The Saint Paul globe., 1899-01-30
CHINESE BANQUET.
Observations of the Only European
Guest at the Board.

Guest at the Board.
l had a novel experience the other night.
says the Stars Yokohama correspondent, in
being the sole European guest at dinner
party attended by some 600 progressive China
men. The occasion was the birthday of Con-
1uclus That sage, according to Chinese
calendars, was born 2,449 years ago. Con-
fucius has still strong hold on the educated
Chinese, and the party of reform, of which
the unfortunate Kang-Yin-Wei was the lead
er. are particularly attached to his teachings.
The reformers, indeed, have lately been max
ing strenuous efforts to revive the cult of
Corfucius, and this was the first time for
many years that his birthday has been cele-
brated in STYLE
The dinner was held at the josshouse, which
was perfect blaze of Chinese lanterns cleo
trlc lights, and grand dragon flags. and crowd
ed with Chinese in their most brilliant silks
reds. and greens, and blues Of the iiyeliest
possible shades. Seats were provided for
every one-an improvement on the japanese
custom OF sitting one ones knees-and the
meai was served on small tables to accommo-
date four. The dinner commenced at $40
O'CLOCK, and 1t ended at II O'Clock, and there
no laborious speeches to distract Inc atten-
tlon, no music to divert one from the main
object, and no irritating humorist to waste
time. Your Chinese may be effete, but he
can eat and drink like Gothic hero.
The method of serving was peculiar Be-
fore each guest was placed a little cup, not
much bigger than a thimble, to contain the
hot liquid beloved of the celestial: a plate
spoon, and some ivory chop sticks Each
course was brought On in large basin,
placed IN the center Of the table, and the
guests helped themselves as they pleased.
The plate was so small as to be quite useless
and so the shopsticks moved from the guests
lips to the basin direct in a manner which
was little repellent DO European ideas. The
plate and cup, 1 should add, had to serve for
about twenty courses.
The first course was OF trifes-parched al
monds. melon seeds, a kind Of radish, and
field bananas. Fancy any one but Chinese
commencing dinner in that dry way. Melon
seeds in particular strike as impossible
as part OF menu. After toying with these
for few minutes the next course arrived.
1t was no other than the famous birds nest
soup. Like Huckleberry Finns dream of be-
ing rich, it's mot what it's cracked UP to
be-" but l can imagine it being quite edible
If one Is hungry. Then came sharks fin,
which my palate told me was not at all bad,
though my reason rebelled against the verdict
Then there pigeon, done in mysterious
fashion; chicken and some unknown fungus
translated to me as mushroom (Which it was
not; salmon stewed in mysterious sauces,
and fried chicken and bamboo.
Young bamboo roots are common dish
with both Chinese and Japanese, and are
almost as succulent and nourshing as deal
chips. Then there was the brain of the
tellectual fish, for there was more than
enough brain for the 500 present. What the
wong fish is, It's size, shape, habits, and
moral character, 1 have no idea. Then fol-
lowed duck which had been cleverly bond
ed and boiled in its own skin. Then came the
awabi shell fish tof which. again. l am
ashamed to CONFESS ignorance), preparation
of pork as fat an alderman and as rich as
Rockefeller more mushrooms and bamboo
In crystal sauces. chicken, and ham and one
which not even Lord Rayleigh could have de-
termined. Finally-a blessed relief-cakes,
tea and fruits. cigarette was smoked re-
ligiously after each course. and at the end
OF it each guest was given little box Of
outlandish confectionery.