Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-02-14
Dr.. EDWARDS Letter

Ceremonial dinner Of which partook.
1t will give a good idea Of how the
japanese eat and what they have. |
am sure that many Of my readers
will feel such as did that they would
rather have something different, but
| must say | was agreeable dissa.
pointed. and found the viands good
and appointing. When dinner was an.
nounced we we're ushered into a room
whose only ornament was a large
blue vase filled with crysanthemuns.
On the floor were arranged fiat, vel
vet cushions, and We took our places
on them with more regard 10 comfort
than elegance Of position. Japanese
from childhood. are trained to sit on
their heels, but this is an accomplish.
ment that an European cannot emu.
late so we had to sit cress legged or.
with the feet to one side. The attend
antswere six native young women and
they served the first cousre on lacque.
red trays. 1t consisted oftea and sweet
cakes. We first drank to the host and
then rinsed the tiny cups and drank
to the guests in turn. For the second
course small tray covered with pa.
per was placed before each guest; on
the tray was small round cake made
OF a sweet bean covered with rice
flour paste and set in four sugar map.
lie leaves, colored red to represent
real leaves. The cake was very sweet
and the leaves too pretty to eat, but
the japanese ale all to the last crumb.
Sake, the only intoxicating liquor Of
japan, was then served. very hot, in
small cups, and the ceremonyof drink
ing to the host.and each guest was
again performed, The Fourth course
was soup made Of sailed beans, ser
we'd IN red lacquer bowls, sitting on
little lacquer stands six inches high.
The next course was composed Of
three kinds Of fish, served raw with a
piquant sauce and slices Of cucumber.
While this was being eaten the
wall on oneIside Of the room was rol
led aside and a number Of geisha girls
danced to strains Of three Japanese
instruments which made soft music
The sixth course consisted Of boil.
ed chestnuts, fried eel, snipe. cake
made Of eggs and sea weeds, SteWed
plums and boiled fish, garnished with
raw carp shredded very fine. 1t did
not add to my enjoyment Of the meal
to see the carp from which the shreds
were taken swimming about in a tub
Of water. The japanese always cut
them up alive, and seems sometimes
as if nothing but head and back bone
were swimming about in the tub. The
seventh course looked like an iced
fruit cake, but it proved to be fish
with a covering Of white lobster meat.
With this was served grapes, small
potato and preserved ginger. This
was eaten while a beautiful geisha girl
was dancing posturing dance.
For the eight and last course we
were served with boiled rice with
neither sugar or salt to make it pala.
table, salad, egg plant, soup and
more tea. Tea was served four times
during dinner, each time from diff,
ferent tea pot and differently colored
tea cups. While the last course was
being eaten the third dance was per.
formed, this time by three geishas,
being the rehearsal of a japanese love
story. Tobacco smoking was an i'm.
portant feature Of the dinner, as it is
universally INDUCED in by both sexes
in Japan. A wooden tray and fire pot
stood at the side Of each person, while
beautifully carved ivory pipes inlaid
with silver we're furnished for each
person who did not bring his own.
These pipes have long silver tube
and small bowl which holds pinch
,f tobacco, not permitting more than
hree whifs. The tobacco is so mild
hat it is almost tasteless. One of the
peculiar customs Of the japanese
ire at the end Of the meal when it