Those are like a knife, fork and spoon. They are all utilitarian tools to use, but the philosophical calculus behind them is what’s in our national interest.” That’s all reasonable.

I told my grandchildren to hold their fork and spoon like they hold a pencil or a crayon. I thought that would be an easy example for them, except I found out they don’t hold either one of those ...

The fork was mentioned in the Old Testament but is thought to have been used in Venice in the 11 century. The spoon (originally wooden or bone) has been used by man since the stone age.

This article was originally published with the title “Neill's Combined Knife, Fork and Spoon for the Army” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 6 No. 15 (April 1862), p. 232 doi:10.1038 ...