The Tragic Life of Little Georgie Melber (1911)

This faded Image portrays a little boy named George Melber.

George or “Georgie” as he was known was born in 1906 to George and Edith Melber. George Sr. Died not long after baby Georgie’s birth, which left him and his mother destitute and alone.

Edith could not cope on her own, and so she and her newborn baby moved in with her sister, Mrs. Linda Simmons.

Georgie was loved and comforted by his aunt, while his mother did little around the house and spent what little insurance her husband had left her on clothes for herself.

Edith refused to hold baby George, instead she would sit and moan about her fate. At one time, she said to her sister, “If this goes on, I will kill myself and baby.”

Several people offered to adopt Georgie but Edith would not consent to it.

When Linda could no longer afford to keep her sister and nephew, she asked Edith to get work, or move out, and Edith decided to move out, taking George with her.

She took George, then sixteen months old, to St. Mary’s Hospital in Syracuse, New York and asked for employment so she can pay for her baby’s keep. The Matron agreed and Edith worked there from October 1907 to March 1908 when she left with George, his keep still being unpaid.

After that, she put the baby in St. Joseph’s Orphan Asylum in Troy. She did not pay for him there either and was forced to remove him.

The little boy was then placed in a children’s home.

At the time, Edith had found work as a Domestic, and was earning $4-6 a week. She was required to pay £2.50 a week boarding fees for Georgie but the children’s home never saw it. Several times, Georgie’s paternal grandfather paid Edith money for the boy’s keep but the home never saw that money either. She instead, used the money on clothes for herself.

She frequently attended dances and moving picture shows and was “well known” to a certain class of men about town.

In all the time Georgie was in the children’s home, his mother saw him less than six times. The Matron of the home told how every time a visitor came to the door, little Georgie would run to it and peep out

“My mama tum?” he would ask, lifting his eyes in joyous anticipation, and then when he saw it was not his mother, his voice would drop to a note of sadness, “No, not my mama.”

One time, one of the attendants had had enough of seeing the sorrowful little face, and the quivering lip, she said to him, “We’ll find that naughty mama of yours, honey, and spank her for not coming to see her Georgie boy.” In reply he said “No, no! Shan’t spank my mama. My mama not naughty! She good!”

The Matron said that George was a sweet little boy. He had a temper and would cry and scream if he didn’t get his own way, but his tantrums were few and far between. He was usually the sunniest and sweetest child there. He was very affectionate, and bright for his age, and very pretty. Visitors to the home would notice him a great deal because he was so friendly and had an infectious personality. He was a great chatterbox and had a beautiful singing voice.

Sadly, because his board was unpaid, the Matron had no choice but to send him back to his mother. It hurt her greatly because she had come to love him a lot, as had the other nurses and attendants.

After collecting George from the home, Edith kept him for a day or two at the home of her employer, Mrs. J.F Bartlett of 206 Glenwood Boulevard. However, Edith had told her employer that she had never been married, and so the presence of the little boy needed an explanation.

Edith said that the child was her dead brother’s son and she was his guardian.

Georgie won the hearts of the Bartlett family; Mrs. Bartlett was especially fond of him. He played with Mrs. Bartlett’s daughters in the nursery, and was made a fuss of by Mr. And Mrs. Bartlett.

The day after he arrived, Mrs. Bartlett went into town and bought him a little “Buster Brown” Suit, with a sky blue tie “to match his eyes.”

Mrs. Bartlett also said: “Edith would beat the little fellow so cruelly that I was obliged to remonstrate with her. She told him not to play with my children, and, baby-like, he teased her by going to the nursery. The way in which she abused him was dreadful. I told her that she must stop, and she told me she would use him just as she liked.”

It was for that reason that Mrs. Bartlett was glad when Edith took George to his father’s uncle’s home.

The Smiths grew to love Georgie. Mae Smith, the daughter of the family said that a sweeter little child had never drawn breath. She told of his baby way of pronouncing words. She said her parents were both crazy about him and wanted to adopt him

Georgie had the greatest Christmas with the Smith family. They bought the biggest tree they could find and everything they could think of was put on it. There was even a doll almost as big as George, and a horse cart, an automobile, and games, picture books and more.

The Smith home was in Schenectady, and Georgie was the happiest little boy in the City. All day long he would stay by the tree. If anyone came to the door, he would lead them by the hand into the sitting room to see his “Santa Cwases twee,” as he called it.

