The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-14

MY visit TO the wife of the taotai had
been talked of for long time. First of
all l must tell you what taotai Is. he
is the chief magistrate of three fu, or de-
partments, in the province of Che-klang,
one of the eighteen provinces of ChlnaS
The extent of territory under his juris-
diction would correspond TO the state OF
Massachusetts. When at last an auspi-
cious moment seemed TO pre- 'ent itself for
the proposed visit il was quite an anxious
question what would be a proper toilet
for me to wear. 1t would not do TO go in
evening costume, and yet wished to do
as much honor as possible to the event.
/ finally decided upon a light silk visiting
toilet. My hus bands official sedan chair
was made ready for me, one of my bear
ers ornamenting the interior with flow
ers NV little daughter, with her amah.
occupied another chair. and with onclaI
servants preceding US, one carrying my
large visiting card Especially prepared
for the occasion, and bearing my name in
black Chinese characters on red
ground), and others walking beside the
chairs, we proceeded on our way.
After entering the outer portals, we
traversed many courtyards, all Of which
seemed deserted, the men having all been
sent away that they might not look upon
lady When we reached the part of the
establishment devoted to the ladies, l
was lltb ny lll6 NGlGEdbA6 Va WIG
taotai with whose sweet face and soft
white hair was much impressed), his
wife, grown-up daughter, sons wife, and
numerous attendants, and two or three
amahs carrying young children, one the
little 2-year-old son of the taotai.
IN THE MANSION.
was at once ushered into room where
was a reception dais composed of seat
for the guest and one for the host.
separated by little table, really nothing
more than an elbow rest, and used for
placing the ceremonial cups Of tea.
These seats have no back and are very
high so one has to sit well forward and
rest the feet upon a wooden footstool.
The seat upon the left of the host is the
one of honor, and after much ceremony,
by which was invited by the mother
of the taotai to take this seat, myself
desiring that she should occupy it, we
were finally seated. The wife of the
chief magistrate and her daughter sat
facing the dais on sort of couch, and
the other ladies and attendants stood
grouped about US.
Almost Immediately we were served
with bird 's-nest soup in porcelain cups,
which l found to be rather good, and
which is considered a great delicacy by
the Chinese.
The conversation was carried on by
means of our amahs acting as interpret
ers. The children formed the chief topic,
and much curiosity was manifested as to
my little girls clothes. My dress, too,
was carefully inspected, and was, no
doubt, thought very peculiar. The tao
tais wife was attired in a beautifully
embroidered satin jacket, of plum color,
on the front and back of which was sewn
a square on which was embroidered the
ensignia of her rank. The plated silk
skirt was lovely dark red, and she wore
wide black silk trousers. In her hair
were magnificent pearls and other jewels.
The daughters face was much powdered,
and her lips were painted bright red. The
Jackets of the Chinese ladies reach almost
to the knee and have wide flowing sleeves.
The skirt almost concealS the ample
trousers, but displays the tiny feet en-
| casea in their pretty embroidered shoes
| Of silk. The costume of the Chinese ladies
Is both graceful and comfortable.
| AT THE TABLE.
After couversing awhile Twas invited
to a small table seating only four per-
sons, and laden with small dishes con-
tanning iunumerable kinds of Chinese
cakes and sweetmeats To my Joy l saw
some English biscuits, obtained, l suppose,
| especially for me. Something else was
brought forward also for my benefit
some Scotch whisky served as wine, and
some cigarsl But, although made SEM
blance of accepting the former, the Gig
ars were quiet out of the question. My
! hostess and her mother smoked long
stemmed pipes, and probably thought it
strange 1 did not join them in what
seemed a matter of ceremony
Before making my visit, had learned
| that when seated on the left of my
| hostess at table, she would help me with
| her chop-sticks to some of the dainties
| set before US; then l must with my chop
| sticks return the compliment by serving
| her. 1t was with apprehension that
| watched the chopsticks of my hostess
move toward the various dishes, and
wondered what should, for the sake of
| politeness, be obliged to consume. To
my great relief she selected some bis
cults, among other things, and laid them
on my plate
Now came my turn and, taking my
| chopstlcks very awkwardly in my hands,
| to the amusement of the ladies, selected
the cakes, ETC., that considered would
be most acceptable, and laid them on the
plate of my hostess
Some of the tempting viands I was
obliged to decline, making the excuse of
not being able to manage the chopsticks
When we rose from the table was in
vited to visit the house. We proceeded
first to the apartment of the taotai's
mother, where tea was served in cups
with covers.
III bnlS TOOHl was again OHerSQ cigars,
| and my hostess was handed beautifully
| enameled water-pipe ready to smoke
The room we were visiting was furnished
with large handsomely carved bed and
| cupboards, a table and some chairs, but
no carpet. The other rooms we saw were
all of the same order and showed no indi-
viduality. Each lady was led as she
walked by one or two maids gently hold
ing her wrist, and in this manner we
made our way to the garden. Our prog
ress was very slow, for the feet of the la
dies were 80 small that it was with difA-
Guilty they could walk at all.
THE GARDEN PAVILION
On our reaching the pavilion facing the
large garden l found that our hostess
was not of the party, and on inquiring
for her was told that she could not walk
so far, owing to her very small feet, but
was following US in her sedan chair. In
this pavilion we found another and larger
table set for US, with repetition of the
dishes Of the irst, but here we had tea in
teapot and cups with handles. The
ladies were very laxative and affable
| and after telling me the ages of all pres
ent, asked me my age, a common polite
ness in China. Presently the mother Of
the taotai took from the hands of an at
| tendant beautiful piece of Jade carved
with Chinese characters and attached to
chain of coral beads, and hanging it
round my baby's neck, wished her long