Parents should be careful to save their children from awkwardness in company, either in treading on a lady's dress, or using the knife in eating; or worse still, their fingers.
Never take any thing out of your pocket to lay on the table.
The napkin should rest on the knees, only half unfolded. The fork is never to be laid on its back.
The host has the knives changed for dessert.
The knife and fork, and the table utensils generally should never be handed endways, but should be held by the middle.
Coffee is generally served after passing into the drawing room. The lady of the house fills it out if it be after dinner; after breakfast this office may be left to a servant.
The hostess should not seek to outvie her guests in the costliness of her toilet. This would be in bad taste.
In England, it is the custom for ladies to retire a little before the close of the meal. American ladies are not disposed to admire this habit, and we are too gallant and too anxious to enjoy the charm of their conversation, to subject them to this mode of banishment.
The lady of the house should show the same solicitude for all her guests, and take care that they want for nothing.