Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-09-06
story for an
Hole bour
FIVE O'CLOCK TEA AT TOXIC.

A noted French trar er, who has
journeyed extensively T. cJugh the far
east. gives the following lively de-
scription of Ave O'Clock tea" in the
Japanese capital.
1t was Nine x, wife of former
ambassador to v, who gave a re-
ception-a reception which shall
never forget. She and her husband
had hardly disembarked at Toxic
when the entire city. believing they
saw in him the political man of the
future. FASTENED to their door Min
listers, senators, deputies, members of
the diploU attic corps, officers and mis-
sionaries, all wished to pay homage
to the statesman whose star seemed
suddenly to have assumed dimen-
sions in the official sky. Overwhelm
ed, not knowing which way to turn,
NJ. and Nine. X--decided to be "at
home" a certain afternoon to receive
all of their friends. old and new. The
great difficulty was that their furni
ture had not arrived from ". and
their house at Toxic was furnished a
la Japonaise; that is, there were only
there a ''kakimono" covered the wall,
and in the corners q vase or some
foreign curiosity. Tables and chairs
there were none The Japanese like
this way of living, and to the most
comfortable arm chair in the world
they prefer small cushion placed on
the floor. But the ministers, official
personages and the rich have one
part Of their houses furnished in
European fashion. They live in the
other part,
Mime. Il announced an informal
reception and cup of tea a la ia
ponaise. At the appointed time
proceeded to her residence accompani
ed by charming young German. an
attache to the German diplomatic
service, who was profting by leave
of absence by making a tour Of the
world.
AS we descended from our iinrick-
shas before the door of Nine, x we
were greatly surprised to see a very
great number of shoes of all styles
and qualities. Our surprise became
establishment. when a page politely
requested us to remove our shoes be-
fore entering Very much amused.
we seated ourselves on the steps and
did as requested with as good grace
as possible. But was scarcely able
to repress a butt of laughter when |
saw DeK--. so stylish in his frock
coat of perfect cut. stepping forth
gingerly, his feet covered by red
socks,-and, heavens, what a red!
We entered the salon, and If live
a hundred years | shall never forget
the foolish desire to laugh which
took possession of me at sight of all
the women in full dress and all the
men in frock coats holding in their
gloved hands their high hats and
caues-ali, ministers, senators, depu-
ties-in socks, And what socks
Truly there was a variety to satisfy
every taste. They were of silk, of /
wool. of cotton, of Isle, red. blue. T
black and White; some striped, some /
embroidered; some seemed much too +
large. while others seemed ready TO /
burst under the pressure Of a too long I
or too feshy foot 1t was an exceed /
ingly ridiculous sight, but I lost all /
desire to laugh when, IN bow ing to !
the mistress OF the house. I perceiv- /
ID with horror that had put on one (
o. my socks wrong side out!
The tea and the little stove made !
their appearance, and we're placed on
the floor. on wooden trays; in each
salon cushions of embroidered silk
were scattered about, and it was
then that the foreigners, men and
women. Europeans, and Americans
experienced a disquietude which
could not be hid. Alas! II was only
too we'll founded, as we knew. when
we saw the dean of the diplomatic
corps lead the hostess to one of the
cushions, on which she placed herself
with consummate grace, while he,
half losing his equilibrium and his Of
fetal dignity completely. dropped on
cushion at her side Naturally, it was
very necessary that we should seat
ourselves on the floor also. AT first
sight this seems very easy to do, but
you who were not there, try TO do II
gracefully and without having the
appearance Of being drunk, when. 20
make matters worse, you are wearing
q long frock coat and balancing 81
your hands a silk hat and a cane! Il
is a tour de fOrce."
As to the ladies, the noise, the sub.
dued cracking which we heard led us
to think that corsets. laces and hooks
are not made for that sort of eXeI-
else, and thought | read in the eyes
of more than one: Heavens! VIII
they hold when I get upl"
The most unbearable part of the
affair is that the Japanese consider =
a mark of ill-breeding 70 sit on the
floor with the feet in front of one.
They must be placed behind. This
seems very easy to 90. but to us who
we're not accustomed to it, it was