Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-29
Tea is a Popular Beverage All the
Great World Over.
SOME Odd WAYS OF SERVING IT
Important Place of the Samoyar
in Every Russian Home.
JAP ANESE HOSPITALITY

of a Finnish lady. She made the most de-
hcious tea. for which she had paid 81 81 a
pound Beside the hostess stood huge
samovar. Inside 1t are hot Goals. round the
tin of which is the boiling water while
above 1t stands the teapot. kept hot by the
water below. 1t is good tea, for 1t comes
from China in blocks through Siberia, but
it is much better when drunk with thin
slices Of lemon than with milk
As rule, it is served to the men in tum-
blers and to the women in cups: an eti-
quette with unknown origin. The tea is
carefully strained, so that not a bit Of the
leaf comes into the cup. The tea is pale
straw-colored and weak but with lemon Il
forms refreshing beverage. At the end OF
the meal every one goes and shakes hands
with the host and hostess, saying Tack
meaning thanks.
After the tea the men snoke-rarely the
women-for although so close to Russia,
Finnish women seldom initiate their neigh
bors IN this habit.
Tea I'm Russian Homes.
In the interior OF the Russian houses tho
principal room is a hall. serving as a yesti-
bule, salon and dining room.
Sometimes there are a few pieces of fur-
niture Of empire style, brought from Mos
COW; in one corner is an old .clavec!n." 4
harpsichord. a relic of another age. ION
the white walls hang old portraits: beneath
a vel OF SCOT and bitumen grfmaces the
naiYely terrible features of the hetmans.
10 whom the estate formerly belonged.
Under the eyes of these old ancestors the
long table is served for supper. with the
samovar throned on one end"
In fact, this may be considered as a trans
iation of our national word, the hreside."
with all the associations that the word calls
up.
The northern man who hides his fireside
oemnd the uIInviting walls Of a stove does
not find his domestic center around ,ba
chimney piece. His household god is the
machine that is always boiling and singing
the source of light and heat. which pDurs
out necessarily during the long winter DAYS
the comforting drink.
Around the table where the sanoyar sings
is large family, a word which in Russia
has the old signiiication, formerly tho ,,ni-
FerSal sense First the ancestor, who pre-
Sues al one end OF the table, then the chill
dren and grandchildren, then "A whole clan
OF semi-SerVitors, a Sort Of adopted relation
who are not servants
Among these are maiden ladies Of noble
birth, often daughters of those who have
been killed in the war fighting for the mas
ter of the house. These maidens pay for
their food and lodging by some slight super-
intendence in the affairs of the household
One OF them takes charge of the samovar-
nymph OF this brazen fountain, she puts her
whole soul in it, and all her faculties Of
thought and love, Her life has never had
any other occupation than to calculate the
exact amount of sugar and boiling water to
be put into the glasses, from morning to
night.
At the end Of the meal each one kisses re-
spectfully the hand Of the ancestor, thank
ing her for their bread and salt. During
the whole season the greater part of The
day is passed around this table Neighbors
strangers, all are invited to take their seats
at the table and wait for the evening meal.
Etiquette of Japanese.
japanese tea, according to strictest eti-
Quette, is served in a room especially pre-
pared for it, called cha-no-yu found in all
the large houses of Japan. From the mo-
ment of entering the room by the low door
way, only two and a half feet high no one
is allowed to rise from the kneelIng or
sQuattng posture assumed. If necessary
to change positions, a shuffiing motion IS
made to drag the body along. The floor is
covered by four mats, leaving the place in
the center for the sunken fireplace.
The master of ceremonies wears over his
ordinary costume a short black Jacket,
gauzy, like grenadine. In his belt is thrust
a piece of silk folded for a holder. When
the kettle lid is to be raised the adjusting
of this mathematically folded holder is a
matter OF great Importance.
There should not be more than four or
five persons at a cha-no-yu. When they are
all in place, the distinguished guest being
nearest TO the toka-no-ma, the master pro-
ceeds to brighten the fire. Pulling himself
over the smooth mats as if he had no legs
returns with basket containing a single
eagles feather for a buster, a pair OF
pointed iron skewers with which to lift the
coal, mat on which to rest the kettle
The charcoal is in whole sections cut from
round sticks, some of them painted white;
these kindle quickly and soon the kettle is
boiling furiousiy.
With Military Precision.
Everything is done according to exact
rule, with all the precision of time and mo-
ton that characterizes the soldiers manual
Of arms. When everything Is ready he
proceeds TO prepare the tea. The cups are
first heated with boiling water, then wiped
dry. The exact amount Of peculiar pow
dered green tea Is put into a cup then the
right quantity of water added; then whips
ped to a froth with a mixer, a section OF
bamboo one and fourth inches in diam
eter, one end carefully split into a fine
finger.
When in proper condition the tea is push
ed over the mat to the guest who receives
the cup with the right hand, rests it upon
the palm of the left, and holding il with
the right, conveys it to the mouth. drinks
of the contents, and compliments
he host upon having such superior art
ST Then he shakes the cup to get all the
roth on the liquor, just as a beer drinker
Toes his mug, finishes the contents in two
more drafts, making a decided sucking
loise as he does SO, wipes the edge of the
cup with a piece of Japanese paper, makes
L complimentary remark about the an
iquity of the cup and returns it to the
lOSt.
Each guest is served in the same cere-
nonious fashion. The host then asks to
nave the honor of giving you another cup
This is usually declined, and the whole
is returned to the adjoin-
ng apartment.
In Old Vienna.
But of all the delightful services is that
If the Vienna tea. Gemuthlichkeit, a local
word, whose meaning is cross between
comfortable" kindly disposed" and
hearty" characterizes the ceremony
1t is only the favored guest who is treat
ID to cup of this tea with the Abend es-
en. A quaint little carved ebony box, no
me knows how many hundred years old,
or ii had been an heirloom from so far
Jack its date was forgotten, lined with tea
cad, contains the precious leaves brought
'ver through Russia
Two and one-half dollars a pound IN
American money was the not insignificant
rice to people of the middle classes, of
United means. priceless old silver bowl
or the cut sugar accompanies the box,
nd a rare old decanter of pure rum.
Daintiiy the daughter of the house appor-