Soiled plates are _always_ replaced with fresh ones from the _right_
side of each person, and all foods are _always_ offered on the _left_
side. The lady on the _right_ of the host is served first.
During _every_ course, where there is but _one thing_ to pass, the
chambermaid remains in the pantry, handing out and taking in plates and
keeping the pantry in order.
One course is _always_ entirely removed into the pantry before another
course is brought on.
Let us take the following dinner as an example:—
First course, canapé.
Second course, soup.
Third course, fish.
Fourth course, entrée.
Fifth course, roast and two vegetables.
Sixth course, salad, etc.
Seventh course, ices and cakes.
Eighth course, candies.
Ninth course, coffee.
You can omit either canapé or entrée or both if you prefer.
DINNER OF EIGHT SERVED BY THREE SERVANTS
_Directions for the two dining-room servants_
_Fifteen minutes_ before the hour for dinner, the chambermaid, in neat
black dress, with cap, plain white collar and cuffs, and apron, all
immaculately clean and fresh, sees that the lights are lighted in the
dressing-room, and stands ready to help the ladies off with their wraps.
When they have all arrived and have left the dressing-room, she turns
down the light and goes right to the dining-room ready to help the
waitress.
_Fifteen minutes_ before the hour for dinner, the waitress, after having
lighted the lights on the parlor floor and in the front hall stands at
the front door watching to open it promptly to prevent any guest from
having to ring the bell. She helps the gentlemen off with their coats,
hangs up their hats, places their canes in the rack, and hands them the
tray on which the card envelopes have been placed. When all the guests
have arrived, the chambermaid signals the cook this fact, then fills the
glasses with iced water, while the waitress lights the candles on the
dining-table. Then both bring in quickly the plates of canapé, placing
them on the serving plates already at each place.
The chambermaid then goes into the pantry. When this is done, the
waitress gives a last look to see that nothing has been forgotten and
that the candles are all burning well, and goes quietly into the parlor
and says in a low voice, “Dinner is served, Mrs. ——.”
_First course—canapé_[2]
Footnote 2:
This can be brought in after the guests are seated, like the other
courses, if preferred.
which is on the table when the guests come into the dining-room. When
the first guest has finished this course, the waitress makes a silent
sign to the chambermaid, who is in the pantry, and she signals to the
cook (one bell), which means that the next course is to be dished up and
kept hot. When more than half of the guests have finished, the waitress
makes a silent sign to the chambermaid again, who signals (two bells) to
the cook, which means to send up the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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