New-York tribune., 1902-02-18
OFFICIALS IN CHINATOWN,
THE CHINESE MERCHANTS ASSoCIA.
TION GIVES THEM DINNER

Gay with many guests that henCeforth viii ba
thrice welcome there. bright with ten thousand
lamps that made the snow round about glisten
and sparkle. Chinatown was decked in spIendor
last night. Some thought that it was because
the dwelling place of the chosen of Confuscius
had not thrown off it's rainbow tinted dress OF
the Oriental New-Year that Mott-st. was so
animated. but had you talked with the most m
informed yellow men in the street you would
have quickly learned the real reason for the
commotion. the futter of anxiety. the sudden re-
awakening from post-New- revelrfes The
spiendor, the hum OF many voices and the gen
eral air of berevolence were due solely TO the
long expected arrival of ChinatOwn's guests. Po-
lice Commissioner Partridge. District Attorney
Jerome, Mr.. Jerome's assistants Controller
Grout. Judge Foster Justice Mayer. Major Kir-
by, of the Sth Regiment and dozen well
rounded. dignifed aldermen.
1t seems that some time ago. out Of the full
ness of their hearts and the desire TO solidify
their already pleasant relations with the present
city administration. the Chinese Merchants As
sociation sat about their round teak table
smoked gravey and deliberated The result of
their vote which followed was that the associa-
tion should arrange. order and aid in preparing
huge dinner. 10 which they should invite some
Of the great men of the city's government. No
sooner decided than red tissue paper invitations
were on the way 10 the Postoffice. Days passed
last night arrived. and so did the time for thu
grand dinner at No. II Mott-st.. and so did the
guests. The Chinese Consul was there and
with the high officials Of the association to aid
him. welcome was extended the memory Of
which. some said. would never die.
One hundred sat down. and right willing were
they 10 do So There were twenty round tables
and no there failed to stare long and hard
at the objects which soon began to appear On
the snowy linen. for Chinatown certainly has
snowy linen. First there came soup, then mora
soup, then something that looked a good deal
like soup. but which the Cinnamon said was
not Everybody took their word for IT, and
waited. Dish followed dish. cork soled walters
came and vanished. the District Attorney sfs
hungrily. and so did all the rest. but there
seemed 10 be no limit TO the list of dainties vst
10 be encountered and dispatched.
Some there were who We're wise and r1ArsIv
roked fork into some mysterious culinary
concoctOn before them. they were the ones
who ended the meal with flying colOrs For
strange as 1t sounds, there We're twenty-ssven
courses in all, and all were run through with IN
less than sixty minutes All through the din
ner hre crackers snapped in the street Tom
Lee, the mayor of hottest who had planned
this accompaniment was even more pleased
with the success Of his fea tuTe than were the
white men diners When the last tiny tea Gun
was drained Tom gave away souvenir preserve
dishes. china. bTic-A-brac. and to few Of his
intimates he handed ivory ChOpstcks
The merry evening was not over with the
cracking of China nuts and the brief but hearty
toastS of thanks and interchange of Fluctuations
With Colonel Partridge we'll up in the vanguard
the merry men OF MOtt-st and their not less
enthusiastic guests went to the iosshouse at
No. 24 Pell-St- Then they filed down to DOyers-
St, and peeked into the Chinese theatre The
white men looked and wondered. and thought
the show a remarkably good one. though thev
had some difficulty in following the lines. All
this fun was had from q 10 2. m. When the
city officials separated. they did so with a feel
ing that they could teach the yellow man li.ts
Of the art OF hospitality