“When the table
‘turns’, don’t get left staring into space. Turn immediately to the girl
on your left. If she doesn’t turn to you, lean over and say something
like this,’How about getting rid of that fascinating fellow on your left and
paying a little attention to me?’ Don’t forget, faint heart, never, etc. etc.”
This passage from Walter Hoving’s Tiffany’s Table Manners For
Teenagers (1961) has stuck with me all my life, although I can’t say that I’ve
ever attended a dinner party where they “turned” the table. Still, Hoving makes a sound point from which others can be usefully extrapolated.
Tables are always turning, pennies always dropping and scales falling. Being caught unawares, unprepared, can be dangerous or at least embarrassing. Just the other week when the Nosferatus dropped by to gorge I found I had nothing to serve, which raised my paranoia level considerably.
"Faint heart never, etc., etc." is the very best advice.
Tables are always turning, pennies always dropping and scales falling. Being caught unawares, unprepared, can be dangerous or at least embarrassing. Just the other week when the Nosferatus dropped by to gorge I found I had nothing to serve, which raised my paranoia level considerably.
"Faint heart never, etc., etc." is the very best advice.
Upper: John Singer
Sargent;
Middle: Jennifer Pochinski;
Lower: William Betts
Middle: Jennifer Pochinski;
Lower: William Betts
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