On the evening of Christmas day, Edith arrived at the Smith’s home and sat in a room all by herself. When they called her for dinner, she didn’t want to go.

That night, Mr. Smith told Edith that he would keep George if she would consent to him legally adopting the child. He said he wouldn’t change the boy’s name, and that Edith could see him anytime she liked, but that he would not keep the boy, and grow more and more attached to him every day, only for her to come and take him away whenever it suited her. Edith refused to let Mr. Smith adopt him.

George remained with the Smiths until 5^th January 1911. Edith came for him that day, and the Smith family felt as if their hearts had been torn from them. A short time before, Mr. And Mrs. Smith’s four year old granddaughter had died and it had made them cling more to little Georgie.

While she was there, Georgie crawled up close to his mother, but she shouted “Get out of my way” You’ll dirty my dress!” she brushed him off as if he was a muddy dog, and yet the little boy was crazy about his mother. He was always talking about her. The night she came for him, he was so excited to go with her that he couldn’t eat.

Edith told Mrs. Smith that she would put George back into the home – that she had telephoned the matron and it would be alright, but she added that he probably couldn’t stay there long as she had no money to pay for him

“So don’t be surprised,” she said as she went down the steps, “if you hear that Edith has committed suicide or that she and the boy have both disappeared.”

“You’ll never do anything to hurt yourself my girl,” Mr. Smith told her, “But God help the boy.”

As he was leaving, Georgie turned around and went back to Mrs. Smith and lifted his face for her to kiss him, even though she had kissed him only a minute before.

“Dood-by dran-ma!” he called out, “Tum aden.” – He always said that when anyone was leaving the house.

“Yes, baby, tum aden.” Replied Mrs. Smith. And then she turned and ran to her bed and sobbed as if her heart would break.

A few days later, Mrs. Smith could take the pain no more and insisted that her husband do something to bring Georgie back to her.

They ‘phoned the children’s home only to be told that George was not there and no arrangement with Edith had ever been made.

They then called Mrs. Bartlett who told them that Edith had left that morning to go to Syracuse and see a sick sister. She had not seen George.

It was then that the Smith’s telephoned the police.

The next morning, the police arrived to take Mr. Smith and Mr. Melber – George’s paternal grandfather to the morgue. A child matching the description of George had been found and they had to identify the body.

When Edith took her little boy from the Smith home, it was to take him to Glenwood Avenue, where she was employed and where she told Mrs. Bartlett that she intended to take him to Albany the following day and give him to her brother.

What Edith really did, was evil. She took George out and bought him a big bag of candy; she also went to the druggist and bought carbolic acid.

She then walked with George for miles until he was tired and hungry, and in a swampy field she fed him the candy until he became thirsty and asked for a drink. She held him close to her so he could not get away, and forced the acid into his mouth. The little boy fought and gagged as the acid burned him, until finally, he fell to the ground lifeless.

His body was found the following morning by a man hunting for rabbits.

After Mr. Smith and Mr. Melber identified Georgie’s body, police soon tracked down Edith. She had sent a trunk to Rochester by train, and there they waited for her to collect it.

Georgie had a funeral, arranged by his father’s family. His little dove grey casket was adorned with flowers, and hundreds of mourners came to say farewell to him.

Edith was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her child. In 1916, she was found hanging in her cell.

Edwardian Children say the cutest things (1911)

The Chicago Tribune offered prizes of $3 for the cleverest childish sayings. Those that won a prize were published in the Sunday Magazine.

* Baby was asleep and we cautioned Benjie to be careful and not waken her while he played soldiers. "Aw wight," he agreed, "I'll make my foots whisper when they walk" as he tiptoed softly.

* Little McCollum, aged 2 ½ , has seen pictures of hobble skirts in the "Funny pages". A few days ago he was drinking milk out of a rather tall and slender chocolate cup; noticing that it was smaller at the bottom, he suddenly exclaimed, "O, look! I’m drinkin' out of a hobble 'kirt cup

* Two year old Orvin had been taught to say that he loved his members of the family "fifty million bushels." Elizabeth, aged 3, hearing him tell this to his mother one evening, said "O mamma I love you to the end of counting."

* A little five year old boy visiting next door said to us, "I got a box of candy on my birthday" on being asked when his birthday was, he replied "After papa's." We then questioned him further, saying, "And when is your father's birthday?" To this he promptly answered, "Why, it's before mine."

