Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-03
Washington Letter.
From Our Regular Correspondent.


One of the social features most extensively
canvassed in anticipation is the great ball to
be given by the Chinese Minister early in the
New Year.
The gorgeous old Oriental is great fa-
vorte here, and is the recipient of constant
hospitality which he returns in elegant kind.
His stage dinners are famous for their mag
nificence, and are decidedly unique for they
combine the delicacies of three nations-the
'pates, entrees" and wines of France. the
sweets of Italy. and the distinctive (and
sometimes peculiar) dishes Of China notable
among the latter beings shark fins, birds nest
soup, and curries of heat truly Internal.
The birds nest soup is too glutinous to be
agreeable, being made of the nest of sea-
bird that builds with gelatinous moss or
weed, not unlike Irish moss or gelatne Gin
appearance at least), and whose chief value
seems to rise from the fact that the nests are
always built in almost inaccessible places and
the gathering is frought with such difficulty
and danger that las brave as a nest-fnder' is
proverb on the coast. When the nests
are bought they are packed in small crates
holding dozen, and they look decidedly I'M
palatable, and are little dried up things small
enough to put in an ordinary tumbler, where
it rises not higher than two inches from the
bottom. Water is p ured upon them and
they begin. like the fat boy in "Plckwick,"
to swell visibly until each one is as large as a
cantelope, and as sticky as mucilage pot.
Then they are ready for soup making.
These dinners are frequent at the legation,
but there being no ladies' in the household
the ball is the payment of the Ministers
social debt to the matrons and bellies of the
community.
Dupont Circle, the reproduction of the Rhine
castle that struck Senator Stewards fancy
when abroad some years ago 1t is superbly
adapted for entertaining, and when one enters
the great circular hall, with the atmosphere
ladened with after of roses and other heavy
Eastern perfumes and catches glimpse of
the splendidly ROBBED figures cropped about
the Minister (who himself is blazing with
Jewels and draped in silks that make his fair
guests green with envy it seems very much
like the setting of aladdin and the
Wonderful Lamp" The house is tapestried
in embroideries that make the art dealers tear
their hair in unavailing envy and the bronzes
and china are noble specimens of Chinese
art. The famous "peach-blow" vase is one
of these articles of ''virtu,' and is held so
precious by the Minister that it is kept in his
own suite of apartments, and guarded like the
"apple of his eye"
His Excellency," as he is called officially
and socially, a man of enormous means
and loves luxury with true Oriental taste and
when he came here last year he informed the
gentlemen of the legation of his intention to
be very gay. and his wish that they should be
is apparelled in a manner BETTING their. rank
and his dignity; so there was a tremendous
rustling and busting among them all, and
thousands of dollars worth of magnificent
brocades, arascenes, silk crepes, and jewels
were imported, and the entrance or departure
of the Chinese legation at the great State
balls is like the fitting of a rainbow.
One of the historic jewels worn by the
Minister is a marvellous emerald set in dia-
monds that was once part of the Crown
Jewels of France. 1t is said to be unsur-
passed in size and hardly equalled in the
world, except, perhaps, by the famous emer-
aid of the Vatican. This latter is familiar to
lovers of history and curios, as the one sent
by the Sultan of Turkey to the Pope of his
day, as part of the ransom of his brother
who was taken prisoner in the battle of Le-
panto. It bears on it the head of a man,
young, beautiful, mournful and sorrowing
beyond expression, his hair and beard worn
after the fashion of the Nazarenes, and under
it 10 the inscription ''Jesus Christ" '.Cut by
order of Tiberius Cesar" 1t 10 called and
believed to be true picture of Our Lord,