Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-11-20
Dr.. Edwards Letter.

Canton, China: l have partaken Of
q genuine Chinese dinner, eaten In
the home of a Chinese gentleman Of
high class, and you may take my word
for it that the experience is not
what l would recommend to anyone
unless it were for the same reason
that l took it, curiosity. | have
had a lot to say In my former letters
regarding the general uncleaness of
all things Chinese and when | was
Invited to dinner in the home Of a
wealthy Chinese, thought l would
find something different. l was dis
appointed, not only In that respect
but in others. When | reached the
house with the friend through whom
the invitation came to me, was
ushered into a bleak and almost bare
room, with dirt floor and scaDt fur
ntture. Outside a cold rain was fall
ing and the interior Of the house was
30 cold that l was compelled to keep
on my heavy ulster overcoat, and
stamp my feet to keep warm.
The floor Of the room looked as if
It had not been swept for ages, and
with every person that came in
from the street tramping more mud
t can be imagined that the dirt floor
was not in very presentable condi
ton. We sat in this cold room for
nearly two hours before dinner was
served. We were ushered into what
might be termed the library, for
there was few books on some of the
shelves and four of us sat at a tab
le. The first guest of honor sat op-
pOsite the host, the second guest at
the hosts right and the third oppo-
site the second. No women sit at
the table in China.
Wine and oranges were first serv-
ed. The wine, was much finer than
any / had tasted IN Japan. The dish
Is Of food were placed around the Ia.
bic symetracally and each person help
cd himself fnom the central dishes,
there being no dish or plate for
the individual. When rice was segv.
ed, 1t was In Individual bowls. Eoi
lowing the orange came water chest
nuts, served crisp and with delic-
icus flavor. Then came peanuts fried
In oil and served cold. There were
better than any peanuts l ever tast-
Cd at home, and l would advise my
readers to try them. Next came
watermelon seed which found insip
Id and tasteless. l cannot understan
why the Chinese consider them a de-
icacy.
Then was served something, the
caste and memory of which fingers
with me yet, and l almost gag when
/ think o. it. 1t was a goose egg fou
years old. Just what periods of de
= composition and chemical change il
had undergone l am unable to say bu
1t had flavor that | did not get
rid of for days. A friend of mine
said it tasted like the scrapings oil
a charnel house. How he knows
did not find out, but never having
tasted the scrapings mentioned | an
unable to say. 1t certainly tasted
bad enough to be anything CHASTITY.
Next came sailed chicken followed
by salt pork, both good and palata
bic, the chicken especially so. This
was followed by clover leaf and bar
boo, served as spinach, and with g
delicious flavor. Sharks fin in a gel
atinOus mass came after a fish sery
ed in a rich gravy. The fish was
better than any l have ever tasted
and the sharks fin was so good that
l wanted more, but etiquet prevent
ed my asking for it. Having begun
the meal with the desert, it was
natural that it should end with soup
end it was served in bowls, without
spoons. 1t was a thin, curdled bean
soup, very poor in flavor. Then cam
Che inevitable rice, boiled with Meth.
or sugar nor salt, but tasting good.
This was served in beautiful lacouer
bowls, just as it was served in Jan.
an.
The chicken was taken in the fin.