The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1853-08-06
AChinese Dirner Pnrtr.

Ladies' will be glHd to learn how the Crle,tiils
manage that most difficult Of domcslic afflirs-n
dinner party aud the following extract ftom a Re
cent Tour in China gives them the interesting
lnicrmtiun:
"Whsn Chinese invites Ia crreudnru=tn-
ner, large we'd paper ], sent several DAYS before
the time. On thi- is written he invitation in the
poIItest terms of the language. On the day be.
fore The feast another invitation is sent TO the
guests, on colorrd paper to remind them oft
and to ascertain whether thoy nre csmming-
Agauon the next day-- a sho,t time before tha
hour appriu'eL the invitorun is repeated, 20 in
form them that he teas, is is prepared, and await.
Nem. When the guests are assembled the first
thing presented is warm almond milk in large
cups Every table is served with exactly the
same number Of dishes, Al one and the same no.
mcut. Olly four or five persons st at each table
m very fashionable houses, not mere than two or
th,or. Tho tables Gse mostly mace 81 POLISHED
ebony, or Surat black wood. and double for ms
,hey use no tablccloths, the upper table IL reno.
we'd. with all that is o. II, at the end oi the frs,
cunrtP, to give place to til, second For the cad
uf the first course, tie tables are laid out with
chop sticks wiue.cups china ware, or enamelcd
spoons or stands nuI two li'te plates with'fruis.
nrs, etc Several small cold dishes, .rh csdsy
saltci f,h shred Enc. and made into salad with
mushrooms, etc are spread over the board only
leaving room IN the center for cup, about the
,zs Of hrpakiA.t cup. The dinner now com
mrnccs aud all the wine cup. are filed with ssrc.
hrHg t,olr--a weak aciduhted liquor distilled
fom mlilct seed. which is always drank hnt--rnd
the master OF tie feast rises, "a well asail the
gur-t- he hods the wine cup in both hauds, gaiu
ting them with it, after whchthey al drink tog
ether and -it down again. \ cup with hot food
a., in, ,lp n ..I1 f,,r
he iir-'coursr has been finished tie liable remain
ing i spread with spoons. wino.srps chop sticks.
vinegar. soy and sweet sauce, with some plates
cf sliced IA i,hes, pears oranges and various oth
cr fruits Vegetables placed before each person;
and all the large fruits are sliced as the vegeta
bles. While the second course is preparing. those
who are tired Of sitting rise and walk about tie
room. The second table being prepared the
guests are all seated again when birds nest soup
1.-The mos, expensive. and the greatest d-,icacy
Chinese can oi!er--is served up. with pigeons
or povers eggs floating upon it, to each person
When en- terteInlng any o. the high constituted
authdri,cs, Ide made, puts the first dish Of the
second cear.e On each table himself as It is
hrough, in hv the servants. After all Tea Is ser
we'd up in covered cups as before GescriOed--o on
the leaves, and without milk or sugar and thus
close. the entertainments On the day following
the feast the host seRds large red paper to each
Of the guests, apolog sing Cor tie hsGHsss Of the
dinner and they answer him on the ssr..s sort Of
r1ppa expressing, in lie most exalted and sztrav
ngGt terms, the pleasure and unbounded sa,isfsc
tion his feast has afforded them. The PIG ia,,pd
nation, in every thing, are unlike any other people
though, doubtless under all til, show ofpoljrenrss
/, hidden an equal amount OF duplictv and dis
stimulation as can elswhere be found The Chui.
se custom evince much that is hollow hearted u
their social relations"