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

touch them, than they coyly foated off
to the other side of the bowl. We tried
again, and again we failed; and once
again, but with no better success. At
last our perseverance was partially re-
warded, and with a veni-vidi-vici air we
conveyed g few solid fragments to our
mouths, drank a little of the soup, and
then covering our bowl, as we saw others
do, we waited for something else to
happen.
In the meantime large china vessels Of
hot water had been brought in and u
host kindly showed us their use. Empty
ing his sake cup, he rinscd it in the hot
water, and then reilling it with wine,
presented it to a friend, who emptied his
cup, rinscd and retlled it in the same
way, and gave it in exchange for the one
he received.
The next course consisted Of hsh,
cakes made of chestnuts, and yams; the
third, of raw fish with a very pungent
sauce; the fourth, of another kind of
fish and ginger root. After this we
we're favored with music on the hinge
kin. This is g harp-like instrument
giving forth a low wicrd sounl, utterly
unlike anything I have ever heard called
music. The fifth course consisted OF
fish, ginger root, and "%nori," a kind OF
seawecd.
After this we had more music, this
time on the koto. The koto is also
something like a harp in appearance.
The performer always wears curious
ivory thimb,c-like arrangements on the
tips of her fingers, and to my unedu-
Gated ear, the so.calIed music is merely
a noise which any one could make. We
were next favored with singing. This,
too, was low and plaintive, bearing about
the same resemblance to the singing of a
European that the cornstalk fiddle Of a
country schoolboy bears to the rich mel
low tones of a choice violin. This same
singing, however, is regarded as a great
accomplishment in Japan. The singer
on this occasion was a rare type of Jap
auese beauty. fair as a lily, with hands
and feet so delicate and shapely that she
was almost al object of envy. Her Golf
furc, like the coiffurcs Of all Japanese
women, was fearfu,ly and wonderfully
made. Her dress vas of the richest
crepe, quite long and very narrow,
opening in front to display a gorgeous
petticoat, and with square flowing sleeves
that reached almost to the floor. Her
obi, or girdie, was brocade stiff with
elegance, and probably cost more than
all the rest of the costume. The mys-
teries of the voluminous knot in which
it was tied in the back I & did not pretend
to unravel. Her face and neck were
powdered to ghostly whitcness, and her
lips painted a bright coral; altogether
she looked just like a picture, not like a
real woman at all.
After this came another course cou-
of fowl and fish stewed together
in some incomprehcnsible way. There
was also an entree of picked fish. The
course consisted of fish and a veg
egtable similar to asparagus; the ninth
of rice and picked daikon. Rice is the
staple dish, and, according to japanese
custom, is served last. The daikon is a
vegetable somewhat resembling a radish.
1t grows to an enormous size. Indeed it
is a common saying among vegetable
growers that one daikon grown in the
province of Dwarf, takes two men to
carry it, and that two Satsuma turuips
make a load for a pony. This sounds
incredible, and yet it is stated
for a fact that a daikon was not long ago
presented. to the emperor which meas
ured over six feet in girth. These mon
stcr turnips are generally sound to the
core; and to the japanese they are an
exceeding delicate and palatable all
ment; with US the odor of them alone is
to condemn them.
Last of all came tea, which was served
in the rice bowls without washing them.
The dinner lasted four hours; and when
at the close VIC attempted to rise from
the mats, our limbs were so stiff from
too long in this uncomfortable
position that we could hardly move.
We put on our shoes soon after, and
were her conducted round the grounds.
In the same enclosure was a summer
for the mikado. We looked
for the shoji, or sliding doors,
were all open, and we could see the
whole length of the house. Here, as in
all Japanese houses, the mats were the
only furniture. They were beautifully
fine, and the rooms though empty were
attractive.
After walking about for a little while
We went through a long calisthenic cxer-
else of bows and with warmest thanks
to our kind host and hostess, slowed
ourselves away in jinrikishas, and rode
oil to our homes.
Thrs of course is not q description of
ordinary dinner in Japan. Indeed it
was a very extraordinary one given in
honor of a party of Americans about to
to the United States. The CON-
mon people dine with very little formal
ity. Bread, beef, milk and butter are
unknown 10 them. They live principal
ly on rice, fish, and vegetables, served
in very simple fashion; and they cat so
that dyspepsia is even more COM
mon in Japan than in America III. j.
Mol6rook, IN Wide Awahe.
The Delights Of Hanging.