Education -- Early works to 1800; England -- Social life and customs -- Early works to 1800; Etiquette; Home economics -- Early works to 1800; Table
l. 277. _Symple Condicions._ Compare these modern directions to a
serving man: “While waiting at dinner, never be picking your nose, or
scratching your head, or any other part of your body; neither blow your
nose in the room; if you have a cold, and cannot help doing it, do it on
the outside of the door; but do not sound your nose like a trumpet, that
all the house may hear when you blow it; still it is better to blow your
nose when it requires, than to be picking it and snuffing up the
_mucus_, which is a filthy trick. Do not yawn or gape, or even sneeze,
if you can avoid it; and as to hawking and spitting, the name of such a
thing is enough to forbid it, without a command. When you are standing
behind a person, to be ready to change the plates, &c., do not put your
hands on the back of the chair, as it is very improper; though I have
seen some not only do so, but even beat a kind of tune upon it with
their fingers. Instead of this, stand upright with your hands hanging
down or before you, but not folded. Let your demeanour be such as
becomes the situation which you are in. Be well dressed, and have light
shoes that make no noise, your face and hands well washed, your
finger-nails cut short and kept quite clean underneath; have a
nail-brush for that purpose, as it is a disgusting thing to see black
dirt under the nails. Let the lapels of your coat be buttoned, as they
will only be flying in your way.” 1825. T. Cosnett. Footman’s Directory,
p. 97-8. Lord A. Percy’s Waiters were changed every quarter. See the
lists of them in the _Percy Household Book_, p. 53-4.
l. 280. Lice. See Thomas Phaire’s Regiment of Life, The boke of
Chyldren, H. h. 5; and A. Borde’s Introduction, of the Irishe man,
Pediculus other whyle do byte me by the backe,
Wherfore dyvers times I make theyr bones cracke.
And of the people of Lytle Briten,
Although I iag my hosen & my garment round abowt,
Yet it is a vantage to pick _pendiculus_ owt.
[Transcriber’s Note:
Line note “67/991”, originally printed here, has been renamed
“l. 991” and moved to the appropriate location.]
l. 300. Jet.
Rogue why Winkest thou,
Jenny why _Jettest_ thou.
are among R. Holme’s Names of Slates, Bk. III. ch. v. p. 265, col. 1.
l. 328. Forks were not introduced into England till Coryat’s time. See
his _Crudities_ p. 90-1, 4to. London, 1611, on the strange use of the
Fork in Italy. “I observ’d a custom in all those Italian Cities and
Townes through the which I passed, that is not used in any other country
that I saw in my travels, neither do I thinke that any other nation of
Christendome doth use it, but only Italy. The Italian and also most
Strangers that are comorant in Italy, doe always at their meals use a
_Little Forke_ when they cut their meat.” Percy’s notes, p. 417-18,
North. H. Book.
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