The Pecking Order and 25 Victorian Dinner Etiquette Rules

Conversation had geography. Guests were generally expected to speak with the person seated beside them, not launch remarks across the table like conversational artillery. Speaking directly across could disrupt the table’s flow and force others into awkward silence. The dining table was divided into zones, each with its own tiny social weather system. If you wanted to shout over the centerpiece, you were probably not getting invited back.