The Portland daily press., 1895-02-06
A Chinese Dinner.
a;tor of the PRESS.

10 the EQ1GOr Ul tno hAGCO.
Noticing an article in one of your daily
papers about Chinese dinner, was
tempted to send you description of
dinner given to me by wealthy China
man ON my late trip to the Chinese i'll
terror.
The invitation itself was great curl
osity. 1t was nearly half yard in
length, and foot wide. It was bright
red. EN- bellished by very artistic Chinese
characters in black. | was to meet at
dinner some friends of my host, also his
Youngest brother, who had arrived at
mans estate and whom my host was de-
sirous of introducing TO European
the host was a wealthy merchant with
large business interests in both the
Americas and Europe. He had spent
much time in those countries and could
talk Englizh Auently. According to the
invitation l was to meet the representa-
tive of mine host at my hotel and be
conducted to a noted Chinese restaurant.
where the entertainment was to be
given. At S.3D p. M, my boy announced
that the attendant had arrived; so we
entered our chairs, and with the pecu-
liar cries Of the chair coolies sounding ID
| our ears. passed through the narrow
streets of the town until We reached the
restaurant. In front of the house stood
the host and on either side stood the
guests of the evening, the young brother
being at his side just little behind.
After calculations we passed into tne
house, up a very narrow and steep pair
| cod it,fn bl GIT III
per room we were greeted with sundry
sayory smells from the row of cooking
pans at one side of the room, also by
burst of Chinese melody from musicians
secreted III some adjoining apartment.
In the center of the room stood the table
arranged with ten covers and glitterlng
with a brilliant load OF cut gass, china
and silver ware. III the centre and at
each end was large bouquet OF beauti-
full flowers, and beside each plate WAS a
| bunch of roses almost priceless at this
| season of the year. Around the room
were ten rigid straighr-back Chinese
chairs; in which the guests seated them
selves. while hot tea was served in pecu--
| liar Chinese cups, having Inverted
saucers as covers to retalh the tea leaves.
| 1t is quite an art to handle the boiling
| LIQUID, and foreigner is much troubled
| in his first attempts. After listening to
the music for short time we sat DOWN
| to the table. The first few courses were
l4European, and the young brother was
cautioned to observe my movements very
carefully. When the Chinese dishes
were brought was furnished with a
silver fork and spoon, while the other
guests were served with chop sticks
| only. Thanks to my Japanese parotlce
was able to use these simple articles, If
not with the skill of a Celestial, at
least with enough Skill to satisfy my
hunger. So declining the European
weapons, l calledifor chop sticks. The
other guests were delighted, and lahad
never seen Chipamen show SO much
pleasure. Champagne and liqueurs were
abundantly served. and while Cinnamon
as rule are very temperate in the use
of liquors. at e 80 a.. l thought it best
to return to my hotel. Toasts W ere
drank to the Emperor of China, his
mother and wife, also to the Queen of
England and President of the United
States, AS souvenirs of the occasion l
nave a menu card signed by each guest
and the host, also the boutonniere which
was beside my plate. Below you have a
a copy of the Chinese menu, and as n
contrast the bill of fare of cheap res
taurant in Southern China.
=. SEQ. #. WESCOTT.