This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------C4EDF67EBE54935B04CB0518 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit --------------C4EDF67EBE54935B04CB0518 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Return-Path: <janheil@home.com> Received: from home.com ([24.176.39.92]) by femail7.sdc1.sfba.home.com (InterMail vM.4.01.03.20 201-229-121-120-20010223) with ESMTP id <20011103212939.UZGT5034.femail7.sdc1.sfba.home.com@home.com>; Sat, 3 Nov 2001 13:29:39 -0800 Message-ID: <3BE46166.35F33F76@home.com> Date: Sat, 03 Nov 2001 13:28:07 -0800 From: Jan Heiling <janheil@home.com> X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.75 [en] (Win98; U) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Marjorie Bloy <mbloy@dial.pipex.com> Subject: Re: [A-REV] Odd way of eating? References: <001e01c164a5$cac6eb60$c487bc3e@marjiebloy> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 Marjorie, You can visit this website: http://www.cuisinenet.com/digest/custom/etiquette/utensil_howto.shtml be sure and go to 'forms of utensils' link ... excerpts which fall during the period of list: Early 17th century As forks become more common implements at the table and are used for holding food steady while cutting and for conveying the food to the mouth, it is less necessary for knives to be made with pointed tips. They begin to be made blunt at the end. 1630 Governor Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony possesses what is said to be the first and only fork in colonial America. The fad for using a fork has not yet reached the Americas, but Americans continue to import their knives from Europe. The blunted knives imported from Europe are not so easy to eat with as pointed ones were, and many people begin to use a spoon to steady food while cutting it. They then switch the spoon to the right hand to scoop up the bite of food -- the beginnings of what is known today as the zig-zag method. 1669 King Louis XIV of France bans pointed knives--at the table or as weapons--as a measure to reduce violence, further insuring the predominance of blunted knives at the table. Early 18th century The four-tined fork has become the rule in Germany. In England, though, forks still have two tines and are not so helpful for scooping up bites of food. Knives there have begun to be fashioned with wide, almost spoon-shaped (though still flat) tips, the better to use them for conveying food to the mouth. Mid-18th century Throughout Europe, the fork has achieved the form which is now most familiar, four curved tines. The curve assists in scooping up food and allows for a clearer view of the food being cut. Early 19th century The use of forks has become popular in the United States. They are sometimes called "split spoons." Jan Marjorie Bloy wrote: > Greetings > > Recently I was in the company of American friends and we were discussing the > War of Independence (as one does...). Over dinner, we started to talk about > the odd way that Americans eat their food and they thought that using the > fork only, and in the right hand, originated from the colonial period: that > "patriots" used that way of eating - in public - as a sort of "secret sign" > that they _were_ rebels and not loyalists. > > I said I'd no idea (I eat with the fork in my right hand because I happen to > be left handed - which sparked the discussion) but I possibly "knew" a lot > of folk who might. I'd be grateful for suggestions/answers/comments! > > Cheers > > Marjie. > > ==== AMERICAN-REVOLUTION Mailing List ==== > > ============================== > Create a FREE family website at MyFamily.com! > http://www.myfamily.com/banner.asp?ID=RWLIST2 --------------C4EDF67EBE54935B04CB0518--