Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-08-23
Chinese women
CANNOT dine AT
REGULAR & | TABLE
DIR. EDWARDS DESCRIBES INTER-
ESTINGLY HIS ENTERTAIN
MENT BY CHINESE.
SOME GOOD THINGS TO EAT AND
SOME BAD WITH FILTHY
SURROUNDINGS.

Canton, China, March Especial
correspondence for the Steele Ozone.
I have partaken of a genuine Chinese
dinner, eaten in the nome of a gen.
tleman of high class and you may
take my word for it that the expert
.ence is not what I would recommend
to any one unless it were for the
same reason that took it-curiosity.
I have had lot to say in my former
letters regarding the general unclean-
illness of all things Chinese, and when
I was invited to dinner in the home
of a gentlemena of high class and
you may take my word for 1t that
the experience is not what would
recommend to anyone unless 1t was
for the same reason that took it
| curiosity. I have had lot to say in
my former letters regarding the gen
eral uncleanliness of all things Chi
nese and when invited in the
home Of wealthy Chinese thought
I would find something different. !
was disappointed in that respect as
well as in others. When I reached
| the house with the friend through
whom the invitation had come, was
ushered into a bleak and almost bar
rem room with dirt floor and scant
furniture. Outside cold rain was
falling and the interior Of the house
was so cold that was compelled to
keep my heavy ulster overcoat on 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 1t can
be imagined that the dirt floor was
not in a very presentable condition.
. We sat in the cold room for nearly
two hours before dinner was served.
We were ushered into what might be
termed the library, for there were a
:. few books on some shelves, and four
: IOl us Sdt dL d letUlC. tl5tihS IL ~ SoSoe
of honor sat opposite the host, the
!, Esecond guest at the hosts right, and
Il the third opposite the second. Nc
j women sit at the table in China.
! Wine and oranges were first served
The wine, was much fnel
. than any I had tasted in Japan. The
dishes were placed around the table
symetrically, and each person helped
himself from the central dishes, there
!. being no dish or plate for the in
! dividua1 bowls. Following th'
!. orange came water chestnut, served
crisp with a delicious flavor. Thel
!. came peanuts fried in oil and served
a cold. They were better than an,
!. peanuts I ever tasted at home ant
/ I would advise my readers to tr
! them. Next came watermelon seed
o which I found insipid and tasteless
: cannot understand why the Chimes
+ consider them a delicacy
Il Then was served something, tn
taste and memory of which linger
with me yet, and almost gag whel
I. I think of it. 1t was a goose egg fou
u years old. Just what period of d.
# composition and chemical change
l. had undergone I am unable to say
n but it had a flavor that did not &c
e. rid Of for days. A friend of min
J. said it tasted like the scrapings of
e channel house. It certainly taste
IS bad enough to be anything ghastl.
r. Next came sailed chicken folloWe
Y, by salt pork, both good and palatabl
is and the chicken especially SO. Thi
t. was followed by clover leaf and ban
boo, served as spinach, and with
& delicious flavor Sharks fin in a ge
atinous mass came after a fish ser
s. ed in rich gravy. The fish ws
. better than any have ever taste
and the sharks fin was so good tn;
s wanted more, but etiquette prevel
8 ed my asking it. Having begun tt
a meal with the dessert 1T was natur
8 that it should end with soup, and
8 was served In bowls without spoon
= 1t was thin, curdled, bean sou
- very poor in flavor. Then came Il
i, inevitable rice boiled with Meth
= sugar nor salt, but tasting good. Th
was served in beautiful lacqu
bowls. just as it was served in Ja
an. ss
The chicken was taken in the fin
un ers from the general bowl, and az
ed got a leg for my share ! was at
Ith loss to know what to do with T
en- bone, as there was no bone dish, a.
srs I did not want to put 1T on the p
is ished table. ] asked my host what
M do with the bone. and he said
,en throw It on the floor. The floor,
led dirt one, served every purpose FRI
!. :. s,J.,,, IL = A., ,,,unfdnr uc 7 a,,rsnaan Z,