Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/243

 LADY OP QUALITY the fingers, to cherries and whole straw- berries with the tablespoon carried round or left on the dish for that purpose. There is usually a pair of grape-scissors for cutting off a bunch. The seeds, as well as cherry, plum, or greengage stones, are conveyed from the mouth as invisibly as possible in the closed fingers of the left hand or by means of a fork. Apricots, peaches, and nectarines are skinned by means of the dessert-knife and fork, without being touched by the fingers, the pieces being taken up with the fork. Apples and oranges are cut down- wards in halves, then divided into smaller sections, and these, again, peeled on the plate. Pears are treated in the same way. If strawberries and raspberries have the stalks on, they are carried to the mouth by the fingers ; but if the stalks have been taken away, they are discussed with the aid of spoon and fork or fork only. Melon is usually eaten with the fork only, but the knife may also be used if necessary. Green figs require both knife and fork. General Rules One of the things taught us in the nursery and schoolroom is never to use a spoon where a fork would serve the purpose. We find as we go through life that obeying this rule robs us of some delicious syrups and cream, etc. Creams, jellies, tarts are all treated with the fork, but ices are eaten with a small spoon. Another rule of table manners forbids us to use a knife with a dish which we can manage with a fork alone. This applies to entrees served without bone, to sweetbreads, vol-au- vents, curries, and pillaus. The really correct way to eat these two last is with fork and spoon. This is Indian fashion, and is followed at home in England by most Anglo-Indians. At the close of dinner the hostess gives the signal to the lady sitting on the right of the host, and all the guests rise while the ladies leave the room, as much as possible in the order in which they entered it. The youngest man of the party holds the door open for them. The men remain in the dining-room untir coffee is served them there, after which they join the women in the drawing-room. Any man who prefers to do so can leave the dining-room before coffee, with a word of excuse to his host. He then joins the ladies. When to Leave It is not considered etiquette for guests to leave until the principal lady of the party makes a move to do so. But should she be very slow about it, or should any other guest be " going on " to a party, she goes to her hostess and, explaining, bids her good- night and takes her leave. Tea and coffee are served in the drawing- room while the men are in the dining-room. The duties of the guests include a cheerful comportment, whether they happen to be bored or otherwise. Any sign of haste to get away would be amiss. Even a glance at a watch becomes reprehensible, especially if it has to be taken from a man's watch- pocket for the purpose. Wrist-watches are convenient in these cases. On the other hand, a guest may not remain more than a few seconds after the general leave-taking, however interesting he or she may have found the society of some- one present. To be continued. HOW TO R.EAB A COAT-OF-ARMS THE SYMBOLISM OF COLOUR IN HERALDRY CoHtimied fro7n page ■JO, Part I By The LADY HELEN FORBES Heraldic Colours, Metals and Furs — Gold Typifies Glory — The Red Badge of Courage — The Meanings oE Dots and Lines ■ywo metals and some seven colours and ten furs are employed for the purpose of emblazoning arms. Of these the furs are, in all probability, the most ancient, as the idea of using them was probably taken from the skins of which primitive man constructed his first shield. But the idea developed till this germ thereof was completely overlaid. The heraldic furs do not now resemble any known pelt with marked exactitude, unless it be ermine, which, especially in the older coats, bears some faint similitude to the black-tailed white skins which we know in ordinary life by that name. But ermines (the white tails on black), erminois (black tails on gold), or pean (gold tails on black) must be mere variations which owed their existence to the imagination of some early herald. They are also rare in coats-of- arms. Vair is also not a fur we recognise nowa- days, but it must have been the skin of some real animal, if it is really the material of which Cinderella's slippers were made, and which folk-lore experts now assure us was misinterpreted " verre " by some nar- rator of the tale whose ear was better than his sense. The other heraldic furs — countervair, potent, counter-potent, erminites, and vair- en-point — occur so seldom in blazoning that a very accurate knowledge of them is almost superfluous. Their description can be turned up when necessary in the most elementary heraldry book. Furs may not symbolise anything in particular, except great riches or a barbar- ous state of civilisation (which have much in common) ; but when we come to the metals and colours it is quite different. These