Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-03-07
Dining with II Jannnesc Statesman.

1ui. LuWaEu II. House contributes
to the March number of Harper's
Monthly an entertaining account of
his experiences in Japan. Ho de-
scrlbes with great humor dinner with
q Japanese statesman, and gives the
following picture of some of the strik-
ing features of the entertainment
First, We explore the contents of
lacquered bowl, which contains n deli.
cate soup. spiced with sea-wecl and
aromatic herbs. It is weak, but other
wise commendable. Other dishes arc
constructed with curious fancy and
singular ingenuity, to represent gar
dens, with mounds and ponds, or for
tresses with turrets and moats-the
effects of landscape and architecture be-
ing produced by skillful arrangement
OF thin slices Of fish or vegetables and
variousAy coiored ice. Each plate is
a little picture. observed that
although preserved fruits, boiled chest
nuts, bamboo shoots, and other partly
ornamental and partly appetizing con.
dlments are scattered about, the sub.
stance OF this coulse is rice and raw
hsh. kaw fish. I distinctly recall
series OF thrilling emotions during the
nrst battle scene at which it was ever
my fortune to assist, and I know it is
on record in tho annals of Franconia
that l, personally, once crossed the
tree that spans the Flume. I once
went up in balloon, though not very
tar, and have on two or three occa-
SONS found myself accidentally face to
face, in theatres and in thoroughfares,
with the Prince of Erie
These are all memorable sensations
but now, confronting and confronted
by raw fish, as an article of diet, I
learn the full depth, breadth, and vast
ness OF the meaning of the word cour-
age, and gain new Interpretation of a
phrase which I have often lightly used,
but never until now completely grasped
and understood-true physical and
moral heroism. Shall 1t be done2 Can
it be done2 It must be done! Ills
done! And is it revolving and utterly
untenable7 Hardly SO. DO l like it,
thena Truly, not too we'll. But
I willingly admit it might be
worse, especially as it is deity
mitigated by pungent Soy. I do not
know it's name, but it ia like salmon in
aspect, and i1 taste like nothing in nv
particular prior experience. It is soft
and gelatinous, and, after all, the
flavor of the thick sauce with which it
is enriched is perhaps prevalent above
every thing else. The struggle once
well over, we feel that we have en-
countered boldly and conquered brave
~. No future possibilities have any
terror for us. Nor is there any further
occasion for such uncomfortable emo
ton. This preliminary course having
been partly, and only partly, disposed
of-Japanese hospitality supplying at
least three times as much of every arti-
ole as IS intended to be eaten-five
other servitors shoot from their
spheres, and, after briskly clear
ing the table, produce another assort-
ment of finely wrought lacquer-ware
and porcelain dishes, containing this
time thick broth, not unlike Massa.
chusetts chowder, compounded of fish.
prawns, small slices of chickens, and
sundry vegetables, with subordinate
plates OF spices, confectionery, and in
Vulnerable piquant stimulants to appe-
tite which I could hardly distinguish
at the time, and which, Icertainly can
not now remember in detail. Success.
slve courses, each introduced apparent
" by five fresh attendants-the extra
ordinary number of which led us almost
to think that Hirosawa must have Dor.
rowed his Lord of Chosin's retinue for
the occasion made us acquainted with
still other varieties of soups, and with
endless changes of composite potpo,r-
s'is which it is very fortunately
unnecessary to enumerate at length, be-
cause it is impossible. It may be
recorded, however, that no less than
thirteen times the spaces before us
were cleared away and refilled, each
change being distinguished by some
new form Of sparkling Auid-beer,
champagne, soda-water, 1 can't eay
what not. The Partially of the Japan-
csc for all liquors of bubbling and
efervescent character is remarkable.
The foam of ale to them is ecstacy. and
the froth of champagne is rapture. 1t
is rot the quality of the draught, but
the fizz, that fits their fancy. I have
actually and positively known q party
of Japanese yaconins to take with them
upon long country excursion a guam
tity OF Seidlitz, which they mixed with
sugar and water, and drank as luxu-
ri0us beverage.