Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-09-10
AN AFTERNOON TEA IN JAPAN.
nr MARY noLBnook cHArPELL.

lea OrlnklDR III tuc Sunt.
one OF the fine arts. In the OLD days ar
was long, and the cha no ~, or ceiemy
NAL tea party, was hedged about WIN
the most exalted and time-consu"ipe
formalities and ceremonies. s
To our great delight we were inViteu
not long since TO spend the day win
Japanese family. Our host having as
certained indirectly that we reai'y pre-
ferrei to be entertained In nati's laen
ion, a genuine japanese repast was pio
yided at half-psst twelve. anu as loII
o'clock we were privileged not merely
10 witness cha no yli, but actuaiiy 10
nartIcipate in this interesting cereno,
nv. going back TO all the minute anu
elaborate forms of the sixteenth cehtu.
ry. when the Shotgun Hideyosni gave ~
vogue, making its endless ruiee "
stiIted conventionalities a means
keepinq his quarrelsOme daimios ou' Vi
mischief.
IN arriving at our hosts mousse we
,ooL of our shoes at the door, and be-
60 shown in, were welcomed oY the
fanilv in a long calsthenic exercise OF
graceful bows. So simply furnished
MAS the reception room that European
eves IL seemed quite empty, but rolls OF
ancient pictures and various specimens
~ JaDanese art were brought out for
our delectation, mauy OF which were
relics from sacred shrines in distant
PARTS of the empire. One bit OF wood
carving, an image Of the god OF for
tune, was so small as TO be in
closed in the husk Of a rice
kernel. Conversation on general
topics followed, and then came
veritabe japanese dinner. Seaton on
the mats, each guest was provided with
ecu, or tiny lacquer table, square In
shape, with rim round the upper
edge. The feast consisted OF soup,
boiled fish, broied fish, raw sliced FISH,
shrimps, oysters, picked chrysanthe-
mum petals, lily roots, stewed chest
nuts, mushrooms. preparations OF sea,
weed, and rice-all served In small
dishes OF lacquer or porcelain, cnop-
sticks taking the place Of knives, forks
and spoons. The last course consisted
OF confectionery, which we were
privileged to carry home, sheets OF
soft, white paper being provided by the
hostess In which o wrap IL.
The tea chamber, always restricted 10
a certain size, was situated in pleas
ant garden at the rear OF the house.
The grounds had been swept with the
greatest care, and the paving-stones
were bright and clean. Putting on slip
pers especially provided for US, we
made way, one by one, to the tea-room,
washed our hands in the stone font out
side, disposed OF our shoes In the pre-
scribed manner, and entered by trap
door three feet high. In the days OF
the Shoguns the ceremony was invest
ed with so much splendor the sumptua-
~ laws were issued and the greatest
simplicity enjoined.
Simple as the tea-room Is, however,
each OF the few ornaments has It's con-
ventioual place. A kdltemonO, or pict-
ure scroll, hangs on the toxic no md the
recess where all ornaments are dis
played, and both the picture and the
flowers 10 the vase underneath are sup
posed TO be in harmony with the prob
able moods and lenses OF the guests.
The places Of the guests are as strictly
defined as at the most formal court pan
ouet in Europe. The room was ar
ranged for five, the conventional num-
Der. Ordinarily at parties OF this kind
some person OF rank has the place OF
honor. After him comes, perhaps,
the descendant OF a famous mas
ter Of the tea ceremony, or the
owner OF q celebrated tea utensil. On
this occasion precedence was given to q
japanese lady of great refinement, well
schooled In all the details, that, watch
ing her, we might not commit any ter
rible fd1ir pas. Each of US In turn ad-
yapced in front OF the toxic no ma, bowed
so solemnly that one might have thought
US engaged In worshiping the vase OF
pussy-willowS thereon, gazed ecstatlc-
ally at the picture scroll and flowers,
! presumably taking in the arrangement
OF each branch and stem, and the
adaptation of all to the season, the state
OF the weather and the light OF the
room. Rising, we advanced to the
fireplace, bowed again, and care
fully examined the iron kettle 10
which the water was to be boiled. AL
this was done in the absence OF the
host, who invariably retires until the
| guests have had time 10 look about.
ROBBED in heavy silk he soon entered,
and with a low bow thanked us for the
honor Of our visit Returning to the
adjoining room he Immediately brought
in a basket of white sticks, charred
azalea twIgs, each of prescribed length.
With two spiral shaped handles he then
lifted the quaint kettle from the hearth,
placed IL 10 one side on piece or white
naper. which he took from his bosom,
and made the fire. he then busted the
hearth with q large. white eagles feath-
er. and burning a little incense to dis
pel any unpleasant odor from the char
coal, put the kettle on to boil, and fold
ing the paper napkin on which 1t bad
rested, placed it in his bosom.
Then came the dainty process OF
making the tea. A jar 81 cold water
was brought In, broceSe bag contain
ing the tea-caddy, tvs teacups or bowls,
q bamboo whisk, and other utensils.
The host, after another profound bow,
united the bag and took out the tea
caddy. 4 purple silk napkin was then
prod dced from his girdle, and the tea
bowls carefully busted. The napkin
was then shaken and folded In conven-
tional fashion, and the teaspoon busted
and laid with great solemnity upon the
tea-caddy, after which the host re-
turned the napkin to his girdle. The
water Iadle was then lifted from it's
rack, and with 1t hot water from the
kettle was put into the tea-bowl. The
cover of the kettle being formally re-
nJaced and the ladle returned to its old
position, the tea-bowl was slowly rinsed,
and wiped with q white napkin. Sew
eral spoonfuls Of tea, in the form OF a
fine. green powder, were then taken
-. aaAl- md nnf with ali necaS-