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The Alta Vista Journal from Alta Vista, Kansas • Page 5

Location:
Alta Vista, Kansas
Issue Date:
Page:
5
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QUEER CHINESE CEREMONY. A CHEF FROM INDIA. I PICKLES, MUSTARD. Such a discussion as developed on the piazza at the home of the Ellisons, that summer afternoon, would have been of serious import had it not been for the personality of the disputants. But a wrangle involving only a half dozen pretty women gowned in the light, breezy, flulfliness appertaining to a perfect June day, becomes prettier in proportion to its earnestness.

It came about through Emily Hastings' proposal for a picnic on the Des-plaines river. "No one of those formal, cut-and-drled, lemon-pie affairs," she explained, "but just a rollicking, jolly party was a bit of overplus, community property. The swift, thundering train; the jaunty picnic wagon, trailing Its cloud of dust; the silence of the wooded banks of the Desplaines nothing was lost to the of the group, left at last to themselves, while the wagon lumbered back to Riverside, five miles away. "Don't forget to come for us In time for the 7 train," young Austin had impressed on the driver, and with his disappearance hammocks were swung for the lazy ones, while the naturalists, in pairs, wandered at will. Basket opening at 1 o'clock was to be a feature of the outing.

Under a spreading elm a grassy spot was cleared. "Who has the linen?" called Eva ment. The reason Americans do not succeed, as a rule, with curries, which form such a background of India cooking, is that they are always in too much of a rush, and they curry everything alike; for to curry a chicken tho same as a piece of fish, or a piece of beef, trouble is hound to arise, and, in disgust, the cook lays it on to tho curry. "Joe" has all his own silver dishes and utensils, his own separate; placo in the great kitchen, where he is absolute monarch of all he surveys, and the French chef may strictly mind his own affairs, for he isn't "in it." On such occasions, if you want things particularly up to date, he will array himself in his gorgeous best costume, consisting of a long black satin-lined coat, a cross between the Prince Albert and a dress coat, magnificent embroidered white sash, pointed slippers, whlto trousers and a light blue silk turban, on which the Maharajah of Coochbe- Mtmnge Kites at the in Mount Olivet Cemetery, A delegation of Chinamen visited Mount Olivet cemetery recently and in the presence of a crowd of onlookers performed a number of rites over the graves of their countrymen buried there, says the Baltimore Sun. They also visited the cemetery on the pre- ious Sunday and went through the same ceremonies.

I sually they visit the graves twice during the year, but this year seem remarkably solicitous as to the welfare of their deceased brethren. When the Chinamen reached the Chinese lot, which is in the, northwestern part of the cemetery, they began to spread edibles of all kinds on the graves. There were chickens, pork, bananas and oranges. A fire was built in a shectiron oven, which rested in the roadway not far from the lot. When the lire began to blaze high the Chinamen gathered nround It and started to throw into the flames huge bundles of papers, on each of which had been inscribed different characters.

These papers are supposed to bear misleading directions to the evil spirit and enable the deceased to cross in safety the river Styx. As the fire burned fierc ely, some of the Chinamen hurried around to the different graves and close to each headstone planted a thin stick, on the end of which was incense. The incense was then lighted, but its perfume was in part deadened by the smell of the smoke, which by this time had become almost blinding. When all these preparations bad been completed, the celestials started to perform the more important ceremonies. They swayed their bodies to and fro over the graves, all the time holding their hands together and muttering unintelligible words, but which were no doubt prayers in the Chinese language.

Next they knelt at the sides of the graves, still continuing their mutterings. After a few minutes they arose, ami to the surprise of every one about, gath ered up the edibles which they had brought out and placed them in their carriages. Usually at the funerals of Chinamen the food is allowed to remain on the graves, so that the deceased would not starve on the journey to the Chinese heaven. Another feature in which the ceremonies differed from the funeral services was that cups of tea were poured over the graves of the Chinamen. Some irreverent persons ventured the opinion that the Chinamen believed their deceased brethren were thirsty and had accordingly brought the liquid to quench their parched palates.

A number of boys were present at the ceremonies and after the departure of the Chinamen unceremoniously carried oft the incense sticks to a spot under a shady tree, where they proceeded to enjoy themselves watching the sticks burn out. She HiilllcMl levey. Dewey once attended a wedding breakfast at which the affable Baroness de Struve. wife of the Russian, minister at that time, was present. Dewey had met this famous woman several times before.

