davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

The United States is the greatest customer
Japan has for It's tea. We import enough Of
Japan tea every year to give half pound TO
each man. woman and child in the United
States, and according 10 figures furnished me
by our Minister to Japan, Gov. Hubbard, we
used last year nearly S7,0G000O worth of Japan
tea The English take very little, and the
black teas Of China sell better there than do the
green teas Of Japan. Still, England and Russia
arc, outside Of China and Japan $50 a noted tea
merchant Of Yokohama tells me-, the greatest
tea drinking countries CT the world, and the
English lead the nations Of Christendom as
Tea drinkers. London uses more tea than the
whole United States, and we Americans are
looked upon as 9 coffee-drinking Nation. . The
most. Of Tie tea used in the United States"
says this man, is in the North and the West
and the parts Of America which take the best
tea are New England and the cities Of Boston,
New York and Chicago. As for China, it uses
more tea in a day than the United States does
in year, aud the japanese from Mikado to
coolies drink tea"
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

The teas Of Japan are made in eight grades,
and Of the fanciest teas only few hundreds Of
pounds are shipped. The japanese use the best
teas themselves, and they pay prices for tea
which NC would consider extTavagant From
Mr.. Narnum, one Of the leading American ex-
porters Of tea from Japan, ] am able to give the
prices at which teas can be sold to wholesalers
in New York. If you viii add to these the
probable profits Of the jobbers and your grocers
you viii get the prices that they ought to cost
you The Choicest" Of Japan tea costs the
wholesaler 30 cents pound, and Choice tea
costs 30 cents. The grade marked Finest sells
for - cents pound, and Fine" Good, and
" Medium are respectively ., 20 and Is cents
pound. Good Common Japan tea brings
is cents a pound, and Common sells at Il
cents. The retailer Of teas makes about 100
per cent. as a rule and I doubt not you viii be
surprised at the difference between the actual
prices and those Of the grocer. Teas are now
lower IN Japan than they have ever been IN
the past, and tea which has sold for $40 picul
OF 80 pounds can now be bought foe SIG The
prices are now very nearly the cost OF the pro-
dnction OF the tea. and the tea merchants Of
Japan tell me that there must be an increase
of price, or il viii not pay 70 raise the tea
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

The tea-plant Of japan is a species of the
camelia. i grows very much like the Ameri-
can lockwood, and it is planted in hedges, which
rise from hight Of from three to FIVE feet and
the bushes Of which are about two feet wide.
These hedges run in parallel rows abouta as wide
as those Of q pOtato-feld. They are carefully
cultivated, and the leaves OF them form the tea
OF commerce. These leaves are in shape and
size not unlike those Of a rosebush, but the
plants are stocky and busby, and they are of a
very bright green. The idea is general in
America that green tea is always colored. This
is a mistake The natural color Of the tea leaf
is green, and the purest tea. known as sun-dried
tea, is Of a green color. The later crops have
not the bright color Of the best tea, and il is
on this account that they are sometimes pre-
pared with col0ring matter which gives them
the gloss Of the green sun-dried. The coloring
Of tea is, however, not so dangerous as many
suppose have visited the tea-fring establish
ments Of Japan, and these teas are not dried
IN copper vessels nor cOlOred with conDeras
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
Tongue Testers.

The popularity of Peter Piper's celebrated
peck of picked peppers will probably never
wane as a snare to catch the tongue that would
fain be agile; but that test has formidable
rivals. The following short sentences, as their
authors maintain, do wonders in battling the
ordinary power of speech:
Gaze on the gay gray brigade
The sea ceaseth and it sufficeth US.
Say, should such shapely sash shabby
stitches show?
Strange strategic statistics.
Give Grimes Jim's gilt gig-whip.
Sarah in shawl shoveled soft snow softly.
She sells sea shells.
A cup of coffee in a copper coffee-pot.
Smiths spirit flask split Philips sixth sisters
fifth squirrels skull
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

guest highest in rank was served first, and
each guest, after slipping twice or thrice, wiped
the edge of his cup with his napkin and passed
it on. The superior guest was expected after
tasting to ask questions about the tea, as to
where it came from, and so forth, and the host
was the last to drink. As he did so he always
apologized for the poorness of the infusion.
The teacup used for this purpose was very
fine. 1t was handed around and admired after
the ceremony was over, and then other tea
was given to the guests, smaller cups being
used
According to one of the great authorities on
japanese etiquet, the essentials for perfect
japanese tea party are outside ofthe best of tea,
the finest of cups and the most proper manners:
purity, peacefulness, reverence, and detaeh-
ment from all worldly cares. Without these"
said this man, I'VE cannot have tea party"
FRANK G. CARPENTER.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
"Return To-"

