Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-27

From this very entertaining Office we passed
To- the Internal regions or, in less intense Ian
guagc. the place Of the preparation Of the col
Oring powder. In a long. low. dim shed rose
n grc.nish blue dust from the sleeves pulled out
and shaken by the half naked. copp. r-colored
men and women. II one of the hottest of
Japan summer DAYS and their reeking. rocking
bodies seen through the thick. livid mir Of the
builiing made the scene sufficiently horrible
e. be entitled TO n very expressive word. This
eolo:ing Is popularity supposed to be used to
convince the conhding customers that they are
buying green tea and IT does Turkish into ra Their
dainty. superior appearance what otherwise
would be brown and coarse, but we are told at
the 60 down that 1t has the legitimate mission
of preserving the tea by its incrustations. and
of course no visitor VINO WAS receiving the hos
pi,a!i;.es Of the place. even to the experiment
of tea tasting in expert fashion, would be SO
imVolite a- To doubt IL.
We gladly left behind us the yawning door OF
the cave of the blue devils and passed through
succession of large rooms where various
branches Of the business were being carried on.
In one the boxes we're canvas covered for ship
pings in another. the labels we're rapidly slapped
and pasted on by jolly little boys, who seemed
nightly amused that We should be amazed at
their deftDess.
THE FrRrSo ROOM.
The firing room-the sight We had particu-
lrly longed TO see-was reserved for the last.
just outside the entrance door wandered
throngs of forlorn. filthy little children, wait
Ing 10 see their mothers at the noon hour.
They were Of all ages and sizes, many with
baby strapped on their backs. j had grown
accustomed To that sight, but not enough to
prevent my being achingly sorry for one ex-
trcme little case. She was q very small girl
and she was Juggling about on her back a very
big baby, Yet she was playing tag and dash
Ing up door steps, over blocks and barrels, APP
parently unconscious Of her burden, or Of the
consequence which might come Of a tumble or
shp. Think Of play under such diffcui-
ties! Inside the room were long, close
rows OF deep iron bowls. with charcoal
htes under them, and over each bowl leaned a
man or woman stirring with the hands the
hot tea leaves. These tea-hring laborers are
from the lowest classes, a fact which would
have been quite evident even IL 10 had not been
told US Old hays with their stumps of black
lacquered teeth, scrEggy, staryed-looking old
men. boys and girls with oh, such sickening
heads and faces-they we're living illustra-
uon OF the most disgusting advertisement Of
patent skin remedies. AL these were prepar-
ing Tor market the cup that cheers" Up and
down between the rows Of bowls occasionally
passed n man with n bag OF the blue powder
and threw n handful into each bowl: he was
followed by the ''scolder." an ugly coolie, who
carried thick stick. raped loudly upon the
bowls aud scOlded the workers into yigor, The
non. OF the stirring and scoli,ng, the
heat from the IRON bowls and the frequent
y. ru.uis We received To beware Of vermin
hurried us out u this pandemonium with
~ uuciean spirits, and We came once
noIc into the side, pleasant streets OF the Kobe
p 'ilci.s'nt. where one ices OF the tea godown
"ulN the high. blank. Inclo-ing walls and hears
/ u...s the laughing chatter Of these amiable
miserable ones rs they push outside at noon to
send such OF their little earnings with the
vendor Of fruits or sweets, or rs they CHATTER
home at evening with their wooden shoes click
ing on the pavement-. From the outside tho sc
/ who have never been inside have only agree
able thoughts VI this immense establishme.it
brought with the fragrance of heated tea. whic Ia
reaches beyond the jealous walls. have been
told, and 1 can readily understand, that the
hand process of hiring tea In China is no more
attractive than in japan for the Chinese have
no idea Of ncatness. neither in upper nor lower
classes. However. much Of the tea firing in
| China and Japan Is done by maehinery-a
plsasanter idea, which, let Us hope, will soon
prevail altogether.
pTryKKESr GRADES OF TEA
In Chinese teas there many from which
| TO choose. IL one has a cultivated taste and
money and friends to crafty it, the opportun-
/ iiy can be found in China. First there is
mandarin tea from 80 TO S60 q pound, pre-
pared with n large amount Of tea blossoms. II
Is not in market and can be procured only from
some person of influence. One OF my acquaint-
| ances had the good fortune to be presented
with box OF IL to take TO his mother in Eng
| land. Much to his surprise--for he supposed
sea air was most detrimental TO tea-he was
directed 20 open and air it every day of the
| voyage. His care was rewardsd-the fragrance
4 from one little cup would ill the house.
Another scented tea, hot as valuable, 10 lee
samine tea. prepared with blossoms Of the
Arabian je-samine. Ii 10 fired with these blos-
SONS, which are afterward separated from the
ten leaves BY means of sleeves. cup OF this
was brought TO me during . call at q Chinese
house in Pekin and n lifted IL to my lips the
wave 81 delicious perfume which breathed
past my face was indoscribably lovely.
| Next 70 the mandarin tea In yalus n thu xir