38 — Sunday, May 7, 1989 - North Shore News SALT CELLARS Do not instruct guests DEAR MISS MANNERS — At a regional antiques show, I purchased a matched set of sterling sali spoons and crystal salt dishes. I enjoy hosting small dinner parties and want to use the sscons -at each place. A 90-year-old friend remembers should I tactfully demonstrate to a hesitant guest? Or should I avoid open 2 GENTLE READER — Bygone? Please don’t say that. Open cellars Besides, it makes Miss Manners nervous when she hears of ordi- nary routines of life being describ- ed as quaint. Who is busy throw- | ing out these practices? What are they going to do next — wrench her parasol out of her hand? But that worry was nothing compared with the state she got in when trying out your friend’s in- teresting method of distributing salt, and comparing it with the or- dinazy way of giving one firm jerk to the right hand holding the salt spoon. She had no trouble with the latter method until you told her about the former. Now the only thing she can say is ‘that recent inventions are wonderful, too; thank goodness aca 4005 Whistler Way. _ Whistler, 8.C. Cail Toll Free: 1-800-663-5644 miss manners Judith Martin for the mini-hand-held vacuum cleaner. Either method is correct, but Miss Manners doubts your guests will be unable to figure out how to get salt to food with the aid of a spoon. If they have trouble, they can always watch you, or ask. One cannot presume to instruct guests (who may, for all you know, have been salt cellars all their lives), but Miss Manners wishes more of them realized how flatter- ing it is to a host to inquire about Preschool Kindergarten High School any bit of equipment they find bave a fcir number of friends in my high school. Recently my younger sister (by two years) told mee that my friends were ugly, snd indicated that they should net be my {riexds because of that. GENTLE READER — Your Me sister badly needs rescuing from ugly thoughts. If she had been un- able to learn from ycu how to judge the worth of friends, Miss Manners suggests you mention the problem to your parents, who may consider this an excellent opportu- nity to teach one SAFEC ‘ INSURANCE — If it's important to you; it’s important to us? - Edgemont Bivd., North Van. -— 988-6337 West 3rd Sircet. North Van. ~ 988-6344 3053 136 1578A Marine West Van. — 925-2535