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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!houxm!hound!rfg
From: rfg@hound.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Re: How to eat dinner in England
Message-ID: <349@hound.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 8-Dec-83 14:05:27 EST
Article-I.D.: hound.349
Posted: Thu Dec  8 14:05:27 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 10-Dec-83 01:52:16 EST
References: <722@ihuxi.UUCP>, <239@denelcor.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 11

I would not be surprised to find that (as with many dietary
laws) there are practical considerations at the root of many
"manners" e.g., cutting up meat: In big pieces, or still on
the bone, meat retains heat much longer than when cut up into
small pieces. English homes, on average, are colder than U.S.
Hence, we cut up a small amount ahead, they cut it one bite at
a time. Elbows on tables raise the frequency of spilled glasses.
With napkins on necks, one needn't have adult accuracy to keep
cleaning bills down. Napkins in laps say,"I am proficient in these
adult eating skills."  Logical or simply rationalizations? Perhaps both.
hound!rfg