The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-03-02
CHINESE LADIES AT HOME.
Mrs. Gilbert Reid's Account of Shanghai
Society.
NeD York San.
Society.

peaceful toward one another, but they
hate each other in reality, and their
poor hearts are constantly torn by
envy aud jealousy. All the other
elves except numbe: one may be of
humble origin, or worse, aud when the
first one dies another is selected to
to take her place.
But to get back to feast. We sit
down at the tables, eight at a table
never more. The most distinguished
guests sit facing the South. That
law is rs binding rs the one pertaining
70 ancestors. The tables are bare,
and laid with silver chop sticks and
little spoons with bats Oh them. The
bat is al emblem Of luck. Fruit and
cohscrvcs are piled up on the tables
Dageda-lihc. \ delicious conserve is
made Of rose leaves cut into diamond
shapes and built into pagodas, aud
then there are dishes Of sugarcd pea
nuts aud dried watermelon seed on the
table. That is all. From thirty to
forty courses are usually served at Il
feast. and We Americans never eat
anything ut home the day we arc going
10 one. 1t isn't because we enjoy
what is in store for us so much, but
because we know what is before us
and that it is very rude tc refuse a
course ut Il feast. Sea slugs arc scrv-
ed on the half shell with Tsiang Ten
first instead of oysters. The latter is
the basis of Worcester sauce and is
shipped in quantities to
England. Next we have shark fin
soup and bird nest stew. Then come
doves eggs brought on steaming hot
and sizzling III chaiing dish. After
that croquettes made of slIrimps and
bamboo shoots arc served, and the
next course consists Of pork. beef,
ham and bamboo shoots shielded and
ssewed together. Bah! with a
shcag at tie thought Of this dish.
Duck is usually served several
times at a feast, cooked in different
ways, and now it is brought on pro
pared with mushrooms. After duck
comes cold chicken, ard then we have
to 1--we through another course of
pork. and before we know it here
comes duck once more. Toward the
last a lot Of Chinese Diem Sing is
brought on. This means swcetmeats
to US: They have preserved ginger,
shredded cocoanut, preserved lotus
and turuips and oranges and so on.
Cups Of hot wine are served during
the feast, and some time these high
class ladies get SO drunk they have to
De carried from the room. They serve
three wines. One is made Of rice, |
another Of rose leaves, and the third
of orange Feelings. The rose-leef |
wino is like a very fnc French brandy,
aud Il small Gun Of it will lend a most
delicious fragrance to e whole room.
After the sweetmeats arc served a
pudding made of nine ingredients, the
chief ones being rice and r%aisins, is
brought and served with almond tea
is that good?' asked the visitor. !
"Good? exclaimed Mrs. Reid.
SIT horrid. 1t gives me Indigestion
TO think of it. The last course is Il
bowl of rice and cup Of tea, which
is set before cac!. guest. As each
guests finishes her rice, and she
mustn't leave n grain, she lays her
chopsticks across the top Of the bowl
and says to the others, Eat slowly
The hostess Immediately takes them
down and says, Eat more The ser |
wants bring the courses in and that is
all they do. Thc hostess serves each
guest from n big dish in the centre
Of tho. table, using Ii gold or silver
toothnick. the chopstick With which
! she has been eating, or a hair pin
from her hair, to dish out the food.
Tins isn't very appetizing, but it's
AAChinosc.'
Aren't these fcasts very wearyiDg |
to a hostess?' asked the reporter.
"Oh, very answered Mrs. Reid.
THE guests usually arrive ut 2 in the
afternoon, and frequently we do not
| sit down to the table before ). She
is on her three- inch feet all that time,
and u great part Of the hour during
the serving Of the feast. But she
never shows any WEAKNESS, that is
considered a sin. She must be always
smiling and gentle, aud we'll bred.
Foreigners leave a few small coins
wrapped in red paper on the table for
tho servants Whit would we think
of tipping the servants at one Of our
dinner parties? High-class people
send their guests -xay in their pri-