Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-02-28
How the Japanese Entertained
the Officers of the Niagara

l wish could do even modarate Justice
to this Niphon repast, but truly believe
that the great though defunct Soyer him
| self, had he been present, would have
thrown down his silver casserole upset his
stocks of Wand juices, and wept in despair
at his own efforts on the sunny folds of
his damask napkin. l cannot take time to
portray, with any degree of minuteness, the
numerous courses of teas, soups, fishes and
fruits which were offered US to taste; but
each and all were prepared in such a mar
velously artistic way, with such delicacy
of touch in the preparation, that one might
reasonably infer they had been fashioned
under the action of microscope and the
light touch ola fairy's fingers. There were
slices of many varieties of fish, made to
represent rare fruits; condiments of gay
colored peppers finely grated, seeming like
5unches of violets and moss roses, little
bowls of ehow-chows, of dozen various
viands and vegetables, looking as if each
variety had been separately carved, lacker-
ed or eDameled by pupil of Celllni. Then
flew in little flock of quails, each stand
ing on little mound of green moss, with
wings at full stretch, tail up, and head
cooked to one side, not a ruffled feather
nay, the bird itself, in all save that its ten
der breast lay in deicions morsels on its
silken back, ready to be picked off by the
delicate chopsticks, which were served a
new at every course. Among other dishes
and which came, German fashion, after
the sweets, were small and evidently stunt
ed fishes, identical with our sEeepshead.
They were diminutive monsters, about four
inches long, though looking, from their ex-
treme symmetry and mirage like portliness
to weigh twenty pounds apiece, but evil
IDENTIFY had been made littler since they
first dipped into water in their infancy. We
were told that they came from the Ty-
coon's ponds, aad were porthy of Dam
los palate, as, indeed they were 10 ours
Cold saki of two kinds, sweet and acrid,
was profusely served towards the close of
the feast, as were likewise paper napkins
of filmy texture, and we were served too,
at times, by our old acquaintance, the Am
bassadoIs, who pressed on US to eat and
drink. though they sedulously abstained
from touching a thing themselves. Mean
while our old carouser, the burly Govern
or, and his firm ally, the Treasurer sat on
their oams at the furthest corner of the
hall, with an air of patient and awe
struck resignation, truly pitiful to behold,
and when we, their former boon compan-
ions, raised our cups, as in seaboard time,
to hob mob to them atar off, in saki spirit,
they never even smacked their thirsty lips.
shouted or even. smiled, as they were won't
to do in the costly retreats of the frigate's
lower eecks. Shade of Cocktails and Bit
ters could it be possible that our jolly
Japs, who used to punch us in the ribs for
a fifteenth mixture before dinner, who pain
ted the glorious carouses We were to haze
in the gardens, grottos, and palaces of
their ancestors, with dancing girls and
songs, had reformed. Yes, perhaps they
had, or at least we rather fancied they gag
ed sorrowfully at US amidst the hob-nob-
bng pantomne, fearful lest the sage coun-
cilors around might be taking mental notes
and despatch them for harikari execution
the moment the audience was overl And
then our thoughts wandered away to Tom
my and where conid that gabbling young
imp be, when there was so much good |
feasting going on9 Had any body seen
him? No-nor yet any of the Royal
presents and letters patent he was to have
despatched to his tender damsels in Amer
lea! Let US weep for that little Pagan,
for we ne'er shall see him more.