Never pick your teeth, or put your finger into your mouth. If you find you have a fish-bone in your mouth, cover your lips with a napkin to remove it. It is better to be very careful to remove all bones before putting fish into your mouth. On no account spit the bones out upon your plate. Never take the bones of fowl or birds up in your fingers to gnaw or suck them. Remove the meat with your knife, and convey it to your mouth with your fork, never being too eager to clean off every particle of flesh. Wipe your finger tips, if soiled, upon the table napkin, never upon your tongue or the table-cloth. An elegant eater will never have occasion to think of his fingers. Never use the table-cloth to wipe your mouth, you might as well use it in place of your pocket handkerchief. Never remark upon what is placed before you, either in praise or dispraise of it. Neither drink nor speak when you have anything in your mouth. When you are helped, begin to eat, without regard to those who have already, or have not yet, been helped. Never watch the dishes as they are uncovered, nor make any exclamation when you see their contents. Under no circumstances tuck your napkin, bib-fashion, into your shirt collar. Unfold it partially and put it in your lap, covering your knees. A lady may slip a corner under her belt if there is danger of its slipping upon her dress, but a gentleman must be awkward indeed if he lets his napkin fall upon the floor. No gentleman will ever settle himself in his chair, pushing back his cuffs, as if for a "set-to," at the table. If you make any general remark, do not look up at the waiters to see what effect it has upon them. If they are well-trained they will not move a muscle at hearing the most laughable story, nor will they give any sign whatever that they have not closed their ears like deaf adders to all that has been going on. In any case, however, you must refrain from noticing them. If you want anything, take the occasion of a waiter being near to you, to ask for it in an undertone. To shout out "Waiter!" or order one about, as if you were in a restaurant, is a certain mark of ill-breeding. Unless the party is a very small one, general conversation is impossible. In such a case, you must converse with those on either side of you, not confining your remarks exclusively to one. Talk in a low, quiet tone, but never in a whisper. To affect an air of mystery or secrecy at a dinner-table, is an insult to your companion and company assembled. It is in bad taste to force the attention of the company upon yourself by loud talking or loud laughing. Too many jokes or anecdotes are in bad taste, but the subjects for conversation should not be too serious. Any gentleman propounding a conundrum at the dinner-table deserves to be taken away by the police.