Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-09-12
Grant in China.

1t was getting toward dusk when the
party arrived at the Viceroy residence,
and as the chairs were being set down
III the reception hall, crowd of SER
wants were lighting up the yamen. The
effect Of the thousands Of tiny lamps,
and here and there enormous lanterns,
interposed between the eye and the
lofty vaulted roof, was very fine, pre-
senting to the mind at a single glance a
chapter from the Arabian Nights"
The yamen premises are of great extent,
and the attendants on the high officials
and the servants attached to the place
were so numerous that they must he
numbered by hundreds. They were
all we'll and uniformly dressed, some
in silk and some in other rich materials
of various colors, and all wore their
hats. The Viceroy, the Tartar General,
the Hippo and the two Deputies of the
Tartar Genera! received their guests,
who, getting the signal from the inter-
prefer, after the ceremony of shaking
hands all round and much kow.towing
had been gone through, led the way to
large apartment-the host following
where seats were ranged in a SEMI
circle. This place was even more bril-
liantly lighted than the hall, and the
guests were shown to their seats, a
small table or substantial teapot having
been placed between each two guests,
upon which refreshments were imme-
diately served. A cup of tea was very
refreshing-and especially such tea
after the journey past numerous fish
lans and other oderiferous spots, and
more than one of the guests, only for
fear of its not being the proper thing to
do, would have emulated Oliver Twist
and asked for more. After the party
had disposed of what was served to
them and had been famed cool-a row
OF slaves of the palm-leaf being sta
toned at the back of the half
the chimes from silvery sounding bell
announced that the dinner was served,
and the party, forming a slow and
stately procession, marched through
several courts and corridors, crossed o
garden, and ultimately arrived at the
dining hall. 1t would occupy too much
space to describe the dinner in detail.
1t consisted of twenty-six courses, one
course having as many as eight dishes.
The bill of fare is on red paper, the
characters being preceded by figures in
gold of what might be termed the
Three Chinese Graces, called by the Chi
nese the Three Stars (Sam Sing), who
are represented respectively by the gods
of happiness (Fuk) honors Luk), and
longevity (Shau). They are over:
Swallowed by what is named an Imperial
Shade u Shin), held in the hands of
lackey. The dinner was combination
Of Chinese and Manchu cookery.
The entire service was Chinese except
the glasses and knives and forks, the
latter implements being laid with chop
sticks of ivory and silver. Some of the
guests used the chopsticks with consid-
cradle success, while others had early
to take to the mode to which they were
accustomed, and it soon became evident
that the Chinese were more used to for
eign liquors than the foreigners were
to Chinese food. The china was very
handsome and the silver massive, and
the dinner was served upon four tables
with high official at each. After
about q dozen courses had been got
through, smoking was introduced, q
Whit being taken between each course
from q Chinese water-pipe, held by q
servant in attendance for that purpose,
so that with about eighty removes q
considerable quantity of tobacco is
burned, but the weed is of q very mild
description, and, being smoked through
water, loses even the little pungency it
might possess. The dinner occupied o
most unconscionable time, and before
the carte had been finished the General
and Mr.. Borie made move TO walk IN
the garden. soon after which the COM
pany rose and retired to another apart
ment. After a little time spent there,
another slow march to the reception
hall, followed by the same ceremony
as upon arriving, concluded the visit,
and the foreigners got into their chairs
to return to the United States Con-
sulate. Although it was so late, sur
prisingly large number of people lined
the streets, and many shops were still
open.-Hong Kong Press.
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