* Marjorie, 2 years old, gazing wonderingly at her first snow storm, exclaimed delightedly, "O many, many sugars everywhere!”

* My little boy was told to get himself a spoonful of cough medicine from a bottle. After getting the bottle I noticed him shaking himself up and down and said, "Child, what are you doing?" He replied; "Shaking myself, for it says on the bottle, 'shake well before taking.'"

* My little cousin once had an experience with a hornet, and seeing another buzzing at the window said "O, mamma, here's another of those sharp shooter flies! Do let him out!"

* While my mother was bathing our little sister, who is five years old, in a child's bath tub, she chanced to remark that the tub was just her size. Little sister, glancing over her shoulder, noticed a small space between herself and the tub and said, "No, Mamma, the tub must be 6 years old."

* Little Eva heard her uncle tell her mamma that they had better use the single buggy, as the roads were bad. A few minutes later, Eva asked, "Mamma, is a carriage a married buggy?"

* One day my little sister, aged 4, was to visit my aunty. While she was there, aunty was writing a letter and my sister was watching all the while she wrote. When aunty wrote a capital "O" little sister asked curiously, "Aunty, why do you make such a big hole on the paper

* My little brother, after daily asking where papa, brothers, and sisters went each morning, said, "Mamma, everybody goes to work. Will they have it done when I am big?"

* My small brother was preparing his orange, and as he peeled out the white part that runs through the center, said, "O goodie! I've found the wishbone!"

* One day as we were eating, my little sister happened to get a piece of cornbread which had no bottom crust. She said to me, "My cornbread has no floor, but it has ceiling and walls."

* The other evening my little daughter, who is about 3 years old, was standing at the window watching a neighbour sprinkling his lawn, when she suddenly turned to me and said, "Papa, do we have a rainer?” (can I just say, I love that this man wasn’t sure just how old his daughter was lol)

* One afternoon a little girl of 5 called to play with my little girl of 3 years. They naturally preferred the dolls to any other toy. After a while there was a dispute as to which was the mother of the dolls. I tried to persuade my little girl to let her friend be the mother, as she was her visitor, but she answered: "How can she be when they are my children?"

* Little Thomas, aged 3 years, was playing one day and, becoming tired, went into the house for a short nap. When he came out it was almost dark. He looked and seeing the moon coming up, exclaimed: "O, the sky moved over!"

* A small boy aged 4 was visiting his little cousin whose first name was the same as that of his father. The little cousin's mother was quite proud of the fact and introduced her child as "Eddie Hall Jr." The little 4 year old visitor knew that his cousin’s birthday was in June, and his own in July, and not to be outdone said, "Willie Small, Julyer."

* One day the children had been reproved for a too lavish use of their paints upon windows and doors. The next morning, the little ones were surprised to find the windows generously frosted. Warren exclaimed, "O, see what Jacky Frost did to the windows!"

"Did Jacky Frost do that?" asked Donald. Upon being assured that he did, Don said "O-o-o me! He's worser than us"

* little 3 year old Frances wakened one morning feeling rather out of sorts and began crying for mamma. That awakened baby brother and he began crying too, and of course mamma came to comfort him first. Frances felt so abused that she cried out: "Brusser, 'cut it out, I'm crying now!"

* My little brother Walter got into the jam pot and upset it, and when caught in the act said: "Why didn't you put it up higher?"

* While little George, aged 3.5 and his brother were rolling a ball back and forth to each other, George said, "Don't roll it so fast, it might get tired"

Baby Bonnets For Winter 1908

The baby bonnets for little girls in the summer of 1908 were beautiful, but the bonnets and hats for the winter season were even more so.

The baby hats were a bowl crown with a mushroom shape, in fine felt, or beaver for older “babies” (up to six years old). The felt hats could be bought in tiny sizes for a newborn, up to sizes for an older baby. The hats varied in trimming, but even the most fanciest had an air of simplicity, unlike the over fussy and frilly hats of two seasons ago.

A white felt bonnet for a little girl was likely to have a quilling of white satin or velvet ribbing around the crown, with a knot at the left side. Usually though, a flower would be in place of the knot, a small bunch of forget-me-nots or small white and pink rosebuds were favourites.

On hats for bigger girls, the flowers were more varied, and smaller. Roses, snowdrops and other dainty blossoms.

