CHINESE DINNERS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 2037, 28 December 1907, Page 6

CHINESE DINNERS.

“The longest dinner must come to an end,” is a Chinese proverb. And a Chinese dinner is interminable from the point of view of a European (says the Hong Kong correspondent of the Age). The writer ' attended one the other evening, given by a number of Chinese merchants interested in the Australian flour trade. The meal—or, rather, meals, for there were three “sittings”— was preceded by a theatrical entertainment. An orchestra —mostly brass gongs—played as though they were unconsicous of the fact that the herione was pleading with the villian for money to bury her father. When the “book” was translated to an American near me, he offered to subscribe the necessary expenses if he got any assurance that the beater of the gongs would be buried also! The first dish on the menu was shark fin soup. Then followed pigeon’s eggs, and a queer salad. It is the advice born of experience not to ask the names of the dishes placed before you at a Chinese dinner. If you are told you will probably regret that you asked. The greatest trouble is to endeavour to appear at ease while manipulating u pair of chopsticks. But it is no breach of etiquette to sneak a savoury morsel with a funny little wire fork, or to scoop it up with a big spoon. There are plenty of toasts at a Ohinsse,dinner. Each guest drinks to each man at his table. When you have gone right round once, your neighbour starts off. And when he finishes, the next man to him makes the circuit. ' Then probably the host comes along with a decanter of shamsu (Chinese spirit) and another toast follows. You begin to wonder what theuloctor will prescribe for you on the" morrow when the host says something in Chinese. It is rather a shock to you when you are told that you are to dine again in an hour’s time.