Guests should not amuse themselves by handling knife or fork, crumbling bread, or leaning their arms on the table.  They should sit back in their chairs and assume an easy position.

       A guest at a dinner should not pass a plate
       or any article to another guest, or serve the
       viands, unless asked to do so by the hostess.

       Upon leaving the table, push the chair
       back far enough to be out of the way of others.

  Accidents.  Accidents, or anything that may be
       amiss at the table, should be unobserved by a
       guest unless he is the cause of it.  In that
       event some pleasant remark as to his awkwardness
       should be made and no more.  The
       waiter should attend to the matter at once.

       If a fork or a spoon is dropped it should
       not be picked up by the guest, but another
       used, or ask the waiter to provide one.

Conversation.  Aim at bright and general conversation,
avoiding all personalities and any
subject that all cannot join in.  This is
largely determined by the character of the
company.  The guests should accommodate
themselves to their surroundings.

See also finger-Bowl, knife and fork, second helping, seeds, spoon, toothpicks, Wines, and names of individual fruits and foods—­as, apples, bread, etc.

Talking—­theatres.  Conversation during the progress
       of the play or the opera should be
       avoided and confined to the intermissions. 
       The theatregoer should avoid all noise, gestures,
       or actions that would annoy others.

A man would be justified, when annoyed by
a person talking loud near him, in asking
him politely to speak lower.

TEAS.

Invitations.  These need no acknowledgment.

Given by bachelors. 
See bachelors’ teas.

Afternoon. 
See afternoon teas.

High. 
See high tea.

Telephone invitations.  Telephone invitations should
       be sent only to those with whom the utmost
       intimacy exists, and who will pardon the
       informality.

Theatre.  A young man may invite a young woman
       to the theatre or opera, even if he has but a
       slight acquaintance with her, but of course
       he should secure the permission of her parents
       or chaperone.