Spoons, spoons and more spoons

Dear Miss Manners:

I inherited a beautiful set of sterling flatware, made in 1908, that had belonged to my grandparents. There are 12 spoons of which I can’t figure out the use: They are the size of what we would today use as serving spoons — but 12 of them!

They can’t be soup spoons because I also inherited another silver set from 1917 — a different pattern — and those have the traditional round spoons. Can you help me figure out what was the purpose of these spoons? Gentle Reader:

Certainly. You only have to realize that your ancestors were more precise about their silverware than people are apt to be today.

Your grandparents were indeed eating soup with those large oval spoons — just not creamed soup, which requires the round spoons that your other relatives thoughtfully provided. Should you someday inherit small round-bowled spoons, Miss Manners will consider your life complete, as you will then also be able to eat bouillon properly. Dear Miss Manners:

How do you fend off rude questions from coworkers, such as, “That’s a nice sweater. Is it new?”

I find they often like to look me up and down, scrutinizing every thread and every sleeve on my apparel, as they ask this question. While I don’t mind compliments about my clothes, I do mind the judgment that follows these supposedly thoughtful remarks. Gentle Reader:

“I’m glad you like it.” Miss Manners assures you that there is less thought and judgment going into those remarks than you think. That admirers deeply care about the provenance of your sweater strikes her as unlikely. Visit Miss Manners at missmanners.com, where you can send her your questions.

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