Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-10-18
In u Japanese Tea House at the Paris
Worlds Fair.
tFrom one Of Edward Kings Letters to the Boston
JOurnal1

though in reality was not outside the gar
dens Of Trocadero. The spirit Of the Flowery
Isles was upon me l could willingly have
twirled a fan, and l certainly had predlec-
tions for Buddhism Imagine yourself ia a
beautiful little garden surrounded by deli
cate paling, which is in itself pastoral poem.
Through garden where all kinds of strange
japanese plants are growing and where Jap.
anese fowls are scratching and clucking in en-
terprising fashion, you pick your way to
charming pavilion built of those light and
fragrant woods which our far-away friends so
well know how to use. In the pavilion you
find most elaborate collection of blue and
white and green ware, caskets for the preser-
vation Of choice teas, small TASKS which serve
as receptacles for delicate cordals, and good
ly store of pipes, so guitless of unpleasant
odors that ladies might solicit the privilege of
having them in their parlors. The mats on
the parquet of this simple yet elegant structure
are all adorned with quaint figures, most of
which are taken from nature, to which the
native artist of Japan always goes for his chief
inspiration. He believes, evidently, with Be-
con, that art is nature, with man added to
it," and he never loses sight of that principle
Hero is, in good sooth, little rustic bower,
in which one might lie comfortably all this
warm autumn afternoon, watching the slow
drifting of the clouds through upper air and
the waving of the leaves which touch the
window sills of this cool retreat Here is a
| Japanese-a real live one, freshly arrived
from the islands of his love, and not yet subor-
dinated TO the hideous black garments and
chmney-pot hat of the European. He still
has all his native exuberance Of costume, and
very pleasing it is. Happily, he knows inf
nitely more of our language than we do of
his, and so perhaps he cannot be blamed for
assuming an air of superiority while convers-
ing with us. You being properly introduced,
he invites you to be seated on mat with him,
and he fills you little silver pipe with tobac-
co similar to that which you see growing and
nodding at you not far distant. How comfort
able and fascinating to talk with an Oriental
of this type, under his own vine and fg-tree,
without being compelled to cross great oceans,
or to feel that even you may be late at din
ner.
Unless he offered us tea, he would be but
poor japanese; and it happens that this little
house is just the place in which he is bound
to profTer the fragrant herb. for it is such an
one as he has on his estate in his native land
an arbor created expressly as a resort for
meditation and the harmless delights of tea
absorption. gentle smile curls his Oriental
| lip as he presumes to hint that few Europeans,
or Americans know nything of the real val
ue of tea The SAVIOR and the perfume, he as
serts are so delicate that the moment milk and
sugar are added the effect of the herb is ruin
| ed. For heavy European tastes it may be
necessary. but he himself fancies that he
should prefer the milk and sugar without the
tea, or the tea without the mill; and sugar.
And when did the inhabitants of Japan first
begin to submit themselves to the cheering,
yet not inebriating, influence of tea perhaps
| we ask.
This question slightly annoys our Japanese
host. There is nothing which would cause
him more genuine regret than to be forced to
admit that in anything whatsoever have he
and his been indebted to the Chinese yet he
cannot positively swear that the first tea
which crossed Japan's frontier did not come
from the hated rival country. He would, if
he told us exactly his thought, perhaps admit
"a
copy some of the habits of his enemies, but it
would cost him an effort to do this, so lie
closes one eye thoughtfully, and, with that
| modest and almost feminine air which the
japanese frequently assume when giving an
opinion, he says that tea has been used in his
country for a great many centuries. 1t is
said that the great Emperor Shamus, on an
august occasion, when he was entertaining II
company of BONES at religious festival, in
the first year of the Tempei (or about the
year 700 of the Christian era), informed them
that he had precious liquid TO which they,
and they alone were to be treated. The
BONES drank of this liquid which was moth
ing more or less than tea, and they smacked
their lips and asked for more. 1t was nearly
an hundred years afterward when tea again
made its appearance at the Japanese court,
and then it was a bonze who offered it to an
Emperor. Erchu of the Temple of Shufukud-
chi had, in some mysterious manner, obtain
ed good stock of the herb, and he spoke so
eloquently of it to the Emperor that that po-
tentate ordered its cultivation in ten or twelve
provinces. The plant aourished, and the
Emperor was delighted to see that he had add
ed another element of wealth to the agricul-
tural productions of his beloved country.
Thus much our Japanese host tells us in or
der that we may think the origin of tea in
Japan lost, like that of certain tribes, ''in the
night of time" But he would be compelled
TO add, if oss-questioned, that in the year
1900 ofSbur era an adventurous bonze, who
was making little journey into China, found
| i;,l. ,f fgo tngi
he brought it back and sowed it on the noun
tain of Sefur Eisei was the name of this
bonze, and he, assisted by another named
Move who learned all the details of the
plants cultivation, made the green popular
throughout all Japan. 1t is probable that the
culture of tea four hundred years earlier IL d
legend which cannot be proven.
''Our poets began to sing better than ever
says our host, ''after tea came in. 1t Seems
to be an indispensable accompaniment of po
etcal composition nowadays
We explain to him that Byron and Alfred
de Musset preferred something stronger, but
that we believe they both had cause to regret
it at various times in their lives.
The earlier cultivators of the tea plant in
Japan were aided very much by the Emper
ors and these latter required poems to be
written in celebration of the herbs virtues; sc
that whenever Japanese takes up his tea cuI
he has a familiar line of poetry, quite to the
purpose, on his lips, 'About the year four
teen hundred" says our host, 1.-THE ceremony
known as Chano Yu was introduced. 1t has
been continued ever since, and seems likely
to hold its own for dozens of centuries t'
come. The ceremony, which has for its pur
pose the strengthening of the bonds of friend
ship, is performed upon certain day of eacf
year. On that day the master of the hous'
introduces his guests into room consecntec
| A.. la, n -, ,a,.n.t