The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-09-22

A CHINESE DINNER PARTY.-During the
stay of the Hon. Schuyler CoLrAx at San
Francisco, the leading Chinese mercantile
houses of that city rendered him public din
ner which was accepted by him. We subjoin
brief account of the unique affair:
The guests were received by the six presi.
dents and the merchant committee in the
hall above the dining room, on their arrival.
when general Introduction all around took
place before sitting down at the tables. The
chairs and side tables around the room were
hung with scarlet coverings. embroidered with
gold and the dinner tables adorned with fresh
flowers IN regular oriental style. The dinner
proper consisted of 1886 dishes. forming 100
courses, and divided comprised three distinct
sittngs.. AT the first sitting the courses con-
sisted of soups and almost numberIess ssmade
dishes, into the composition of which enter
ed fish, flesh, fowl and vegetable substances.
IN thousand forms undreamed of to French
cooks and Caucasian housewives generally.
The famous bird nest SOUP" which was pro-
nounced delicious by all who partook Of it.
anu vast number of sweetmeats and pre.
serves of different fruits, were included in
these courses.
As soon as one dish had been hassed around
and tasted by each guest, it was removed and
new one brought on by the attendants. No
knives, forks or spoons of our patterns were
upon the tables at the first two sittings: chop-
sticks, and the short, thick China spoons or
scoops, nelng what each guest was expected
to help himself with. The efforts oftbe min
itiated guests to master the chop sticks and
convey the food to their mouths with them.
created avast amount of amusement to the
company, and sometimes not little NORTH.
cation to the most awkward of the party
some OF tue guests soon got ''the hang of the
things" early, while others, after repeated
failures, gave up the attempt and coptented
themselves with spearing the morsels of food
with single stick as an Esquimaux would
harpoon walrus, or a schoolboy impale an
unlucky blue bottle on pin.
champagne, caret, and the finer Qualities
OF Chinese rose Favored wines, were served
in protusion with every course At the last
sitting, fruit only was served. all the varieties
in the market being included in the
list. AT the end of each sitting the Ia
bles were entirely cleared, and the companv
adjourned to the reception room to smoke
and pass away the time until the next was an
announced. at the end of the first sitting
the SIX presidents paid their formal commit;
nents to Mr.. Colfax and party, thanking them
Tor their attendance in oriental STYLE, throueb
their interpreter, Mr.. Carvalho and receiving
the thanks OF their guests in return. and then
took their leave according to the Statutes in
such cases made and provided and every
~here recognized as rules of action by the
Sninese. a Chinese band was now intro
dlced, and the guests were much amusad and
interested by their peculiar performance nm.
I'll the tables were ready for the second sit.
ting 's
Durlng the second sitting, deputation of
tne merchants approached Mr.. Colfax and
uov' bross, and presented their compliments.
welcoming them to the feast, and EXPRESSING
their appreciation of the honor done them by
their presence. The gentlemen renIed -
snort speeches, which were translated bv Mr.
Carvalho, and the merchants then retired
AT the end OF this sitting the company were
em.ef'aiheu 10 the reception room with a
Chinese historical recitatiye song. aoco,n,,o :"
med by the music of a full band. and H.
coltax was presented with large red and
gold letter or package, subscribed as fol.
lows: 90 ioi'
TO ms excellency, the honored guest.
For his high consideration sN7''
W,' mn thus were six red slips of paper. the
usual chinese visiting cards. inscribed as fol
lows. ''eiioeu do ioi-
The compliments Of the Sam You com.
pany. eoiii-
The compliments of the Yeong Wo com.
pany.
The compliments of the See Yum com
pany. p oo"i-
The compliments of the Ming Yeong com.
pany. Noni'
The compliments of the Hop Wo com.
pany.
The compliments of the Yen Wo com.
pany. N'Al
The SIX companies respectfully solicit your
orlght company at their festival this after.
noon.
Al the end of the third and last sitting n
committee of the companies again an.
preached Mr.. Colfax and party, and. repeat.
ing the thanks for the honor of their com.
pany, expressed their regret at not being able
to furnish more sumptuous renast NJ
Colfax replied that the pleasure was ali rnon
his side, that he returned thanks for the hon
or done himself and friends, and that ha VII
unable to conceive of possibility of a. n ors
sumptuous rerast being provided. a general
shaking Of hands and exchange Of Commit
ments followed, and the company senar.ted
At II o'clock-the dinner having occpn;eS
few minutes less than SIX hours. Taken Alto.
sether, the dinner was . grand success. and
We are assured that it WAS enioyed in ths
highest degree by the dis.in kod .,-.i.