If a fork or a spoon is dropped it should not be picked up by the guest, but another used, or ask the waiter to provide one.
CONVERSATION. Aim at bright and general conversation, avoiding all personalities and any subject that all cannot join in. This is largely determined by the character of the company. The guests should accommodate themselves to their surroundings.
See also FINGER-BOWL, KNIFE AND FORK,
SECOND HELPING, SEEDS, SPOON, TOOTHPICKS,
WINES, and names of individual fruits and
foods—as, APPLES, BREAD, etc.
TALKING—THEATRES. Conversation during the progress of the play or the opera should be avoided and confined to the intermissions. The theatregoer should avoid all noise, gestures, or actions that would annoy others.
A man would be justified, when annoyed by a person talking loud near him, in asking him politely to speak lower.
TEAS.
Invitations. These need no acknowledgment.
Given by bachelors.
See BACHELORS' TEAS.
Afternoon.
See AFTERNOON TEAS.
High.
See HIGH TEA.