her in the ribs. “Click!” he cried playfully. And that absolutely did it, and himself with it.– London Answers, 1910

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

More Tales of “Knife Dining”

A hand-made, 19th century, pea knife.

Why He Used a Knife 
Blobbs—See that fellow over there eating with his knife? Slobbs —Yes; he probably wants to sharpen his appetite.—Philadelphia Inquirer, 1908 

Teaching a Bride?
Illinois congressman, Frank T. O’Hair, has a sense of humor. Also, O’Hair got married a few years ago. On the wedding trip, O’Hair frequently mortified his bride by eating with his knife and pointing out objects of interest with his fork. Not until the wedding journey was over, did his bride receive positive assurance that O’Hair really knew better. He had been eating with his knife because he thought it was a good joke on his wife. — Los Angeles Herald, 1915

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