The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-05-21
A 1ApAnEsE DINNER.
The Man who Cannot Use Chopsticlts Go'
Away Hungry.

Away Hungry.
In n few moments we were ushcTcd
into another small room covered with
beautiful mating and whose furniture
consisted of few cushions lying on the
floor. After the presentations we seated
ourselves upon these low cushions and
were Immediately served with tca the
inevitable preliminary to every form of
entertainment in Japan. As.soon as the
guests were all assembled the sliding
doors were drawn and the large dining.
room disclosed to view, brilliantly
lighted by electric lights. On either side
of the room were placed fifteen little
square tables, perhaps eighteen inches
apart, and at the head four tables re-
served for the American admiral and his
wife, and the two Japanese admirals,
one of whom also occupies the position
OF minister of foreign affairs. The little
tables were about foot high, and il
was with no little difficulty that we
dropped down on our knees and thence
into the Japanese posture of sitting on
our heels.
On each table was placed three dishes,
each filed with peculiar looking food
A small glass-futed plate contained
thin slices of pink raw fish and little
round balls of white fish; on another
plate were melon-shaped pieces OF
pressed fish, ornamentcd with border
of dcep-pink sweet neringue, some
slices of what appeared like sausage,
and pieces of peanut candy very much
like ours. A cup of sauce and pair OF
Il, Il. Ia T.
watched the Japanese dignitaries ON
our right and left, and saw them adroit.
ly attack the soup, which was the first
course making it disappear most skill.
fully with the chopsticlis. We sue.
ceede d in capturing "a couple of floating
peasc, and after taking surreptitious
drink laid down the bowl discouraged.
And now, after vainly attempting to
enjoy the not tempting array spread be-
fore us, and which some of our party
found quite palatable, there followed a
succession of dishes, composed chiefly
of fish in various forms. first raw, then
cooked. Almost everything was served
in the Japanese bowl with cover, and
on this occasion they were all of ex.
quisitc porcelain. We took off one OF
these covers to find a preparation of GELS
in Il custard-lille sauce. The raw oysters,
served with large sweet Japanese
lemon, were not unpalatable. There was
q kind of meat, put up in small round
balls, so as to be easily managed by the
chopsticks, and that tasted rather like
duck. The fruits were oranges and dried
persimmons, the latter not unlike figs,
nd tho CT nr1lnl ~ hoI
with another bowl of soup. There was
no removal of the dishes, so before the
meal was over we found ourselves quite
hedged in by a quantity of little bowls
with their half-tasted contents, for
much liberality was shown in the serv.
| ing. Beside each foreigner was plate
on which was slice of roast beef, bread
sandwiches and salad, with comfort
able looking knife and fork. The drink,
| served most generously, was saki, the
wine of the country, served hot, and we
think onr respective neighbors must
have drank fifty each of the little cups
1t is not thought polite to drink out OF
| large glasses or cups. Claret and cham.
pagne were also given to the guests.
During the dinner there were five in.
| tervals, during which number of fa.
nous dancing girls or "gishas' danced
for us. They were dressed in most
elaborate "kimones,' and their move
ments were graceful, but not in the
| least like dancing in our sense of the
word The motions of their feet were
wonderful. We sat down at $50 and al
$50 the last course was served, and
each guest was completely hemmed in
| by plates. And now for an hour the
ceremony of drinking salli was per.
formed. There was no coffee and no
smoking. The Count Enomotto left his
place, prostrated himself before oul
admiral, reached his hands for the ad.
miralS salIi cup. which was handed tc
| him with low obeisancc, and receiving
| which he touched it to his forehead and
then gave it to the attendant to fill
Then it was drained, dipped in bow
of water and returned to its owner
who went through the same elaborate
ceremony and waited Cor the next
visitor when the scene was repeated
Princes and potentates prostrate them
selves before you, but before every
member of the party has visited you,
the sal1i and the low bowing which
accompanies it becomes not little tire
| some.
Saki is like light sherry, and is dis
titled from rice, but is more potent thar
It seems. Toasts were proposed to Japar
| by our admiral and We're responded tc
| by toastS to America. The Japanese
ladies rose to toast to them and the
American ladies responded by rising in
their turn. Three cheers were given
for Japan and the United States and
their friendly relations, and the signal
was made for our departure in the
midst of good-natured cheer and great
goodwill, and we made our adieuS
with egret.-Providence Journal.