The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-23
GOSSIP OF The new GOTHAM
What Happens in the Biggest Little Tea
Room Uncle Sam Owns.
The HOME OF EXAMINING EXPERTS.
~ Is Here That the rate of All Importa-
uohs Is pccidcA--Tcs MAY Be
Raised in This Coun-
Try.

NEW YORK, Jan. 2O.--lt has been stat
ca that w. L.. WaKcman. Appraiser OF
the port Of New York, has rejected more
thdn 900 packages OF tea sent here 10y
INC heather Chinese since midsummer
oi last year This action on the part OF
the Appraiser las been taken In accord
"nce with TWO FEDERAL statutes, one OF
which was passed IN lS3, but the more
stringent Of which took effect IN May last.
contrary TO on impression which seems
TO be somewhat general these laws are
not part OF tho existing tariff law nor
in any way related thereto.
Tho Appraisers tea room "a one Of
the most interesting little government
institutions IN the United States. II is
not large apartment, yet through 81
pass samples OF nearly all shipments
OF tea received in the United States and
tho Oriental tea factors who cannot, or
90 not. send product that is up TO the
standard OF that little room need have
no hope Of entering the American mar
kct Before tho law which went into ope-
ration last spring was adopted there were
many ways 10 circumvcrt the Apprais-
er but that law nxoc certain stand
ards which are easily cc.ncd. Formerly
much was left TO the judgment OF tho
examiner. When an appeal was taken
judgment and the judgment of tho in
tercsted Importers were arrayed against
each other and a final decision was fire.
Qucntiy won by skillful argument. This
IS now done away with. The law sets
forth with great mlnutcncss just what
shall constitute acceptable tea. and il is
possible 90 demonstrate with oxactness
whether the sample under examination
possesses the necessary requirements or
not.
HOW TEA is TESTED.
Every package OF tea contains some
dust Even il none IS present when the
tea is packed. a small proportion Of the
leaves will be ground up in the process
OF lading. ocean transportation. and
unlading. This being true. the law allows
ten per cent Of dust. but any excess de-
bars sale i'm the United States. TO mat
ter what the quality Of tea otherwise
The first process I'm examining sam
PIE Of tea. therefore. Is sitting IT, IL IS
probable that an invoice otherwise OF
good quality would be accepted after
the removal OF the dust but IL IS not
within the knowledge Of the present wri-
ter that any such shipment has ever
been accepted. ~ that 10 would be worth
while 20 sift the tea. The shifting itself
would be expensive. and the residue after
in quantity.
After the matter or dust has been
settled. the Appraisers expert looks for
leaves that are not tea. The ingenious
Chinaman has a habit OF mixing weeds
Of divers sorts with the tea he prepares
for export from the Fiowery Kingdom
Most Of these are harmless so far as any
one knows But IL is quite possible ana
even probable. that the continued drink
inp OF miscellaneous weed steepings
would derangc the digestion and AFFECT
the nerves. Excessive tea drinking, even,
has a tendency I'm that direction; az an
events weeds are not tea. and Uncle
sam will not allow his children TO ne
bgmboozled into buying them TOT Tea
In technical parlance the weeds in tea
are known as "black leaf
When the proportion OF BLACK lear IS
unusually large. IL IS sometimes possible
10 discover it's presence by simply looking
m the tea. but detection is much easier
after sleeping.
STEPPING THE TEA.
steonine is I'm fact. the crucial test Tor
everything save dust. Consequently 'he
Appraiser's tea room IS furnished with
a choice assortment OF tea-kottlcs. 1hey
are not used 10 steep the tea in. but SIM
,iv IN heat the water. and they merry
singing over the festive gas-jet Is con-
.inral accompaniment TO the tea-testef
work so,,-
r.et us suppose that this expert gem