Tiny bright red felt hats trimmed after some of the fashions mentioned above were an attractive alternative for those grown out of the “all white” stage. Paired up with a red coat, they looked delightful in the winter landscape.

The mushroom hats could be converted into roll-brim sailor hats by turning up the brim. But they were usually worn with the brim turned down, and framed the little faces beautifully.

The materials used for hats were soft felt, mousseline fur, mousseline velvet and mousseline silk, lace and fur, and ribbon.

The coats to wear with the dainty bonnets and hats were made of broadcloth, velvet, corded silk, heavy serge, and various soft, rough coat materials. The cut was usually rather plain, although heavy lace and braiding, or fur were used to make the coat elaborate.

Pastel pink and blue broadcloths with no trimmings made for a plain but practical coat.

Russian coats made from black velvet with white belts were popular.

Popular colours for play coats were red and brown, and dark blue was a firm favourite.

Hats for little boys were rather plainer. They would also wear the mushroom shape, but the crown would be flat rather than bowl shaped. He would also wear the roll brim sailor hat, and the jack tar cap.

For very small boys, there were picturesque little turbans, fur trimmed Russian caps with felt crowns, Persian lamb brim, and stiff brush or round turbans with fur brim and a flat belt top, which had a tuft of fur in the middle.

The Etiquette of Christmas Gifts

These rules were in the Sunday magazine section of the Oakland tribune. Christmas is getting closer, so I thought I would post these now before I forget.

A man may give a girl who he is not engaged to one of three things, books, candy or flowers.

A man may give his fiancée anything he likes, except for wearing apparel, not even a pair of silk stockings.

Girls rarely give men gifts unless he is her fiancé. She does not have to feel any awkwardness over receiving gifts and not having anything to give back. If, however, she does want to give a man a gift, she can give him books, a sofa cushion, bits of embroidery or hand knit neckties.

The gift should be sent to its destination by a messenger, on the day before Christmas or early on Christmas morning. Under no circumstances should you give the gift to your friend to take home, even if they come to your house while you are wrapping their gift. It should be put aside and taken to their home later.

Presents should be wrapped in attractive paper and tied with red ribbon.

A card should be sent with every gift, and should be tied to the outside with ribbon if the package is to be delivered by messenger or personally.

A bit of holly caught in the ribbon shows that time and thought has gone into the presentation.

When friends show you their gifts, take the time to admire them and do not compare their gifts with your own.

Children's Letters to Santa (1908)

Christmas is getting nearer and nearer, I have a few seasonal blogs planned, but today I don't have much time, so instead I give you something short and very very sweet. These letters to Santa were sent into the Syracuse herald in December 1908. This is only a handful of all the letters which were printed, I find them adorable.

Dear Santa – I wish you would bring me a story book, a pair of skates, game, horn, a drum. Santa please come to my house early if you can,- Alvin Fix

Dear Santa Claus – I am going to tell you what I want for Christmas. A horse, an automobile, a pair of shoes, a pair of rubbers, a pair of mittens, some candy, and some oranges, and a Christmas tree. Don’t forget mamma and papa. From your loving friend, Howard Munford. I am a little boy 3 years old. Good-bye dear old Santa.

Dear Santa Claus – Christmas is drawing near and I thought I would let you know what I want. I want a paint box, a pen and holder, a pair of one-runner skates, a post card album, two story books, some candy, nuts and oranges. Your friend, Leon Racht.

Dear Santa – I am 5 years old and I would like a train of cars and I would like a lantern and an automobile and a steamer and a drum and that is all. Your loving friend, Christian Schenelling.

Dear Santa Claus – I wish you would please send me for Christmas, a nice suit of clothes and a tool box and a pair of boots and a cap and collar and tie and a pair of gloves, and skates and nuts and candy and a tree. I guess that is pretty near enough. Your little friend, Lester Burgmeier. P.S I will set a nice cup of hot tea and some cookies on the table for you.

My Dear Santa – I am 7 years old and I would like you to please bring me a pretty doll’s cab and I would like you to please bring a teddy bear, and I would like you to bring me a pretty doll, and I would like a pretty set of dishes and I would like to have a pretty set of doll’s furniture and I would like a box of handkerchiefs, and I would like you to bring me a box of doll’s clothes, and I would like to have some ribbons , and I would like a pretty set of silverware, and I would like you to come and see my brother show his magic lantern, and I would like to thank you for all of the presents. O Santa Claus, I forgot to tell you to fill my stocking full of candy and nuts, and I forgot to tell you to bring me a Christmas tree. Your loving friend, Beatrice Schmelling.

