Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-05
A Dream From Orient.


The He-No Tea Hong. which has attracted
so much attention, is dream from Orient,
from whence it comes.
No one could imagine from seeing fish
ing rod, what it is possible to do with bam-
boo, that curious wood that in American
hands appears to split and 60 to pieces.
When Mr.. A. D. French, who makes the
fine crockery exhibit near the He-No Tea
Hong, and who has spent three years of his
life in Japan, noticed the erection of the
He-No Tea Hong, he approached the man
ager extended his hand and said: II am
glad that we are to see so realistic a show of
Japan and China. I had no idea that any
one in this country would be so bold as to
bring out from there real Japanese thing.
You will find, Mr.. Gill, that the Pittsburg
public will soon catch on to a good thing
like this
Many carpenters have examined with
curiosity the arrangement and putting to-
gether of the He-No Tea Hong. No one
has solved the problem of its construction.
In one sense it is "Chinese puzzle" 1t
goes together without screw or a nail. 1t
simply fits, and was so constructed that its
joints and fittings make it that it will 20 in
an ordinary railroad car door.
Many persons have been trying to see
how it was possible for cave at the Memo
Tea Exhibit to go through the doorway Of
the Exposition building. On application to
the manager a reporter was shown how the
cave, which occupies a space of 25 feet
square, was all in block. Not only had it
been possible to carry it through the door
way Of the Exposition, but that it had come
through the doorway of an ordinary freight
car.
It is no more than right, that the mechanic
who constructed the magic cave should re-
ceive the credit that Is due him. 1t was
made by Mr.. William J. O'Brien, from
Chinese models in Baltimore, and the firm
who makes the exhibit will give to anyone
who will suggest a plan whereby such a
cave can be constructed on better princi-
pie the sum of $25.
Has anyone noticed the very odd and
curious workmanship that is found in the
He-No Tea Hong display. Nothing ap-
pears to be alike. Panels are similar, but
all different. 1t is marvellous in one respect
that their part of the principal building is
interchangeable. 1t does not require any
numbering, 1t goes together perfectly with
out any of the usual marks that an Amer
lean carpenter would put on the place to in
dicate its position. for the reason, as stated
above. that the panels and other points are
interchangeable.
The large bamboo which forms the center
niece of the counter, from which the He-No
tea is served, has remarkable history. 1t
took a premium at an Exposition In Japan
(Tokio, Japan for its size, and was sent as
a present 10 the firm who makes the exhibit.
When Mr.. Edison was in search of bam-
boo to make his lamps out OF, he could only
procure the young bamboo of the fishing
rods in this country. Hearing that the firm
in Baltimore had a large piece Of mature
bamboo, they sent one of their men to Balti-
more to buy it, and offered 5000 for the
niece. The owners, when they heard
the object for which the bamboo was
TO be used, cheerfully sawed off the top por-
tion and presented it. declining any remu-
neration.
How can they do it, and what do they
mean, by giving away the best tea we ever
drank for nothing, and not even asking us
to buy it? We find no signs to show who
they are; it is one of the mysteries of the
Exposition, That firm who must have
the best of connections with the East do not
appear to advertise their own name. Not
sign appears in what is really the most
unique show in the Exposition. Certainly
the He-No Tea Hong people, whoever
they are, have adopted very curious
strange that they do not even advertise
their own names.
He-No tea is mystery. Everybody is
talking about it, and how much they get for
nothing.
The He-No tea exhibit in itself is with
out doubt the most educational, the most
novel that has ever been shown at any Expo
sition. Money is spent without any appear
ance OF value received.
They are giving away to all delicious
tea, served In the very best manner, and not
asking q soul to buy.
Have we come to the millennium where
our people are served without cost with Q