The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-02
A DINNER

The dinner was given at the Koyokan,
a clubhouse in the city of Toxic, so
called from the abundance of maple trees
by which it is surrounded; koyo mean
ing the red maple leaves Of autumn, and
kan meaning house.
We took off our shoes at the door, and
those who had not been sufficiently prov
ident to bring with them a pair of wool
slippers, entered in their stocking feet.
We were at once greeted by our host
and hostess. japanese ladies do not
often act the hostess at a dinner party,
but usually remain in the background.
Our friend, however, having travelled
considerably in America and Europe,
was a little advanced in his ideas and
gave his wife a wife's place.
Several beautiful japanese girls were
in waiting. who at once conducted US to
q spacious dining room on the second
floor.
Going out on the piazza adjoining, we
saw in the distance the bay with its
calm blue waters. and whitc-winged
boats; and to the right Mount Fugi. her
peerless head losing itself in ambient
clouds; while at our feet lay a Devil
dering maze of dwelling houses, shops
and temples.
The floor of the porch was polished
smooth as marble, and the patterns in the
lattice work were graceful combinations
of maple leaves.
As we re-cntered the dining-room our
first impression was that of a vast empty
apartment. The only visible signs Of
preparation for our coming were the
cushions upon which we We're to sit, and
the hibachi or fire bowls, over which we
were to toast our fingers. We sat down
upon the mats, trying hard to fold our
limbs under us a Ia Japanese, but our
attempts were for the most part very
awkward.
Then came some introductions. Our
host had invited two friends to meet us,
Mr.. and Mrs. Suyita. Mr.. Suyita, being
q Japanese of the old school and very
~ceremouious, bowed low, so low that
his honorable nose quite kissed the floor:
and remembering that when we are in
Turkey we must do as the TURKEYS do,
we endeavored to salute him in the same
formal manner.
At length recovering our equilibrium
We resumed our old position on the mats,
tried to look comfortable, and began to
study the details of our surroundings. The
cushions upon which we sat were covered
with beautiful dark-bluc crepe relieved
here and there by branches of maple leaves,
the rich October coloring making a
striking but exquisite contrast with the
more somber background. The mats
were marvelously fine, and 80 clean that
n might suppose our party the first
that had ever assembled there.
At n end of the room just above the
toxic noma, or raised platform on which
all the ornaments of the room are placed,
was a kakemono, or picture scroll, the
work of q celebrated painter named
Isanenobu. and very old. On this plat
form stood a large vase of brown wicker
work so wondrously fine that at a little
distance it appeared like an elegant
bronze. In this vase were branches of
Towering plum and cherry arranged as
only japanese know how to arrange
flowers. The ceilings were panels of
c%ryptomeria, and without either paint or
varnish were beautiful enough for a
princes palace.
8 This Immense room was divided by
sliding doors into three apartments. The
doors were covered with paper. Here,
too, was the prevailing pattern, for over
the rich brown background OF the D
were maple-leaf designs in gold and
silver, and above the doors were paint
ings of maple branches with foliage of
scarlet, maroon, and every shade of
green. On the opposite side of the
room was another raised platform. Here
also were two large vases, and in them
branches Of Towering shrubs, some of
which were covered with lichens. A
bronze ornament of rare workmanship
stood between, for which many a seeker
of curiositics would give hundreds Of
dollars.
Soon beautiful serving maids entered
and placed in front of US trays on which
were tea and sweet-meats. In japan the
dessert comes first. The trays were orna-
mented with carvings Of maple leaves,
the tea cups were painted in the same
design, and the cakes themselves were in
the shape of maple leaves, with tints as
glowing, and shading almost as delicate
as though painted by the early frosts of
autumn. We ate some Of the cakes and
put some in our pockets to carry home.
1t is etiquette in Japan to take away a
little of the confectionery, and paper is
often provided by the hostess in which
to wrap it. The native guests put their
packages in their sleeves, but our
sleeves were not sufficiently capacious to
be utilized in this way. I have been
told that at foreign dinners given to
General Grant in Japan, some of the
most dignifcd officials, in obedience to
this custom, put bread and cake, and
even butter and jelly, into their sleeves
to take home.
After first course came a long in
terval during which we played games
ond amused ourselves in various ways.
At the end Of this time dinner was an
nounced. Once more we took our places
on the cushions and silently waited,
wondering what would happen next.
Soon the charming walters again appear,
ed and placed on the floor in front of each
visitor a beautiful gold lacquer tray,
on which was a covered bowl of fish
soup, and a tiny cup of sake. Sake is a
light wine distilled from rice. and is OF
about the strength Of table cherry. A
paper bag containing a pair of chop
sticks also rested upon the tray; and
taking the chopsticks out, we uncovered
our soup and began to look around to
see how our Japanese friends were eat