The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-14

party that WAS going to take in fancy little
Japanese dinner that had been gotten up for
tis benefit by friend who was AN old resi-
dent OF Nagasaki. There were ten IN the par
ty. including some English officers.
, We had 10 shed our shoeS as uSuai at tnt
entrance, and did not get slippers In then
place, so we padded around over the mating
in our stocking feet to the dining room,
very pretty and spacious pavilion open on
two sides. A merry little woman VINO acteo
as guide, motioned us to seats on cushions ri
ranged In semi-circle at one end OF the
room. We were hardly seated with our ieet
crossed under US, when half dozen smlllpg z
young Mattresses appeared and supplied eacn
of us with d-ferential oriental greeting, and
4 plate with three or four little cakes covered
with pink and green fancy Icing, evidently
the first course. While we were samp'tng
these there was a funny little patter OF bare
feet on the mating and three OF the cutest
little geishas came sailing In and "kow
towed" very prettily In front of u.s. bobbing
their little heads down 10 the floor, and then
running over and sitting down In the miuale
OF our circle, look Ing just like three pretty
little girls coming in for romp. This made
a girl apiece for the diners. and by the time
the second course was served, we each nad
little Jap seated In front OF our plates, ia bier.
log away most socially, just as though we
understood everything said.
the second course consisted OF several dlsb-
es brought In ou ten pretty little Japan ware
trays, one for each person. The first thing
tackled was a soup drunk from china bowl,
the foundation Of which was fish and sea
weed. / have tasted worse results from bet
Ter material. The next dish was raw hsh.
Served a good deal with the appearance OF
cold slaw salad. Chop sticks appeared on the
scene at this stage aud our girls had great
time teaching us how TO use them. A side
dish TO the fish was bowl Of large beans
evidently boiled In syrup, also TO be N mastered
with the chop sticks, and plate OF what
seemed TO be two or three green vegeta bles.
At this stage the girls ran out and came back
in great glee with lot OF bottles. con tanning
sague, a drink served hot In little shell-like
bowls, holding about small wine glass full.
The sague tasted to me like strong white
wine that had been heated, but IL IL native
drink made, think, from rice
The third course started of with sort OF
broth, and included dishes that cou Id not
BILE that appeared from this one, was some
very tast eess native peaches, served peeled,
but whole.
AS soon as the dinner was over the geishas
got out their drums and baDjos and proceed.
ed to go through a variety OF dances. In the
Intervals they would seat themselves beside
w and chat away most socially. trying to
learn English words and teach US Japanese
ones. Their brightness and vivacity made =
very strik ing contrast to the heavy stupid
manners Of the women Of our island posses.
sions.
We broke up and started for the dock just
in time 10 get caught In heavy rain, through
which my jinriklshaw man plodded along
with all the stolidity Of an old cart horse.
Next mornine, the llth, at ten O'Clock We
left our anchorage and started on the long
stretch 10 San Francisco.
Philippine Islands. for some months; has been
assigned to 18th Cavalry, stationed at Fort
Saun, Houston, Texas. one OF the new cavalry
reg iments; is apprehensive thai he will not
be able to come east as his regiment will pro.
bably be ordered TO the Philippines.