The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-05-20
a JAPANESE DINNER.
rhe Man Who Cannot Use Chopsticks GOe
Away Hungry.

rhe Man Who Cannot Use Chopsticl<s Goes
Away Hungry.
| In a few moments we were ushered
| 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 tea, the
inevitable preliminary to every form of
entertainment in Japan. AS soon as the
quests were all assembled the sliding
ioors 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 it
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
La small glass-futed plate contained
] hh. slices of pink raw fish and little
round balls of white fish; on another
plate were melon-shaped pieces of
pressed fish, ornamented with border
of deep-pink sweet meringue, some
slices of what appeared like sausage,
and pieces of peanut candy very much
like ours. A cup of sauce and pair of
chopsticks completed the array. We
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 chopsticks. We sue
ceede d in capturing couple of floating
pease, and after taking a 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
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-
quisite porcelain. We took off one of
these covers to find a preparation of cells
in custard-like sauce The raw oysters,
served with a large sweet Japanese
lemon, were not unpalatable. There was
kind of meat, put up in small round
balls, so as to be easily managed by the
| chopsticlSs, and that tasted rather like
| duck. The fruits were oranges and dried
persimmons, the latter not unlike figs,
Ind the repast ended as it had begun,
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 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 a slice of roast beef, bread
| sandwiches and salad, with a comfort
| able looking knife and fork. The drink
served most generously was salii, the
hwine 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
payne were also given to the guests
During the dinner there were five in
tervals, during which a number of ia
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 We're
wonderful. We sat down at $3.50 and at
$50 the last course was served, and
each guest was completely hemmed in
ceremony of drinking sali was per-
| formed. There was no coffee and no
smoking. The Count Enomotto left his
place, FRUSTRATED himself before our
admiral, reached his hands for the ad-
miral's saki cup, which was handed to
him with low obeisance, and receiving
| which he touched it to his forehead and
then gave it to the attendant to fill
Then it was drained, dipped in n bowl
of water and returned to it's owner
who went through the same elaborate
| ceremony and waited for the next
visitor when the scene was repeated.
Princes and potentates PROSTATE them
selves before you, but before every
member of the party has visited you,
the sali and the low bowling which
accompanies it becomes not little tire
some
Salli is like light sherry, and is dis
titled from rice, but is more potent than
it seems. Toasts were proposed to Japan
by our admiral and We're responded to
by toasts to America. The Japanese
ladies rose to a 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
Z was made for our departure in the
midst of good-natured cheer and great
goodwill, and we made our adieuX
with regret.-Providence Journal.
a SMART ACTOR