Show ASKS THE REASON FOR OLD CUSTOM service plate worries this old timer 1 I go about so little and am so generally unsophisticated that nay my knowledge of service plates and the rules and regulations governing then them is pretty much of the hearsay kind sold mr cato 1 I think that I 1 have compassed the where and when of them but I 1 am still extremely foggy about the why of practical utility I 1 have not been uble to discover the slightest trace the argument that the diner should not sit bit at table with nothing before him strikes me as fallacious for nothing could possibly be emptier than a service plate on the other hand beauty na as we all know Is its own excuse for being and many of the service plates have as high claims to beauty na anything that can be displayed on the hoard board whether beauty Is appetizing depends I 1 suppose on tile the temperament of the diner doubtless it mattes makes some people hungry to start their dinner by gazing at an exquisite example of the ceramic art but with most of us ua I 1 am afraid that it Is not a wholly effective substitute for tho the hors I 1 am still further hampered in my understand the situation bycy y my extremely magenta mind with its ita trend in favor of labor saving and efficiency the service plate has to be put on by somebody assuming that it Is a decoration ns as it undoubtedly undoubted Jy Is it seems to me that it ought to bo be allowed to stay on the table and decorate instead of being removed at the expense of further labor not only Is it removed but if hearsay has correctly informed me it la Is returned to its business of decorating that Is of presenting something for the diner to look at other than the cloth I 1 cant find any reason why he should not look at the cloth which in all probability also la Is beautiful and in many cases is an exquisite eav example ample of the weavers the embroiderers embroider ers or the lace makers art or perhaps a combination of au all of them please understand that I 1 am not offering oft ering any objection to or making argument against service plates im merely trying to get their ralson detre through my head A custom that has been so go widely adopted by so go many people of the highest culture and intelligence must have other justification than mere imitation all customs start with a reason of some kind and some of them in the course of time aime may even get track back to it so I 1 am not without hope that some day I 1 shall find out what it Is s for all things come to him who watts walta As an eminent physician buck goes about a good deal more than I 1 do so BO it occurred to me to sound him on the subject buck J I setd how d do ou on regard service plates on a dinner table blev apprehensively he replied replied whenever a meal starts with service ser vi plates its a sure sign that ill use the wrong fork before it I 1 over indianapolis news |