Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-12
HOW JAPS ENTERTAIN
A SUBJECT AS CHARMING AS 1T
IS ORIGINAL.
What They Serve at Formal Banquet
Music and Dancing-The
Tea Ceremony.

Written for The Evening Star.
Nowadays when novelty is the sine qua
non of the successful social function some
turesque and plucky race, the japanese.
Necessarily these oriental ceremonies will
have to be adapted to western require
ments, but in most instances their basic
decorative and serving notions may be
carried out intact
Japanese entertaining, with all it's elab-
orateness, refinement and rules for every
detail, might easily be ranked among the
fine arts of this oriental country. 1t Of
fers subject charming as it Is original,
for all kinds of consideration come into
play besides the actual food served. For
instance, there are certain rules which gov
ern the character of flower arrangements
for different ceremonial occasions as well
as the disposition of each article used in
the banqueting room. Not alone are the
flowers for felicitouS occasions of pre-
scribed varieties and colors, but their COM
position must partake as much as possible
of the character of the season in which the
function is held, special fete days having
their appropriate flowers.
While Japanese forms of entertainment
are numerous and varied, they are gener-
ally elaborate aid formal ceremonies, the
oriental idea in this respect running exact
ly contrary to that of our western notion
of permitting friends and sometimes even
strangers to take potluck with the family.
The favorite form of entert 3inment among
the well-bred japanese is the great dinner
party given either in ones own home or at
some fashionable hotel or club. The inv1-
tation to the feast is verbal, and there is a
peculiar custom conn scted with delivering
it. On the day before the dinner a servant
is sent by the host to the house of each
guest, carrying with him gift in the shape
of table delicacy, upon the acceptance of
which the invitation is given. The feast
Is always in observance of a festival or the
celebration of some family event.
Ladies Not in Evidence.
In Japan a wife seldom appears with her
husband in public, and even at great dinner
parties served in private residences the
mistress of the house rarely is in evidence.
IL she Goes appear it is to wait upon her
lord and master and his friends To an
American wife this servitude of the Japa-
nese spouse will seem degrading but in the
land of the rising sun Ito obey in a mar
rage service has a definite meaning.
To come back to the dinner party a short
Tune before the hour appointed for the
feast, at the sound of approaching jnrKi-
shaS-the guests usually come in these We
hicles-the screens at the entrance of the
house are slipped back in their grooves
Smiling servants help the guests alight
While in the doorway stand group of pref
ty Mattresses, gay as flowers in their bright
colored kimonOs. bowling their heads to the
ground in ceremonious salute and at the
same time murmuring "Ohaeri, ohaerir'
which translated means Enter o honored
sirsi'
japanese houses, as everybody knows
are built of light wood and the sliding pan
els which serve for doors and windows
have paper panes. The state apartment of
a japanese house is usually on the first
floor, and the guests are led along broad
verandas over soft, white velvety mats
until they reach the banqueting room at
one end of which is seated the master of
the house. The company slowly come into
the room and PROSTATE themselves three
times before their host exchange the
courtesies of the day and are then con-
Quoted to their respective seats which are
black velvet cushions placed at intervals
on the floor. Soon after the arrival of the
guests dainty waiting girls serve pale am
Der tea without sugar or cream in small
cups minus handles. With the tea are
eaten SweetmeatS made of rice, flour and
sugar milded in the form of flowers buds
and leaves.
What They Eat and Drink.
In this land of topsy -turvydom guests
make themselves merry with wine before
not after dinner; at this stage of the
game sake or rise brandy is served from