Dear Santa Claus – I thought I would write you a few lines. I do not know what to do this winter. Send me a doll carriage, a rocking horse, a jack in the box, two runner skates and some candy and nuts. Johanna Carey.

Dear Santa Claus – I am a little boy 4 years old and have a younger brother of 3 years, also a baby sister. For Christmas I would like you to bring a train of cars, tracks, a station and signals, an automobile, flexible flyer like Raymond’s and some stone blocks. John Robert wants a balloon, rocking horse, drum and picture blocks. Helen won’t expect much this year, as she is but 2 months old. Hoping you will remember all good boys and girls. I am your little boy, Daniel Francis Matthews Jr.

Dear Santa Claus – I will be 9 years old on January 1^st, 1909. I would like you to bring me a sled, drum, gun (air), skates, boy’s watch (be sure). Gold ring, watch fob. Be sure and bring my papa a farm, a team, cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits, seed potatoes, churn and all the tools it needs to run a farm. Cecil Maines.

Edwardian Funeral Customs

When someone died, among your personal grief, there was also a ritual to follow, like a mourning etiquette. After someone in your family died, you should write to all friends and relatives on black edged paper, it didn’t need to be a full letter, just a short note stating the event. Invitations to the funeral are sent out in a couple of days.

If you were the friend or relative receiving the death notice, then you should personally call at the house of the deceased to offer your sympathy and offer your services. The offer of services was especially expected of men, because they could often provide practical help to the bereaved.

Sometimes the bereaved family did not want visitors, or sometimes, it was just not possible for you to personally call at the house. In this case you should write your condolences. If you did not know the deceased person well, you could send your calling card with the word “Sympathy” written across it. If, however, you were very close, you could write a short note that would bring comfort to the deceased’s family. Something like:

“My dear Mrs. Smith – we are distressed to hear of the sad loss you are going through. Both Mr. Brown and myself wish so much that we might lighten the burden that has fallen. Our associations with your husband were so pleasant that we feel a personal grief and realize something of what you are going through.

Believe me, with deepest sympathy,

Jane Eleanor Brown”.

Formal offerings were usually sent to the house on the day of the funeral. If you were a close friend, you might bring some loose cut flowers.

If you were asked to be a pall-bearer, you really should regard the request as an honour and an obligation. Only those whom the deceased held in great regard were asked. If you refused, you had better have a very strong and valid reason.

From the hour of death until the funeral, the family of the deceased would rarely be seen out on the street. The family would not organise the funeral themselves. A reliable and trusted male friend would do things such as arrange the funeral day, the burial or cremation and find an undertaker. A female friend would order mourning clothes for the family. The only thing the family did was to arrange the seating plan at the funeral and also arrange carriages for their closest friends.

Clothes

For the funeral, ladies could wear a plain black dress with a full black veil. You could also have with you a black bordered handkerchief.

Men should wear a black suit, gloves, tie and hat. The hat should have a black mourning band around it.

After the funeral, it was up to the individual as to whether they wanted to wear full mourning clothes or not. If you did, then you should stick to its strict rules, which meant not going out to dances, dinners, and afternoon teas etc... So if you couldn’t do without your social delights, it was better to not wear mourning at all.

Many families who considered themselves to be “well bred” did not wear mourning at all. They would wear black to the funeral and afterwards, subdued colours would be enough.

If you did wear mourning, it had to be complete. The best materials for the dresses were Henrietta and cashmere. French serge made the best tailored suits. For house frocks, crepe de chine was a beautiful material to wear.

The widow would wear a “Widow’s bonnet” which was a small cap marked by a ruche. She would also wear a veil of crepe or grenadine. It used to be worn for the first year, but by 1908 it was not being worn for a long, and sometimes not at all.

Unmarried daughters of the family should wear a small hat or toque trimmed with lustreless silk or crepe draped with veils. She could also wear gloves if she wished.

If jewellery was to be worn, it should be in black enamel or jet, and the minimal amount of jewellery worn.

The amount of time spent in mourning varied depending on who had died and what relation you were to them:

*If a wife died, her husband should wear mourning for two years.

*If a husband died, his wife should wear deep mourning for one year, during the next nine months, the *crepe will slowly be reduced, until she is wearing plain black for the last three months.

