The Portland daily press., 1899-01-28
MAKING TEA IN JAPAN.
How the Ladies' OF the FIowery King.
dom serve the Delicious Beverage.

The afternoon tea is an exceedingly
sucisnt fora Of entertaining that some
how has never grown too old to be ia
vorlte with the feminine gender, and al
though the opposite sex holds 1t In con-
tempt-indeed, It is whispered that 1t ii
mans pet aboznination; no matter. the
Tea still holds trump hant sway, writes
Jeanette NJ. Hill in "What TO Eat :" II
Is one Of woman's exclusive luxuriss, and
so long as she can gather in friendly IN
formal manner, chat Familiarity over tho
teaoups and discuss freely subjects dear
to her heart, so long will 1t remain popu =
lar.
Then again there is scarcely any trouble
or worry connected with 1t. as there is no
elaborate menu to serve, no tiresome
courses to be gone through. and as the
ostsss has everything right Mt hand, and
brews tho stimulat ng beverage herself
land she is supposed To be mistress Of the
art), there is no haunting fear Of hitch
es" in the culinary department, nor u
dread that the fluid will be sufficiently
strong to ipjure the nerves or weak
enough TO cause nausea.
As In England. the japanese tea Is
served either In or out of doors. and dur
ing the warm weather, especially for
ueople in the country or those sojourntng
in the mountains, at the seaside, etc, the
latter Is mora pleasant. However. in
cities this is not possible and as the tea
is NEST fashionable when society Is back
in town and the winter season in full
swing. It must be given In the house.
In the japanese tea. several small tables
nte u,ed, set at intervals in the room;
these are generally presided over by the
hostess and the ladies who receive with
her, each being furnished with tea SER
] vice They are laid in white damask or
linen embroidered In japanese design,
his center is occupied by circular
mound of red blossoms which symbolic
ia, emblem of the Flowery Kingdom 5
day, combining the national colors also.
q and white.
Ia the middle OF the mound, slightly
pisvated, there is n "Jinrikisha, which
- he riding vehicle Of Japan, q two
wheeled affair resembling our modern
laog-cart; II is avn by man in costume
~ Il seated in 1t Is "a woman, also IN cos
tune holuing above her and large enough
/ to extend over the table, one Of these gro.
1 tesque paper umbrellas, which are as
much IA part of that country rs its rice
and ten The edges of these are festooned
with red and white flowers and hung
with the smaller sized. globe shaped
lanterns that ars used profuseiy about the
room also for decorating and lights
| Candelabrs likewise Is used. and II
| should be of that quaint looking black
material that Is decidedly Oriental in
appearance and 10 the latest thing In such
| bric-a hrsc. White tapers with red shades
| show off to best advantage
| The chrysan themum, while not the
national flower, Is the imperial favorite
| and best beloved bloom Of the people,
therefore 1t is the proper one for oecora-
ton, united with potted pants, palms
and vines Windows. ETC., are draped in
| Japanese tapestry goods, with frie2es of
theDfiowers the result proving sipeularly
striking and beautiful.
| OF course Japanese china is used. and
as to the things to eat there can be offered
| thin sardine sandwiches, delicate waters,
fruits, CONNECTIONS. This is merely a
suggestion; individ lals use their own
| taste.
| Ices served should be in oblOng squares
| with round red centers to represent the
| flag of Japan. Souvenirs for guests, If
any are given, ought to be "a small cup
and saucer of the genuine ware or fac.
simile in candy, tied with red and white
L III