The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-11-01
CHOP STICKS AND JOSS STICKS.
rRon THE scANroN cH1sEE.n

4
ten o'clock, the time Of Chinese breakfast,
though they rise and work for four hours
before. We pause in front Of Cbongs hjng'a
variety store, and observe that The shop
doors are pui to, indicating that business
must yield to the pleasure Of eating, and
that the inmates have not the slightest idea
Of being disturbed at theirimeals. But for
once we will violate the rules Of etiquette
and 90 in. Chongshing and his sons are
about sitting down 10 a circular table, and
do not seem to pay US much attention.
We hear sound Of something Kissing, and
presently servan, from the back door
brings in half dozen or more bowls filed
with hot boiled rice, or fish prepared in
some simple way, or vegetables; tea 10
served in little cups; the chops,icks are
pulled from their cases; and the battle be-
gins. Chopsticks to European are one Of
the seventy times seven wonders Of the
world. They are from six to eight inches
| in length, perfectly round and smooth,
and about the size Of rye-siraws. Held
between the thumb and two fore-fugers,
they would seem, at first sight, about 40
useless as knitting needles, but one no
longer doubts their efficiency; when he seea
the prodigies Of devastation performed BY
their aid. So dexterous is the Chinanan,
that he can pick up grain OFFICE between
their rounded ends as easily as il can be
lifted on knife blade; but he does not
usually stop to eat in such delicate, LADY,
like style. Chongsbing and party wash
down their meal by such nnnunabered cups
on tea, that johnson himself would be put
in the shade. They drank it without sugi
ar or cream; they would spoil its flavor.
| Now the breakfast is almost over, each
has seized his last bowl " rice. and this is
the moment for the painter Each bowl il
elevated to the mouth, each bead thrown
back, each tail hangs straight down, and
iuto the distended jaws the nimble chopsticks
shovel the rice in the most marvellous map
rer. Then, as the bowls are emptied,
above each mouth appears little hill Of
the white vegetable, a gurgling sound is
heard, and the rice hills sink out ofs;ght as
| if swallowed by quicksand. After this
feat the party come to, and setting down
the bowls, look into them once more, sigh
profoundly, and all at once becoms aware
of our presence. jumping up from the table,
ask FIVE TOO have had breakfast, and being
wide awake to chatter on every article.
/ JOSS STICKS.
The most ordinary joss sticks are about
as large as maccaroni stems; thcy are mad6
of saw dust and skind Of gum mixed togeths
er, and run in mou.ds.
Some are perfu,ned and colcred, and
their various sizes are suited 10 different
tastes. They burn slowly like pastilee,
being igri,ed at one end, and continue
lighted down to the last shred Of saw dust.
They are manufactured SO cheaply, that
handful may be had without asking, and 4
heavy load for a few cents, yet SO vast is
the consumption, that millions upon mill
ions Of dollars are expended annually for
their purchase. Throughout The length
and breadth of the vast empire; through
cities and villages; in enormous temples,
and solitary roadside shrines; in districts
where the eve can reach over leagues Of
green culture, and on barren crags BY the
salt sea lin the labyrinthne palace Of the
| monarch, a nd 10 the hut Of the beggar; in
the tenements of the living, and BY the
tomhs Of the dead; apreareth nothing but
everlasting signs Of alteration.
| THE Devils FRUIr.--Potatocs were
first introduced at Moscow by Mr.. Row
land, about sixty years ago. At FIRST the
people would neither plant them nor touch
| them, saying they were the devils fruit,
given to him on his complaining to God that
he had no fruit, when he was told 10 search
in the earth for some, which he did, and
found potatoes.
A curious Berwickshire legend, which,
however, is palpably anachronical, attributes
THE introduction of potatoes into Scotland to
that famous wizard ofthe north, Sir Michael
Scott. The wizard and the devil being in
partnership, took lease Of farm on the
Mertonn estates, called Whitehouse. Tho
wizard was 10 manage the farm; the devil
advanced the capital. The produce was
TO be divided as follows: The first year Sir
Michael was to have all that grew above
the ground, and his partner all that grew
below; the second year their shares were
to be jus. the opposite way. His Satanic
majesty, as rs usual in such cases, was fairly
overreached in his bargain; for the wizard
cunningly sowed all the land the first year
with wheat, and planted II with potatoes
the second: so that the devil got nothing
for his share but wheat.stubble and potntoe-
tops; and this scourging rotation Sir Mich
ael continued, until he not only beRgared
his partner, but exhausted the soil. In
spite Of this legend, however, we must con.
,inue to give credit to Sir Walter Raleigh
Tor having been the introducer Of potatoes
into this country. The FIRST that tried
them, We are told, fell into the very natural
mistake Of eating the apples, and disregard
ing the ROOTS -SAicads Gas. I'll