*If a parent dies, the child should wear plain black all the time for a year.

*If a child dies, the parents should wear plain black all the time for a year.

*If a brother or sister dies, full mourning should be worn for five months, and half mourning for one month.

*If a grandparent dies, full mourning for nine months

*If and uncle, aunt, nephew or niece dies, full mourning for three months.

*For a first cousin, mourning should be worn for six weeks.

*A wife mourns for her husband’s relations the same as she would her own and vice versa.

After the funeral service, the mourners would usually got o the house of the deceased. The house was generally opened up and made as cheerful as possible.

A few days after the funeral, cards should be sent out to those who called round, sent cards and flowers etc. You should send a card that says something like “Thanks for your sympathy” written across it.

Stationary was also affected by death. If you lost a loved one, then cards and letters should be written on black bordered card or paper. The border should be half an inch thick for the first six months, and then a quarter of an inch for the next six months. An Italian border would be used for the second year.

If a woman lost her husband, her calling cards would not change to “Mrs. Mary Smith”. They would stay as “Mrs. John James Smith” unless she had a son who was also called John James Smith and he married. If that happened then his wife would be known as “Mrs. John James Smith” and the widowed mother would change to “Mrs. Mary Smith.”

Edwardian Table Manners

The following is mainly from Prudence Standish, a lady who wrote help articles and information for newspapers and women's magazines, during the early 1900's. The majority of what follows was written by her in 1908 and 1909:


* Never take your seat until the lady of the house is seated.

* Never lounge on the table with your elbows, nor tip backward in your chair

* Never play with your knives, forks or glasses, but cultivate repose at the table. It is an aid to digestion.

* Never tuck your napkin into your vest, yoke or collar. It is unfolded once and lay across the knees without a flourish. After the meal, at a restaurant or formal dinner, lay it unfolded at your place. If you are a time guest in the household, and will remain another meal, you may fold the napkin in its original creases.

* Never put the end of a spoon into your mouth; sip everything from the side of the spoon and do this noiselessly.

* Never put your knife in your mouth nor use a spoon when a fork will serve. Forks are now used for eating ice cream, and salad is folded or cut with the side of a form, never with the knife. Even small vegetables like peas are eaten with a fork.

* Never hold your knife and fork in the air when your host is serving you afresh. Lay them on one side of the plate when you send it to the host by servant or your neighbour at table.

* Never leave your spoon in coffee or tea cup. Lay it on the saucer.

* Never cool food by blowing upon it. Wait until it becomes cool enough to eat.

* Never take a second helping at a large and formal dinner. You will find yourself eating alone.

* Never make yourself conspicuous in any way by aiding the host or hostess in serving, unless especially asked to do so, or in passing dishes when servants are provided for that purpose.

* Never push back your plate and finger crumbs at the end of the meal. It indicates undue haste.

Remember that:

* Large pieces of bread or crackers are broken into smaller pieces before being buttered and carried to the mouth.

* Cake may be broken and eaten like bread and crackers, or it may be eaten with a fork.

* Celery, olives, radishes, salted nuts, bon bons and preserved ginger are eaten from the fingers, but berries, melons and grapefruit must be eaten with a spoon.

* Orange juice may be pressed out with a spoon, bananas are generally eaten with a fork, peaches, apples and pears are peeled, quartered and cut into small pieces and then picked up with the fingers.

* Grapes and small plums are eaten from the fingers and the stones or skins taken into the hand and carried to the plate, never dropping from the lips. Prune seeds are best pressed out with the spoon before the fruit is eaten, and then laid to one side on the plate.

* The tender asparagus tips must be cut off with a fork and the remainder of the stalk goes to waste.

* Bones of fowl, game or chops must not be taken into the fingers, but green corn may be eaten that way.

* Artichokes, source of much grief to the inexperienced diner, if served hot or cold with sauce, must be broken apart by leaf and the tip of dipped in the sauce and eaten from the fingers. The heart is cut up and eaten with a fork.

* Your host who inquires what portion of poultry or game, rare meat or well done, you prefer, will thank you for a definite answer. If you really have no preference, say so definitely. Do not enumerate various cuts that appeal to you.

* It is not good form to put the point of the spoon in the mouth, no matter what food may be taken. Food should be taken from the side of the spoon.

* Do not make noise with the eating implements against the china.

* Food should not be missed on the plate as though it were to be given to an animal, but must be eaten daintily, each thing by itself.