Some Table Observances--1854

[dognose]

Hi,

Some interesting thoughts on dining silver, expressed in 1854.

Plate.–Thanks to the civilization of the age, we no longer see the miserable, three-pronged steel fork. It has passed away, and we have now the more useful four-pronged instrument with which, if of electro-plate, you may believe at least what Mr. Dickens puts into the mouth of the small marchioness:–" If you fancy a great deal," you really may think you're eating with a silver fork. Plate is in one sense a great luxury, which falls only to the rich. But at the same time it is economy; because it does not break, and looks better than earthenware or china, but as we have before said, having an intense regard to the eternal fitness for things, corner dishes and a dirty-faced servant girl do not go well together. 'With a boy in buttons corner dishes are admissible; and with a footman corner dishes and dish covers, wine coolers, &c.; but it requires a butler and one or two footmen to have a regular service of plate,–that is, to keep it in order and to use it every day ; for we hold it the quintessence of vulgarity to have what is commonly called " best things." We never had any " best things " but once, and that was a set of tea things. Those were all broken at one fell swoop ; and we then declared we would never have a best thing again, and we kept our word. The service of plate must depend on the fortune. A man of large fortune can afford to have a more splendid service than a man of small fortune. Presuming upon the existence of the means, we should suggest as necessary:–a plated soup tureen (silver, we think extravagant, because its only wear is in the cleaning); six silver dishes (i.e. meat dishes, one of which should be a well dish, with place for hot water, or a lamp or mortar under it;) six plated dish covers; four vegetable, as they are called, or as we should call them, "entree" dishes; one dozen silver plates; one dozen soup plates; two dozen table spoons and forks; one dozen desert spoons and forks; two dozen tea-spoons; six salt cellars and spoons; two gravy spoons; one soup ladle; four sauce ladles; one fish slice, or knife and fork; two sugar lifters; one pair of asparagus tongs; a pair of sugar tongs; three silver waiters, two small, and one large; coffee and tea-pots; sugar basin; milk-pot; tea-kettle, and lamp or tea-urn; four candlesticks with branches ; two or three bed-room candlesticks; four ice pails; and six decanter stands. With this service, handsome dinners may be given to twelve persons. If the means do not exist, stick to forks and spoons as the really indispensables, and none need be ashamed that they have nothing more, or if these be merely plated, even if detected–which is unlikely–no one will be rude enough to remark upon it; and if they do, tell them to give you better, and you will thankfully use them. But do not, if you have only six forks and spoons in the world, tell your friends that the rest of your plate is at the banker's, because you are thinking of going abroad–as a man once told us so, and we knew he was lying. Or, do not say, " I was so afraid of thieves that I sold all my plate, and purchased German silver, for fear I should be robbed." This is a species of falsehood that does not even serve the moment, however great a fool you may take a man to be; he will see through you, just as if you were made of glass, and will go home and tell his wife, if he have one, what a shallow-pated fellow you are. But if you have none of these things, and do happen to have steel three-prong "diggers," sell them, or give them to the first beggar that asks for charity, and buy plated or German silver forks. We advise this on two grounds ; first, because we think it disgraces mankind to use such things, and, secondly, because he who uses so dangerous a weapon must eat with his knife, and so endanger his life. Brummel being once asked after an acquaintance,replied he was dead. "Indeed," said his friend, "how long since did he die ?" " Some time," was the reply ; " he must have been dead for some time. He eat pease with his knife, and I am sure he must have cut his throat by this time."

(Author unknown)

Trev.
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