4 short time ago an order was received at
the Postofice from Washington to return I'M
called for postal cards 10 the writer in the
same way as letters have been sent back. The
clerk who was assigned to this task turned
over each card, read the writer's name and pat
it after the words " Return to" on the face of
the card. The distributing clerk was astonish-
ed to find several of the cards Endorsed with
directions like these: Return to Father"
Return to Silas," Return to Your Ownest
Own" etc. Now, whenever the clerk makes
his appearance in the office he is greeted with
cries of Return to Mamma"
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
boston Transcript

Friendly takes seat beside stranger in the
rail car. Friendly is afIablity itself, and takes
early occasion to remark:
GOOD morning, SIR"
Morning" comes grudgingly from the lips
of the stranger
Fine morning, sir"
II know it,"
1--WE must expect cold weather pretty soon
now"
Did you get that out of the almanac2'
Pretty chilly already"
You'll find it warmer up there by the
stove"
But voted for Cleveland myself" persisted
Friendly.
The stranger pressed Friendly's hand fer
vently, but he said never word. The two
tears which rolled down his face were more
eloquent than language.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

Mamma-W Well, did you tell God how naughty
you have been?
Lilly-No, l was ashamed. thought it had
better not Get ont of the family-Lifs
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

pire. An hour further by rail brings you to
Kiolo. where the finest of silks, brocades and
po-celains are made The whole country
about these cities is flied with industries,
and the fields are rich in crops Of rice, cotton
and tea. The finest OF Japan tea is grown
within two hours ride Of where ! am now
writing. This is at vi, where tho tea is so fine
that it costs from s. to S. pound here in
japan, and whore for years the tea has been
grown for the Emperor and Empress. IN Kobe
mach Of the tea undergoes its final preparation
for the market, and the air is at times laden
with the aromatic flavor Of the plant.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

You have tea offered you everywhere in
Japsn, and the little maid-servant who trots in
IN her stocking feet, gets down on her knees,
and hands you blue cup Of straw-colored
liquid, is met ar every turn. She is a pretty.
black haired, almond eyed, coffee colored
beauty, and she bobs her head on the floor both
before and after she has given you your drink.
The cup in which she serves it is not larger
than an egg-cup, and the saucer upon which it
is brought IN is Of metal rather than China. In
visiting a friends house you are first treated to
tea, and 1t stations along the country roads you
will find pretty tea houses decorated with Ian
tons and having for sala fried fish. sweet cakes
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
His Preference.

Are you fond OF. dogs, Mr.. Bliven," said a
young woman as she caressed her pugs.
Billy was too polite to reply in the negative,
so he murmured.
ooh, certainly"
"Do you admire pugs2"H
"Well, no, not very much"
"What kind do you like best?"
/ think" said Billy, refectively, 81 like
stuffed dogs better than most any other sort"
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

hand. The Chinese, !
am told, send out q
great deal Of tea which
has been once used by
Chinese families and
Chinese restaurants.
The leaves are rcdried
and retired, and they
are sold as a low-priced
tea in England. The
English want a good,
strong tea, and they
often draw their tea
twice and three times.
They tell a story of an
Englishman here who
was buying tea, and
said fb al n uust he az
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
Don't Want Mustaches on Their Coaehmeu.

expression on the faces of most of the PhiIa-
delphia coachmen they may know that it is all
because their mistresses, bowling to the die
tates of fashion, will not allow them to wear
their mustaches The average eoaehman is
pround of his mustache, and to have to sacri-
fee it is sorely felt. Not long since coachmau
offered to work for s. month less if allowed
to keep his muslache, and, being refused, quit
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
Too Much Slang.

"These stockings are all wool?" she said, as
she requested clerk in an avenue store to
wrap her up a half dozen pairs.
oh, yes, miss" he answered in slangy
thoughtlessness, they're all wool and yard
wide"
"Sir!" she exclaimed. Indignantly; and be-
fore he could fully realize what he had said
she whisked out of the store.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

Of the FIRST and best tea. The best of Japan tea
nay be known by its color when drawn That
which produces the lightest-colore liquor is
the best tea, and this viii be a surprise TO many
q housewife. The water should be Just on the
verge Of boiling, and 1t should be allowed to
stand only moment on the tea. You may
know good tea by its having small, straight.
hard twisted, wire leaf It should have high
polish, and should be hard. On being infused
il should have this light strawcolor, and il
should have good aroma or bouquet.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

separates them again, again makes them into
balls, and so goes on until all the leaves have
become separately twisted and have changed
in color from bright green to a dark-olive
purple. They are now laid out on another
firing tray, and allowed to remain there until
they become brittle. They are then taken and
poured into big earthen jars, each of which is
large enough to have held one of Ali Baba's
Forty Thieves. These are sealed and are car
ried TO Yokohama or Kobe, where they are
again fired, sorted and prepared for shipping
across the ocean.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
At the Theater.

