The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-08-24
At Table, in China and Japan.

unusual 1eroclty OF the alligator is that its
nest was near"
At Table, in China and Japan.
Let us notice what is native and what
is foreign in the table appointments of
both countries. We mark the absence of
knives, forks and spoons. The flat plates
seen in their collections are made for for
eign, not for native use. To set an I'M
spoiled. gentleman, from the sunrise or the
middle kingdom, to a dinner served on
flat dishes, to be eaten from with chop
sticks, would be mere repetition Of the
fable of the fox and the stork. Chop
sticks and long bills would be equally
helpless. Give the black haired gentle
man deep vessel, bowl or cup, and the
| rice or minced food disappears like the
soup in a platter, under the fox's tongue
One can positively eat soup with the chop
sticks-providcd it be not too thin.
We see cups with handles, and saucers
and tea "sets" at the Philadelphia show
These are foreign ideas. The Chinese
host sets the small cup in socket, places
a liberal pinch of the leaf in it before the
guest. A servant pours hot water, to each
ones taste. A lid keeps steam and fra
GRANGE beneath until the decoction is made,
and while conversation progresses. In
Japan, the tea is made by host or maid,
in a little kettle. The tiny, lidless cup is
set in a metal socket or tray. Rarely is a
cover of lacquered wood added Sweet
meats, served on snow-white paper, are
an invariable accompaniment. Hence,
tiny cups, metal sockets, raised stands,
like " cake-holders," Lilliputian tea pots
and kettles, caddies and tea-scOOps, and
very complex array of tea service
are displayed in the Main Hail.
In the Agricultural Hall, the ap-
paratus for the garden parties and
marvelously pompous ceremony known
as cha -no-yu e. hot water and tea'), may
be seen. Whole volumes Of etiquette,
pertaining to the delicious little nothing,
are to be found in Japanese libraries. 1t
is generally considered that the consum-
mate graces of making, serving and pre-
siding over cha-no-yu can be gained by a
gentleman or lady in not less than two
years. 1t is a curious fact that, though
cha is the term for tea in Japan and China
the pronunciation of it in the colloquial
of Annoy, China, is tea. At this port, and
at Formosa, in 1868, the English first be-
gan to trade and to introduce this new
drink into Europe.
The fact that an Oriental shall we not
rather say nco-occidental y banquet con-
sists of many courses, a sufficient supply
for the entire company being placed on
one dish, requires platters of immense.
size. Hence, those huge, full-moon-
shaped dishes of blue, rcd and cream
tinted porcelain, in the japanese display.
Cooked and raw fish, boiled and fried
eggs, sponge-cakc, oranges, fruits, jelly,
etc, etc., are piled upon them in utter
defiance of economy. l have been at
great japanese banquets, when salvcrs
fully as immense rs anything in the Main
Hall were used. On these edible mount
aims and volcanoes, trees, waves and foam,
temples and gardens, made the mouths of
children of the gods water. These, by
means of chop deity handled by
tapering fingers of bright-eyed maidens,
were lcveled into dishes of baby house di-
mansions. Each guest sat by, heels and
knees on the clean mating on the floor,
with the wilderness of cups and bowls
around him. | once counted forty-seven
| dishes around me at one feast.
The serving of sake Uapanese), or sam
shiu (Chinese) hot, requires kettle and
high porcelain decanters, or corkless bot
| ties These are served by young girls.
| OulS OuC cup 1oI Ioul pSiSoAo 10 lAS WV
One or more tureens-full of water are
ranged in the centre, between the row of
guests. After one drinks, he rinses the
cup in the water, and offers or sends it to
another. In hilarious moods, it is tossed
to the person who calls for it. BY way OF
introduction, one guest may offer the
empty cup, and pour out to the drinker
If reciprocatcd, after few moments.
friendship and conversation begin. Moth.
ing so shocks an uninitiated native OF
China or japan, at a foreign dinner, as
the colossal and vulgar size of the tumblers
and glasses. To offer a japanese, at home
a large cup, is tantamount to an insult
and the insinuation that he is a topper
The japanese Bacchus is scarlet red
haired creature, who stands by jar OF
sake with dipper in her hand, or dances
a drunken reel. The SHOT, as they are
called, are lively family, and are figured
literally on their bronze, porcelain, lac
qucr and ivory. The arts Of gorging t.
repletion, and of guzzling to loss of 'equi
librium and heavy sleep, are quite vel
understood by both Chinese and japanese
Toothpicks are not used at table excep
in secret or semi-secret manner. N
dental noise must be made. At all time
the requirements of nasal etiquette mus
be attended to with face averted, or retire
ment from the. company Snuff is un
known. Tobacco may be INDUCED in a
all times by both sexes. Napkins ar
of paper: Eructation is quite permissible
and is rather complimapt to your host
that you have. appreciated his cheer
Foreigners who learn this secret are apt t.
overdo the matter in expressing their graft
tude; est mode in rebus, however, even il
volcanoes. The great importance of flow
ers in Japanese household decoration
shown in the vast number of vases an,
bouquet-holders of all sorts at the show
Many of the covered porcelain vessels il
the exhibit, however, are for. holding liv
Goals of charcoal for lighting pipes
Against the wall hang finely carved o
gold-lacquered fan holders, the fans rest
ing open on silver hooks. Folding fan
are an original japanese invention.
fan, cup Of tea and fire for tobacco form
the ever-ready service of p, immediat
:: refreshment to the visitor or the enterin
inmate Of each house.-Pref: Griffin, 4
Home Journal. =,
- WOmen's Work. -" 49,
i 49, aN 70 ~