South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-17
THEIR MARRIED LIFE
By MABEL HERB RI URNER
HELEN \ CHOP sUEY DINNER \
RESTAURANT.
By MABEL HERB RI URN

It was Helen's first glimpse OF a real
Chinese restaurant The black teak
wood tables. the colored lanterns the
gilded drsgons-her quick glance
swept over it all with eager interest.
The stolid Chinese walters made
no preteEse at seating them. and
Warren chose table by a window.
There were no chairs. and the teak
wood stools were without backs and
were very high. Helen's feet dangled
uncomfortable, hut for once she was
too absorbed 10 ask for a footstool.
The thing that impressed her most
was the tables The black wood was
wonderfully carved and inlaid with
pearl The tops we're of a reddish
brown marble which was not hidden,
for there were no tableclOths
Take "A look over that and see
what YOU want" as Warren showed
toward her a bill Of fare.
Helen looked helplessly over the
long line of Chinese characters, and
the English translatiOns that we're al
most as bewildering.
why dear. I don't know anything
about these dishes"
Well now. let's see" He was
frowning over the soup Est. Here's
vat ko min. whatever chat is, and
birds nest soup and sharks fin soup
But. dear lOok-S2 50l Why,
that's sn awful price for soup. ]
thor 10 Chinese restaurants we're
cheap"
f-They are Look at the rest of
the prices. But shark fin seems to
be their swell dish. Want to try it?
No. Then. how about birds nest
sOup2 That's only $3.50"
Much Cheaper.
"Whv. Warren. that's an absurd
price for soup. But this sounds In
teresting: Soup. with chicken. mush-
rooms. egg. bamboo shoots. etc? and
it's only 35 cents Let's try that"
"AIl right. Now aOw about the
chop suey? What kind do you
want?"
"Oh, any kind" murmured Helen,
bewildered at the list of chop sueys.
How does this strike you-'chop
suey with homeless chicken. pineapple.
water nuts. etc.'2 Wonder what the
etc is?"
A waiter approached now with his
air OF stOlid Oriental indifference.
While they were giving him the or
der another Chinaman brought them
some tea Evidently tea was served
with every order.
IL was not brought in a teapot. but
I'm a bowl covered with a closely fit
ting saucer. that kept back the leaves
hen il was poured out in the small
handleless cups.
by Jove, that's good tea" as War
rem reflled his cup.
Then the soup came in decorated
bowls with quaint china spoons. II
was thick with chicken and mush-
rooms. and an egg had evidently been
broken in each bowl and cooked by
the heat OF the soup.
"Oh. what are these little crisp.
crunchy things ?" Helen was irving 20
fish ont a bit OF something with the
short china spoon.
Think that's bamboo shoots
Good. aren't they?"
Then came the chop suey i'm a large
cowl, with two small bowls heaped
up with rice.
"Oh dear. don't-don't give me SO
much 7 may not like it," for War
rem was helping her most literally 70
the chop suey.
you'll like IT, all right. Now what
are you trying TO hnd?" as Helen be-
gan investigating it suspiciously with
her fork
Dark mixtures in food did not APP
peal 10 Helen. and she tested it doubt
fully. But she was soon eating il
with relish.
Pretty good. Ell? How about this
rice? Takes an Oriental 10 cook rice
like that Every grain whole. No
wonder they never eat bread. This
rice is a darn sight better than most
Of the bakers dope"
Mysterious sauce.
Until now Helen had not realized
l. that they had neither bread nor but
Ter but she found that both were
unknown in a Chinese restaurant
The waiter had brought them each
a tiny dish. about the size of an in
dividual butter plate. filed with a
dark brown sauce.
What do YOU suppose this is?"
Helen shifted at il critically.
Must be that Chinese sauce they
make out of walnuts. Yes that's IT, "
as ne poured some on his chop suey
Fine"
Helen. still skepticaL dropped some
on a bit OF rice. IL was salty and
bitter. but very appetizing and she
soon emptied the little dish.
Every one drank quantities OF tea
The waiter brought them a fresh pot
~ hot water 10 pour on their tea
leaves in the saucer covered bowls
Want 10 try chop sticks with your
chop suey ." asked Warren. nOddiue
towards a couple OF men at a corner
table. who were skilfuUy dispaching
their food with long slender sticks
Guess I'd better buy some Wei
want those first hand"
why. can YOU buy them %"
course YOU can. Every China
man has his own chop sticks. Carries
'cm iu his pocket I say-ves," beck.
oning 20 the waited How much