"Absalom," said the wife, settling herself
firmly in her seat, You have gone out between
acts three times already. If you intend going
again you will have to climb over me. l shall
not bulge.
"Tha-thass right, Nanshy," said Mr.. Rambo,
shtay right here. en- (hic) bulge 'nough FIR
tn whole family, Nanshy."
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
Holiday Numbers.

THE YoUTH's COMPANION will publish this
year four holiday numbers, at Thanksgiving,
Christmas, New Years and Easter. The Weekly
Illustrated Supplements have become feature
of the paper and will be continued. No other
paper gives so much for so low a price. Really
$3.50 paper for only $l.75 year. Every
family should have it.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
Not so laxative.


Fifty cents, please" said the hotal clerk to
the lady who had been using the telephone.
a. thought the charge was only TO-" she re-
piled.
Yes" he returned. But that is the rate
for men, YOU know"
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
A Clear Case.
TTfI Fo V-,y,,,,,1

"And now, children" remarked the Sunday
school Superintendent, "what happened to
those wicked people who reviled Noah and re-
fused to heed his warning2 Where did they
find themselves when the flood came?"
In de soup!" exclaimed class of newsboys
on the back seat, with one voice.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

The coloring matter
used for Japan teas is
Indian indigo and soap
stone, neither Of which
is poisonous. 4 bit of
the indigo and soap
stone is thrown into
the drying-pan, which,
with the FIRE under If,
takes all the moisture
out Of the tea, and this
produces a green color
which resembles that
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

tackled with insomnia WAYsIDE TEA HOUSE
from drinking too much of this Japan tea, and in
this respect il is much more dangerous than the
Tea Of China. The tea is here taken without
milk or sugar, and there is q fashionable method
Of drinking it, which is in three long sips and
one short one. The louder the noise you make in
the slipping, the better the host viii be pleased
and il VIII be contrary to etiquet If you do not
paTtake Of the tea when offered
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
PICKING TEA-LEAvEs.

year, butplants are said
to live longer than the life of a man. Age does
not deteriorate them. The only difference is
that they require more manure as they get older.
The first tea crop Of each year is the best, and
this is made of the fresh green leaves of the
last of April or the first of May. 1t takes
about month to do the picking, and the work
is done almost entirely by girls. They kneel
on the ground as they pick out the bright new
green leaves from the old dark ones, and if a
girl picks three pounds and half of tea day
she is doing very good work. Her wages are
from 10 to Is cents for working from early IN
the morning until late in the evening and she
has to be skilled in order TO do good work
Later on there is a second crop, and later still
a third crop of tea. The latter crops are, how
ever, tougher and not so succuent as the first,
and the second crop is gathered in June and
July.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
College YeIIs.
.
7 yOTTiSiOtpyl Herald |

In the list of college yells going the rounds
of the press we fail to find any reference to the
Electoral College; but perhaps its pupils did
all their yelling before they got there.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
Cost of Intemperance.
Bangor Commercial

But what an awful lot o money these high
toned travellers waste for drink" said Uncle
Abner, as he laid down his newspaper. a
man who'll pay hundred dollars for saloon
passage to England when he can go in the
steerage for twenty is slave to rum-that's
what / say
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
Lost Her Grip.
Man York Horld.l

Well, Uncle Cicero, what makes you look so
glum?n
Yes, sab to tell you the trufe, my ole
woman has begun to make buckwheat cakes,
and she hasn't got into the swing of it yet,
cab y
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

The ceremony of the Cha-no-yu, or tea
drinking. was for a long time fashionable in
Japan; and the ceremony of the manipulation
of the serving of the tea and its drinking
was taught by priests. The houses and
temples had rooms set apart for this tea-drink-
ing ceremony. These rooms were situated in
a pleasant garden. They were nine feet
square, and were hung with kakemono or
Japanese pictures of certain kinds. There
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

ed with the tea-plant
since the year sos A. ID.
1t was at this time
that the first tea-seeds
were brought from
China here and
planted. and tea was for
hundreds of years too
expensive a luxury
here for any but the no
bles. Nearly 200 years
ago the tea grown for
the Mikado at Uji was
picked under the care
of an officer who was
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
At a Calcutta Reception.

