Year: 1868

Inc new 10TH nof6lu says


Without desiring to jenkins re our review of the
sayings and doiDgs of these 0rentals during the
brief hours OF yesterday, it perhaps will not be
considered untoward or impolte by even those
grave toiens Chih and Sun to present them to the
public as they appeared at the dinner table at Eve
o'clock yesterday afternoon.


A small and retired dining room in the West
Minister has been placed at the disposal of the
embassy. At the head Of the room, near the table,
is the seat of honor, invariably occupied by the
first mandarin or tQjen Chh, and the lower end or
" foot' OF the table is reserved for his associate
Sun. Between these on the right and on the left
in chairs, in very civilized position, we're seated
their attaches and writer's and medicine man,
whose Importance doubtless, is greatly enhanced
in the eyes of his countrymen by the large pair OF
spectacles he wears on his nose and in close prox
unity to his eyes.


C6ih had taken his seat, with Tung and Teh on
his right and left; and without touching was
closely inqnirng into the character of the viands
the four European servitors attired In white waist
coats were industriously piling on the table.


At this juncture Sun and others of the embassy
entered and approached the table, whereupon
his exceency Chih arose, as also did his attaches
and together over the table, their hands resting
on its edge, they made . most profound bow TO
the new comers; and these, in return, responds
with a gravity of manner that would have won
the heart of q Chesterfield, D0rsay or Brum.
nell, had they been alive and present.


Our Chinese friends, 1t perhaps is well to re-
mark, eat very much as people who boast higher
civilization. They certainly use their teeth, and
when their food has been thoroughly masticated,
swallow 1t without fear of indigestion or prospect
i've dyspepsia. Chopsticks they (that is the Chi.
nese of the embassy certainly use, but limtedly.
With these together, between the thum and first
and second fingers of the right hand they take up
small pieces of pickles, and when rice was de-
sired, the bowl In which 1t was placed was raised
TO the chin, and, with the sticks few grains
were taken at time TO the mouth. The chop
sticks of the Chnaman are q substitute for our
fork. When with Chih or Sun it was desirable the
diners could and did use knife and fork and spoon
with as much grace and aptitude as people to the
"manner born.n


And now, before closing our description of how
q Chinaman eats, let US add that which may be
pleasant in the ears Of the ladies who linger over
the cup at the evening meal. The Chinese, when
they can get them, use both cream and sugar
in their tea. We have read that the brother of
the sun and grand uncle to the moon, in his GEN.
trail fowery kingdom, disdaining milk and sugar,
invariably swallowed his Bohea In its natural
state, and with, barring the water, its natural
flavor. That is an exploded idea. Tain 0bih,
great man sun. and the possible mandarins Tung,
Teh, Lion, and the rest Of them, take milk and
sugar in their brew of the leaf when they can get
them, and so also does their sublime master, the
aforesaid relative to the sun, moon and the starry
hosts.


The Chinese of the embassy sit straight at their
meals, talk pleasantly to each other while swai-
lowing their rice or while their masticators are
mskiDg mince meat of chickens, ETC., and uss
their napkins with an air which clearly demon
sirates to the locker on that at the table these
are not unknown TO the habtues Of the court Of
Pekin.


There is one little difference between our "out-
eide barbarians" and the civilized people Of the
world. They pay so little attention to fashisn
that they actually, in compliance with the laws Of
health, close their principal meal with soup
instead of opening with it. Their physicians are
either too honest or their patients know too much
of hygiene to be caught making dyspeptics of
themselves by taking watery preparations into
their stomachs preliminary to the Introduction Of
solids.


When the gentlemen of the Orient had satisfied
'the inner man" they very deliberately rose to
their feet, bowed gravely TO each other uat their
heeds-a but one covered with skull caps-nearly
touched, and then went their several ways.