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| Carson and Mr. Lang making do serving dinner during war times |
*Note: these instructions are all based on what the footmen would be required to do in order to smoothly serve a dinner. If others must step in to help them out, all chaos breaks loose...
A footman should, when serving a dinner:
-serve with the left hand, standing on the left side of the person they are serving.
-remove each guests' knife, fork, plate and spoon and replace it with clean dishes after each course (as soon as the guest is through with them so as to ensure they do not stare at a dirty plate when they find themselves lacking in conversation)
-never uncork wine or champagne bottles loudly. The goal is not to start an ambitious display of sight and sound. If the bottle is properly cooled prior to the dinner, it should be able to be removed in a soundless manner. A napkin should be available on the footman's arm at all times in order to wipe the mouth of the bottle.
-any dishes placed on the table or on the buffet should be removed without spilling (goes without saying)
-never correct his master either in etiquette or conversation. Despite the fact that the footman is present the entire meal, he should never "hear" the gossip at the table.
-after dinner, a footman will deliver a tea tray to the drawing room and help the hostess distribute the tea before he is done for the night.
Many thanks to Isabella Beeton for publishing all of her valuable knowledge in Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management which is published by the Oxford University Press, 2000.