Mai. McTavish-Mr. Fitch, I want you to
know the Rajah of Cawnpohr, one of the most
eminent disciples of Brahma.
Mr.. Fitch (of Illinois)-Proud to meet you,
sir It's tn best breed that ever laid an egg.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

WRITE this letter at
Kobe, the leading open
sc aport Of western
Japan. Here are mer-
chants from every part
OF the world, and the
great harbor is filled
with ships for New
York, London and Am
steraam. Within an
half hours ride is
Osaka, a city of half a
million people. and the
commercial center of
.l,-- -ar+ n tho Fng-
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

was a certain method
of bring ing in the tea
utensils, and the host
was expected TO do just
so, and the guests must
answer in a prescribed
manner. The cere-
mony took several
hours, and was used
to cultivate reflection
during the stormy
time of the late revolu-
ton. Each guest had
FIVE napkins, and the
- F.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

leaves are then taken
into the firing room,
where they are dried
in a paper basin over
charcoal. About six
pounds of green leaves
are fired at a time, and
one of these japanese
coolies leans over the
pan and takes up the
leaves and rubs them
to and fro between his
sweaty hands. He
works them into balls.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

. a
and tea The tea you sc
At such places is Oftc.
made oftheleaves greei
from the field. Ittaste
delicious when frs
made but after stand
ing q few minutes be
comes as bitter as gall
1t is full Of stimulatiu:
properties and man,
cups win drive ava
sleep. I have know
ladv friends 10 be at
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

Canada is the chief country outside of the
United States that drinks Japan tea, and our
consumption of Japan tea has increased steadily
since the opening OF the country Seventeen
years ago We imported 100000 pounds of tea
year. We now import about 10000, 900
pounds. 1t is a question whether we can raise
tea in America, and it is uncertain whether it
would pay if we could. When lie Due was
Commissioner of Agriculture he had 100000
tea plants set out in Georgia. They grew well,
but they had not the labor to prepare il for the
markets. The wages Of girls who work at tea
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

such a nature that it would stand three draw
ings.
Ny customers" said he, fare of the better
classes. They are a church-going people, and
are fond of charity. They want a tea that viii
give them two drawings for their own families,
and viii be still strong enough when dried
TO be sent out for the poor"
An Englishman likes no tea but that of a
dark color, and tea faster of one of the largest
English firms at Yokohama gave me his opinion
that the majority of tea-drinking people knew
nothing about the quality of teas.
"Our house in London" said he, once sent
out lot of samples of teas we had received.
We put high prices on the cheap teas and cheap
prices on good teas, and sent samples of both to
our customers. Out of SO cases every man pre-.
ferred the poor high-priced tea and this be-
lieve was because the color was blacker and the
taste stronger in the cheap teas
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

known as the Chief Purveyor of Tea. The
pckers were prohibited from eating fish or
unCeau food for two weeks before the picking
began, lest their bad breath should spoil the
odor of the tea. While picking they washed
themselves two or three times a day, and they
touched the leaves with gloved hands.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

The girls gather the tea in little baskets and
they bring it and pour it into larger ones,
which are carried away by coolies TO be fired.
Each farmer usually does the first firing of his
own tea. The leaves are steamed by being
placed in a wooden tray, with q hrass-wire
bottom, over boiling water. A lid is put on
to confine the steam, and it takes about half
a minute TO do the steamiDg. The moist
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

firing at Yokohama are now about IL cents
day, aud men do not receive over % cents
day. There is. however, a new invention, made
by the Mr.. Varnum above spoken of which
enables one man to do the work of % and
which may make some difference in this re-
gard.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

Tea raising is by no means an inexpensive
kind OF farming. The tea here is produced
chiefly by small landowners, and in some
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29

The japanese themselves would die with
out their tea. The use of it is wrapped up in
their daily life, and they have been charm
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-29
NEW LAWS.
Claims of Officers for Remus-
ter and Arrears of Pay.

Congress has Just passed bill extending the time hoT
fling claims OF officers for renuster and OF pys.
By the provisions Of This law act of June 8 1854 and
anlendatory act OF February 3, So all persons Who
held commissions for any grade for which they
paid entitled to remsteF and pay accordingly pro-
Y1ded there vacancy and thar they actually
performing the duties Of that grade. absent
either prisoner Of by OF wounds other
disability received in the line Of duty In military serv
ice SUCH Date of muster 70 be determined By the date
OF rank given IN the commission prior TO June 60 1855
or subsequent 70 that date when the command
below the minimum required to enttle it oAicer OF
thar rank.
The recent act extends the time for ing these claims
for i've finn lime