The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-08-14
TEA AT THE CONSULATE.

Two weeks before my reception day I had sent out invitations to the wives and daughters of some Of the Chlnese officials. They were written by our in terpreter, in true Chinese style, on red paper and inclosed in a large req envelope. The invitations read: IL is my intention to prepare tea, ana to await early arrival of Mrs. --'s frag- rant chariot on the 18th of the 4th Moon, at half-past three o'clock in the afternoon. Mrs. Gracey." The invited guests numbered eighteen, fourteen of whom were Chinese, the others pe- ing two ladies from the American Roard and two from the Methodist mls- sion, who kindly assisted in receiving and acted as interpreters. All the Chl- nese ladies could speak the Foocho" dialect except the wife of the prefect' who speaks only the Mandarin.
 Only two of the Chinese replied 10 the invitations, and they were those who were unable to accept. l was De- coming rather anxious over the Iact when our "boy" explained that they would be sure to come if l heard notn- ing from them. Recalling the fact that Chinese etiquette is just opposite 10 ours. my fears were quieted, ana sat urday afternoon, June 1, found me pre- pared to receive my guests.
 The foreigners came first and soon after appeared Chinese sedan, bear ing a lady who is the widow of MT. Aho,<. founder of the Anglo-Chinese college in Foochow. She is now teacher of etiouette at a school for Chlnese III the city. The hostess is expected to re- ceiye all guests at the outer door, so I take my place there, ready to greet them as they emerge from their chars. Mrs. Ahok arrives in richly embro1d- cred dress, with the Mandarin square, a string of beads jade ornament, and a peacocks feather dropping from her hack hair. She has travelled abroad ana seen much of foreigners, so she snakes hands after the English fashion ana speaks our language very we'll
 At four o'clock the last guest arrived pr. TIsu King Eng, superintendent of the native woman's hospital in the city. She was educated in America by the women's Broad of the Methodist church. and is woman of beautiful Christian character. By consent of the ladies we repaired to the garden, after which they were conducted to the din- ing room, where it was explained to them that this was the usual American custom of serving four o'clock tea.
 We commenced with boullion, or "chicken tea" as our "boy" called 1t (the Chinese do not eat beef) and ended with ice cream. I was told that they wo,ld not eat cold food, but as I am an American I cannot understand why should not offer them something of which we are so fond. So the cakes were served with ices and tea, and real Nv could not perceive that they en- loved it any less than we did. Their amahs brought with them silk bags and handkerchiefs in which to take home the remanants, and from the ap- nearance of the table after they had left I believe they did not return emp ty-handed AS they passed out of the dining room each guest was presented with a. souvenir in the form of a small basket of bon-bons, tied with red rib hon red being the Chinese emblem of good luck.
 At their request they were then taken through the house. The bed rooms ln- terested them most, and they sat on