Table Refinements.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3365, 4 October 1879, Page 1

Table Refinements.

16 seems to be such an extremely easy matter to drift into careless ways when the family circle draws about the table, and there is no stray guest or friend who | has chanced in, to call forth " company manners." When by ourselres, we oftea 1 think it a foolish waste of ceremony toob- ; serve the little points of good breeding that are essential to a knowledge of the rules of polite education. To be rude abd clownish at the table shows a sad want of natural refinement and ill-training in youth. Young people readily acquire the manners of the elders, and follow only too quickly the examples set before them—and nowhere will their bringing up show to better advantage than at the table. If trained to good manners there, they will become part of ourseif, and soon unlearned and forgotten, as are many things we try to educate ourselves in latter on in life, when old habits cling to us, and are so hard to give up. To have the dining room a cheerful spot, with, pleasant ' surroundings, and the table, around which we gather three times a day for a social hour, neat and dainty in its appointments, is something strongly to be desired. A tumbled or soiled tablecloth, broken or cracked china, slovenly prepared dishes, are not things that attract the eyes and give pleasant thought! or tempt the appetite, only in exceedingly coarse natures. Eefined] Burroundings have a strong tendency to invite happy moods and gentle speech. To ait down to your meals where the linen is clean and white, the things put on in an orderly manner, the china and glass bright and clear, and a vase of flowers ornamenting the center, and adding grace and color, is far preferable to the opposite side of the picture, an calls out ft better part of your disposition. We growl too easily over little things and heed trifles upon slight enough provocations. A cross face at the table is out of place, a disagreeable manner, and coarse or ill natured speech unpardonable. And, above all things, leave the fault-finding and unkind criticisms for another time. Say cheerful things to each other; don't sit silent and speechless till the appetite is appeased, but hare merry and pleasant conversation that will digest the food and stimulate our talking qualities. Do not forget to notice the wants of those around you; to help others before yourself; to masticate your food and allay your thirst in a silent manner; to keep your,mouth closed while eating; your elbows and arms off the table ; »Dd recollect that a knife does not excel a fork in conveying food to the mouth. It is astonishing to see the poor table manners of many ladies who consider themselves "high toned," and being deficient iv the rules of good breeding themselves, how are their children to come* up wiser in these respects ? Carry your good manners with you, and they will easily become a graceful accomplishment. Use them only on state occasions and you take them on with awkwardness and never seem at home in them. The habits of refined and polite society are hard to acquire later on in life. The early training stays with us and shows itself more or less in all we do or say, spite of ft strong guard put upon act and speech. Let us strive lo show always politeness and gentle manners at the table, to avoid falling into careless wars of doing things, being neglectful of pleasant attentions, saying rude or uncivil words, hurrying to dispose of our food, and picking flaws with foolish things unnecessary to notice ; bringing ungracious mcods or ill natured thoughts to tho . festive board. Avoid slovenly or untidy looks or dress, and cultivate a lov^ for bringing to the table all refining influs-Kces and carrying away from it memories gracious and tender. Well bred manners are so indispensable to the success of either man or woman ' Continued in fov.t'th Page,