Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-14

1
WE E43-HI coOlie that out of the
| W XgM WI fight only one cricket
| proved victorious, and
had won for its master
| cooLiE- 800. The successful
crckets are taken home and when they die are
placed IN tiny silver collins and are secretly
| buried by their owners on the hills.
would like to say a few words about the
thieves of China. Everyone has heard of these
crafty men, and the same class of individuals in
America do not compare with those of the mid
die kingdom. We were visited by one two
| nights ago, but we offered no molestation and
the robber finding that valuables were hid
Gen departed with the same silentness that he
came My cousin. although an athlete in
strength, would be no match for these tricky
who have their pigtails, which are false, filed
with fish hooks.
CHINESE DINNER.
Yesterday my cousin. Mr.. Rusk, the English
man and myself were invited to a Chinese din
ner at the house of wealthy Chinese mer-
chant by the name of Sang. When the dinner
was said to be ready We left the parlor, where
we had been greatly amused by seeing some
ieats performed in jugglery and were ushered
into the eating room. Immediately in front of
u.s. after We were seated were placed four very
small plates containing pepper, salt, mustard
and sugar. chop sticks a porcelain spoon with
red green and yellow, and a two-prOnged fork
besides small pile of white Chinese paper in
squares to be used as napkins We began our
repast by helping ourselves to the fruit in the
center OF the table; after this was placed in
succession oranges and pears cut into small
pieces, wine of two kinds-one weak whisky
made OF rice and the other a red wine made of
Lee Chez nuts, which was really
good. After this was placed preserved
wainuts tiny pieces of pork with no fat look
ing more like candy than meat, hashed pigeon
with ham. boiled conch cut into slices stewed
crab, boiled black fish, sea slugs, stewed boned
duck and salted eggs. There was then pause
and tea and cakes of two kinds were handed
around. then large bowl covered with hideous
pictures OF gnomes and dragons was placed
upon the table, and upon asking what it con-
tanned L was told 1t was birds nest soup.
partook OF this freely and found it not bad. II
Is gelatlnous and had no particular flavor that
could discover. There was then served basins
oa rice, eongee lrice water. wampee, lee chez,
rose apple, loquat, custard apple, luung- ngaan.
guave and pears. After these various fruits
were eaten three bowls OF q green color orna-
mented with gold were sat at each Of our plates
containing meat of some kind minced very fine
so as TO be easily divided by chopsticks. / ate
large quantity of the first two, but cared
"oihing for the third one, as thought it very
high.
srEwED CAT AND HAsHEp RAT.
What was to my horror to have Mr. Rusk.
who acted as my interpreter, tell me that the
dishes had eaten were stewed black cat and
mashed RAJ with peas. and that which had not
touched was minced dog. After quite an array
OF dishes, such as roasted melon seeds. betel
nuts wrapped In green leaves preserved green
eggs, another bowl of red color was placed
beside each plate covered, and upon raising the
porcelain lid L was frightened out of my wits
by having four peculiar things hop out stapper
about and fall on the table. They were ..tipsv
shrimps; they had been preserved aliyo ilst
before dinner In wine. Had l been an ex-
perienced Chinaman would have caught them
on my chop sticks and conveyed them to nv
mouth as they were In the act OF springing. but
this was enough. had eaten birds nest soup.
toasted on cat, dined on rat and sea slugs. but
Ilpsy Shrimps. that was enough. Well
what could do? / dared not say that fell
Ill That would be impossible to mention such
a thing. My host would think that was
bringing some contagious disease into his
house. and would be in disgrace forever in
his eyes, SO / was obliged to pick up and
swallow two of these 1.-Two things although
much against my will. Our dinner then closed.
as as the case with all Chinese repasts, with
soups Of various kinds. When We arose from
the table hot water in brass bowls was handed
TO US and small towels on which to dry our
hands This, think, our host callsd Samshu.
HANDSOME EIREwoRKs.
After dinner We were amused by playing
games, conversing and listening to the dismal
bowls and screams of professional singer.
when 1t became dark we went by invitation in
Mr. Sangs picturesque garden to witness a
private display of fireworks. which was given
In honor of some deity or dragon. This beau.
tiful garden abounds in small hills upon which
are miniature pagodas. Joss houses, little lakes
with beautifully carved marble bridges over
them. and an endless variety Of peacocks, deer
and geese; the first signifies rank, the second
happiness and the third constancy.
We were seated close to q large pond of arti
heial water, and upon the opposite side stood
the family theater with its beautiful carved
double roof Of pink and gold. Il was lit up BY
new lanterns, and its reflection in the water
was most beautiful. Upon temporary BAN.
boo platform over the pond the fireworks were
iet on, and the display was very grand and
altogether unlike any fireworks I had ever
seen In America. There were eighteen set
pieces. In one a man mounted on horse fell
from the animal ana lay beside it. In another
few men were seen rocking in q boat and the
boat sank amid the screeching OF q dozen
rockets In another a ball burst in the
air and revealed dragon vomiting
nre. strings Of pagodas continued falling
Of terrible aspect, holding lighted lantern in
his mouth. One might easily imagine himself
in the land Of the Arabian Nights The scene
around me was truly oriental. We were seated
aDout sthdA CarNtu teak WOOD tables drinking
tea; innumerable lanterns were lighted and
hung on trees from which tiny bell was sus-
pended. On the clapper Of these bells large
piece OF paper was attached, and a. the wind
waited them to and fro the tinkling and ring
ing was very charming Amahs and slaves
famed and waited on US, and as each Of the
fireworks ended with display Of gold and sill
yer hre, the scenery thus let mp was exceed
ingiy beautiful Altogether the waving soc
palms, the biossoming lee chez trees, the
pagodas with their gilded roofs. made such an
impression upon my memory that will never
MI. Doiiey (tenderly)-"Miss Scadds,
indulge the hope Of some day winning your
Miss scadds (shaking her hsad) MY friends
Dolley. "-Epoch
For Private Circulation. am
AFRAID those towels are too SMALL"
ers, madam"
SELL Cloak Revisse.