DEAR ABBY: Recently a friend of mine went to a ritzy gala. When dinner was served, she closed her eyes and said a brief and quiet prayer. When she opened them, the people at her table were appalled. One guest admonished her, telling her she shouldn't pray out of respect for others.
Was she wrong? What's the proper etiquette? Should she stop saying her grace? -- GRACE BEFORE DINNER
DEAR GRACE: As long as your friend said her prayer quietly and didn't impose it upon the other attendees, she did nothing wrong. Actually, the rule of etiquette is to refrain from criticizing the table manners of other guests -- and the person who admonished your friend was rude.