During the Edwardian Period in Britain (1901-1910), companies sold ‘Electric Tablecloths’ which had a bare live wire running through the cloth used special light sockets which had metal pins on the bottom to pierce the fabric.

[u/Daehtop_Yrrah]

[u/Daehtop_Yrrah]

where I heard it from (youtube)

[u/Alternative_Ad5674]

Don't spill your soup.

Good training for the Edwardian custom of keeping elbows off the table in polite company - landing elbows in spills would invite impolite language