to children, and then
they will always feel at their ease at the grandest tables in the
land. There is no position where the innate refinement of a person is
more fully exhibited than at the table, and nowhere that those who
have not been trained in table etiquette feel more keenly their
deficiencies. The knife should never be used to carry food to the
mouth, but only to cut it up into small mouthfuls; then place it upon
the plate at one side, and take the fork in the right hand, and eat
all the food with it. When both have been used finally, they should be
laid diagonally across the plate, with both handles toward the right
hand; this is understood by well-trained waiters to be the signal for
removing them, together with the plate.

Be careful to keep the mouth shut closely while masticating the food.
It is the opening of the lips which causes the smacking which seems
very disgusting. Chew your food well, but do it silently, and be
careful to take small mouthfuls. The knife can be used to cut the meat
finely, as large pieces of meat are not healthful, and appear very
indelicate. At many tables, two, three or more knives and forks are
placed on the table, the knives at the right hand of the plate, the
forks at the left,--a knife and a fork for each course, so that there
need be no replacing of them after the breakfast and dinner is served.
The smaller ones, which are for game, dessert, or for hot cakes at
breakfast, can be tucked under the edges of the plate, and the large
ones, for the meat and vegetables, are placed outside of them. Be very
careful not to clatter your knives and forks upon your plates, but use
them without noise. When passing the plate for a second helping, lay
them together at one side of the plate, with handles to the right.
When you are helped to anything, _do not_ wait until the rest of the
company are provided, as it is not considered good breeding. Soup is
always served for the first course, and it should be eaten with
dessert spoons, and taken from the sides, not the tips, of them,
without any sound of the lips, and not sucked into the mouth audibly
from the ends of the spoon. Bread should not be broken into soup or
gravy. Never ask to be helped to soup a second time. The hostess may
ask you to take a second plate, but you will politely decline. Fish
chowder, which is served in soup plates, is said to be an exception
which proves this rule, and when eating of that it is correct to take
a secon