Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-10-19

Dr. BOWLS OF the Springfield Mass Re-
publican, gives the following description OF the
Chinese dinner given 10 the CoLFAI party at San
Francisco:
THE DIKxEk.
We we're seated for the dinner around littl.
round tables, six TO nine TO the table, and hosts
and guests evenly mixed. There was a p-ofu-
sion of elegant China dishes on each table; each
guest had two three plates aud saucers all deli
cate ard small. Choice sauces, pickles sweet
meats and nuts were plennfully scattered about.
Each guest had a saucer Of flowers. a China
spoon or bowl with a handle, and pair OF chop
sticks, little round and smooth ivory steks about
six inches long. Chi Sing Tong, President OF
the San lup Company, presided a, Mr.. Colfax's
table
Now the meal began. 1t consisted OF three
different courses. or dinners rather between
which was recess OF half an hour, when We
retired 10 an ante room, smoked and talked, and
listened 10 the simple. rough, .barbaric music
from coarse guitar, yiol drum and violin and
meanwhile the tables were react and new food
provided
Each course Of dinner comprised a dozen 10
twenty different dishes, served generously one at
time, though sometimes two were brought on
AZ once There were no joints, nothing to be
carved. Every article OF food was brought on
/ in quart bowls IN sort of hash form We
dove into il with our chopstick. which. well
handled, took about a morthiul, aud transfer
ring this TO our plates worked the chopsticks
again TO get IL or parts OF il TO our mouths No
one seemed to take more than single taste or
mouthtu OF each dish so that even IL ons rel.
ished the TODD, it would need something like a
hundred different dishes to satisfy an ordinary sp
petite. Some Of Us took very readily TO the
chopsticks; others did not-perhaps were glad
they could not: and for these a Yankee fork was
provided, aud their Chinese neighbors al the ia
bic we're also prompt TO offer their own chou-
STICKS TO place bit Of each dish upon their
plates. But as these same chopsticks were also
used 10 convey food into the mouths OF the Chi
nese, the service did not always add 20 The relish
of the food
TAI eoURsLs
These were the principal dishes served Tor the
/ first course, and In the order named: Fried
sharks ms and grated ham. stewed pigeon with
bamboo soup, tsh sinews with ham, stewed
chicken with water cress, seaweed, stewed ducks
ana bamboo soup, sponge cake, onslet cake,
flower cake and banana fritters, bird nest soup
tea. The meats seemed all alike; they had been
dried or preserved in some way; were cut up into
mouthius, and depended for all ssvoriness upon
their accompaniments The seaweed, sharks
tns, and the like had a glutinOus sort OF taste:
not fepulslve, nor very seductive The sweets
we're very delicate. but like everything else had
very artificial flavor. every article, indeed,
seemed TO have had its original aud real taste
and strength dried or cooked out of IT, and
common Chinese flavor put into it, The bird
neat SOUP looked and tasted somewhat as a yery
delicate vermicelli soup does. The tea was de-
lieious--t was served without milk or sugar, did
not need any such amsoration, and was very
refreshing Evidently il made from the
most delicate leaves or flowers Of the tea plant
a M had md all xtt1t, I'LL
During the first recess the Presidents of the
companies-the Chief entertainers-took their
leave. and the merchants assumed the poS of
leading hosts, such being the fashion OF the peo-
pie. The second dinner opened With cold tea
and white rose-scented lqueur very strong
and served in tiny cups, and went on with chens
and fungus like moss, more sharks 6ne.
stewed ches,nuts and chickens, Chinese oysters
yellow and resuIrected from the dried stage
more fungus stewed. a stew OF -four and white
nuts, stewed mutton, roast ducks, rice soup,
rice aud ducks eggs and picked cuc1mbers,
ham and chicken soup. Between the second and
third parts there Was sn exchange OF compliment
tsry speeches by the head Chinamau and Mr.
Coliax, at which the interpreter had to oficiate
The third and last course consisted of great
variety OF fresh fruits anu the UNIQUE entertain
ment euded about III o'clock, after sitting of
full hve hours. The American resident guests
furnished champagne and claret, aud our Chi
nese hosts Invariably at the entrance and dcpar-
ture OF each dish, invited us, with gracious
bow, TO sip thereof. Ia the which thev all faith
fully joined themselves.
The dinner was unquestionaby most macni-
hcent one after the Chinese standard: but found
the one universal odor and flavor soon de,tro,ed
all appetite; and fell back resignedly on a con-
stltutlonal lncapacity to use the chop sticks and
was sitting with grim politeness through dinner
No. 2. when there came an sngel in disguise 10
M relief The urbane Chief OF Police of the
city appeared sui touched my shoulder: There
Is a gentleman at the door wishes 10 sec Won. and
would have you bring your hat and coat" There
were visions OF violated city ordinances and ''as-
ssting' al the police court next morning |
thought, too, what polite wsy this man has of
arresting stranger TO the city. But, bowlng nv
excuses TO my pig-.ail neghbors | went ioyfnlly
20 the unknown tribgasl friend leading
banker, who had sat opposite 20 NE during the
evening, snd had been called but few minutes
before. welcomed ne al the street door With,
'b-, | kueW son were suffering, ard were
hungry, le' Va 10 and get something 10 eai-s
gooi square meal - So e crossed % Al Amer
lean restaurant; the lost appetite came back and
mutton chops, squads. fried potatoes and q bottle
OF champagne soon restored me. Ms friend in
sisted that the second course OF me Chinese din
ner MAS only the first warmed over and tha,
that was the object Of the recess However that
might be--ihis is how | went TO the grand Chi
nese dinner, and went out when il was two-,hirds
over, and got something 10 eat" s B.
CLOAkS, &c.