Tales of the Table, Kitchen, and Larder

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1836 Excerpt: ...the first case, (although it ought not to occur, unless under extremely serious circumstances, ) you ought to soften down, and give a sufficient motive for the refusal' Silence being considered as an acceptation, at the end of twenty-four hours your refusal would be no longer admissible, and your absence would be looked upon in the light of an insult. 2. Having once engaged, or accepted the invitation, it DO longer belongs to you to decline or put it off. Should you act so, you would expose yourself never to be invited again by the same person to whom you had forfeited your word. ' 2. The person who invites is as strictly bound as trie invited; and under no pretext can he decline the invitation--cases of imprisonment, or sudden indisposition, being alone admissible under similar circumstances, &c. 4. The first of all qualities with the guest being punctuality, be should arrive at the house of his host precisely at the hour, properly dressed, and in possession of an appetite proportionate to the rank of the latter--in a word, with a disposition of the heart, stomach, and mind, necessary to contribute to the entire consummation--the charms ana agrimens of the dinner. 5. Never take any other place than that assigned to you, whether it be by the master or the mistress of the house? or by the written card placed upon the cover destined for you. 6. During the first service, never drink any thing but water, slightly diluted with wine; if not, you run the risk of sacrificing to the present the enjoyments of the future., 7. Whenever it happens that you have the misfortune of being placed by the side of a little girl, or what is still worse, oetween two little boys, the oest means to be employed to get rid of them, is to make them tipsy as soon as possible, that p..