Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-25
A CHINESE SHAVING FEAST.

exemplary fashion, as did all the Chinese
children and babies present, and never
whimpered or bawled once. In fact, she
slept most of the time, in spite of the
hilarity; before the feast, in the arms Oh
the American women
Yong Kay opened the feast with an IN
vocation in Chinese. The many round
tables, draped with American table
cloths were covered with tiny dishes,
many not larger than our ordinary butter
plates. On these We're placed different
kinds of nuts, ginger, cherries, sliced
orange and sweetmeats. AT each pate
was placed a pair of chop sticks and Il
small china ladle in its tiny saucer.
Z lose were never changed and were used
to eat the fourteen courses. AS a con-
cession to the Americans large plate
and fork only were given to each OF US,
but no knife or spoon.
\ x
Before beginning tlashlight photo
graph was taken of the American
guests, the host and his wife proudly
holding Katherine Victoria. The cook,
in white linen, with his queue knotted at
the back of his head, then brought in the
birds nest soup, the introduction to the
dinner.
The fourteen courses We're all hot,
served in small four-sided dishes. one
after the other, with no vegetable or
bread accompaniment of any kind. Small
bowls were passed for the more liquid
courses, when. the individual ladies' were
used. instead of soup spoons Soup OF
fishes fins. sliced turtle with greens,
garlic always sliced) cooked with
pickles and small onions. pieces of fun
gus with greens and bacon roast duck
with grated nuts on top, eel and green
bamboo sprouts cut in small strips, pig
con, chicken noodles, chop suey, meat
of the sea fish, the abeione, and pep
pers.
AS no knives were ever used, all these
meats or fowl were shredded in small
pieces and shaped in a mold. One could
not help making the observation how use
less are many of our large dishes. and
how dainty and simple are the Chinese
in their table equipment compared to
ours. Chinese napkins were often passed,
and many glasses of sparkling cham
payne cider drunk.
Katherine Victoria, always somnolent
was passed by her demure mother and
Yong Kay around to the different tables.
Her health was drunk standing by the
occupants of each table in turn. Many
COINS, IOlueu III SQudicS VI iiSC pa
per- were slipped in a small bag which
was tied around her neck. On this paper,
three inches square at the top, was print
ed in Chinese, Thanks" and down the
right side the date of the dinner and
'for the child
Gayety and good feeling abounded
speeches We're made both in Chinese and
in English, and, as is always the case
with the oriental, the greatest courtesy
was shown to ALL Yong Kay passed con-
tinually around to the different tables,
talking or drinking with his guests. The
speeches were greeted with cheers and
handclaps. but land here the American
after dinner speaker can take notice. they
were all very short and to the point
One did not notice a single act of ex-
uberance or of overindulgence. Some ex-
element was caused by two Cinnamon
rising and facing each other and playing
the game "Chi Mooie'' with great enthu-
siasm and noise. Each would fling his
right hand in the others face, showing
any number of fingers. and shouting the
number as he rapidly went on. The one
who was ahead at the end of three or