Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-21
JAPANESE ARE
BANQUETED BY
LOS ANGELANS
COMMERCIAL MEN FROM FAR
EAST ENTERTAINED
ANGEL CITY WILL REAP GOOD
RESULTS FROM VISIT
Nipponese Probably VIII Be Induced
to Purchase More Oil, Fruit and
Other Products from South
ern California

Other Products from South
ern California
= a fitting climax to two days of
u southern hospitality, the Japan
A ese commercial commissioners to
the United States were rendered
banquet last night at the Alexandria
hotel by he Los Angeles chamber of
commerce. In appointments and in
spirit, as WEI as in service, the BAN
quet typified the visit of the commits
sioners to the United States.
From the sentiments expressed by
the various speakers last night, Los
Angeles business men are well assured
the visit of the commissioners will be
fraught not only with good for all
sections of the United States, but also
with especial results for Los Angeles
and enVirons. Greater extension of the
oil, fruit and other products trade in
Japan undoubtedly will result from the
commissioners trip, if the words of
the leaders in Japans commercial life
as expressed at the banquet count for
anything.
The flower of Los Angeles business
life was represented at last nights
banquet. The mutual exchange of fe-
licitations was enough to guarantee
the ultimate success of the present trip.
From first to last it was an occasion
of peace and good will, of mutual com
mercial betterment and better under
standing.
The Los Angeles chamber Of COM
merce had, so well arranged and the
Alexandria hotel management mad so
well carried out those arrangements
that the banquet will stand as one of
the landmarks in the entertainment OF
foreign visitors for some time to come.
Guests Arrive Early
The guests began assembling at Z
o'clock. although II was after O'Clock
before all were seated at the festaI
board An informal reception was held
on the meZZanine floor, where wraps
were laid off.
At a given signal from President
Willis Booth the guests formed in line,
and with Baroness Shibusawa leading
marched down the massive winding
marble staircase to the grand salon,
where the banquet was served. As the
guests entered the orchestra softly
played a potpouri of national airs.
Manager Whittemore, through his
assistant, Joseph Reichl. achieved
something unique and absolutely novel
In the decorations. A sunken japanese
garden with live gold fish was but one
of the features of the beautiful dec
orations.
Naturally rich in its undecorated
state, the grand salon was made
fairy palace for the banquet. Flags
of the United States and Japan, huge
punches of roses, chrysanthemums and
greenery were used with wonderful ef-
feet.
Banqucters Separated
The table plan was of a piece with
the banquet-different Instead of the
usual formal single long board, the
banqueters were separated in groups
of five and ten, except at the speak
ers' table, where seventeen leading
members of the visiting japanese,
Mayor Alexander and other local ce-
lebrities sat.
Another change from the usual order
of things was in the music. Patriotic
airs of all nations were rendered by
orchestras, while Signor Tetcarl rem
dered vocal selections from popular
grand operas. and Tuscany orchestra |
and quartet in native costume rendered |
italian selections.
AS the guests entered the banquet |
hall their eyes were greeted with the |
sight of two huge flags, one the Stars
and Stripes and the other the Banner |
of Nippon, draped together in token |
of the purpose of the visit of the COM
missioners-mutuality and perfect har-
mony. Other national emblems and |
colors were used about the banquet |
hall, heightening the color scheme |
wonderfully.
Floral Decorations Plentiful
Around the room at intervals of a |
few yards huge punches of yellow |
chrysanthemums were placed. The |
"mums," national flower of the Nip |
ponese kingdom, were bedded in a |
custer of palms, ferns and dropping |
greens.
The speakers table was the piece de
resistance of the room. 1t was more |
a small lake or sunken garden than
a table, for from end to end min |
iature lake had been built upon the |
tables broad surface. Two Japanese |
fountains spouted continuous streams !
into the lake. where frisked and frol-
licked school of goldfish. Around the |
lake shores were hidden in a bank of |
plants and flowers, moss and |
other greenery. A line of green-blue |
electric globes cast a peculiarly soft |
and gratifying light upon the water,
reminding of some far off Maine lake |
on a moonlit summer evening. Upon |
the waters floated Japanese pond lilies. |
Two tiny castles with two Japanese
arches also had been placed |
in the waters, completing a picture
ulStlnCliy JdpduSSS'
American Beauties Placed
At the two tables for the women of
the party and special guests of the |
chamber of commerce two huge vases
of American beauties, surrounded at |
the base with banked roses and ferns,
formed the decorations. All the other
tables were decorated with a beautiful
centerpiece of roses, ferns and aspara-
gus plumosa.
At each guests place was a souvenir
in a handsome box. To the man vis-
itors was given a silk American flag,
a cigar and several cigarettes. Candy
was substituted for the Smokes" in
the ladies' boxes. From the boxes
Of the Los Angeles guests was elm
mated the flag. Above each flag a
banner inscribed Compliments of the
Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles"
was fastened.
The menu was superb and the service
Every course was
served in a manner illustrative of the
spirit of the banquet. For instance,
one course was served in small boats
Of butter decorated with American
flags. Another was served in candy
swans. And so it was through the en-
tire fourteen courses of the banquet.