The facial plainness of the baroness was quite beyond belief, hut she was one of the most brilliant, lovable and kindly women ever elected to guide the social affairs of the diplomatic corps in Washington. A lady who overheard it tells of an amusing passage which the baroness and Dewey (who, If memory serves, was then a commander) had at this particular wedding breakfast. "Referring to leather." said the baroness amiably, after some playful remark as to the spick-and-span polish of Dewey's sword-belt he was in dress uniform "the most remarkable bit of Russian leather in the world is my face." Dewey was as quick a thinker then as he is now, hut this stalled him. "Madame," he said, after a pause, "I am but a rough sailor man, and this is a heavy demand which you make upon me. I am not equal to the emergency." "Of course," said the harmless, tapping him with her fan, "I should have to consider you hopelessly rude were you to agree with me.

Hut you can preserve your neutrality naval officers are taught to do that, are they not? by telling me what really fine eyes I have. They are fine, are they not?" Thus assisted, Dewey rose to the occasion. The baroness' eyes were, in truth, magnificent. Washington Post. Keanouahle.

The reasons for orthography are among the things which pass man's understanding. Some explanations, however, have a plausible sound. A minister was recently called upon to marry a couple in private, and had occasion to ask how the name of one of the witnesses was spelled. "M-c-H-u-g-h," replied the man. "Haven't you a sister inquired the clergyman.

"Yes, sir." "Well," said the minister, 'she spells her name, 'M-c-C-u-e. That," said the witness, "Is because my sister and me, W8 went to different schools." The blush Is nature's alarm nt the approach of sin and her testimony to the dignity of virtue. Fuller. NEW YORK WOMEN OVER HIM. GO WILD Mr.

J. ltanjl I ('renting a Sen-atlull in New York with Ills Currlen ami Other Orienlitl IMnheN lOxpects to Tour Through the West. (New York Letter.) From the farthest end of India conies J. Ranji Smile, the first India chef America lias ever seen. Those who know him familiarly call him "Joe," who says: "If the women of America will but eat the food I prepare, they will be more beautiful than thev as yet imagine.

The eye will grow lustrous, the complexion will be yet so lovely and the figure like unto those of our beautiful India women." "Joe" came to New York a few weeks ago, since which time he has been serving all sorts of delectable dishes in a Fifth avenue establishment. The fancy for curries, which Is the foundation of all India dishes, seems to have taken possession of everyone who has eaten or them. You take a seat at one of the J. RANJI SMILE. -dainty tables, look over the India menu with a sort of fear and trembling of what's to come, with a delightful uncertainty pervading your soul.

It costs a lot of money, too, but then you are there and In for the expense. Soon "Joe" arrives imma ulalely arrayed in a heavy while linen India cnslume, with a gorgeous (urban of white all outlined in gold braid, wilh a broad smile which shows all his gleaming teeth, and with the lit tie seductive manner that pleases the public so much, he lays before you a silver dish. As ho removes the cover you feel that life is not all a weary dream and you become less skeptical on India dishes in general. "Joe" makes a cunning little circle on your plate with the deftness of long practice or the whitest, flakiest curried rice, In the center of which he places a bit of chicken. All this time he is telling you in his gentle sort of way that his one hope Is this may be only the first of many dinners he Is to serve you.

Instead of one dish, you may have an entire India menu running as follows: Kalooh Sherry Murghi Rain Muskeo Kind Curry of Chicken Madras Indian Bhagl Topur, Bombay Duck Lettuce Ceylon Khurbooja llandarl Coffee Karahsce This, J. Ranji explains, Is the typical dinner as to the number of courses that ladles in the better stations of life would have In India. "Oh, your great trouble in this country," be continues, "is the hurried cooking. I almost feel like fainting as. I go to some of your great resorts, look into your kitchens, and see the way the food Is prepared.

This gives the dyspepsia, which all my friends here whom I have served say they do not experience when eating of my curries. So many ladles are fearful of my preparations, thinking that everything must lie very hot and peppery. This is not ho of India cooking. All things must be so nicely even, and such care as to smoothness, that It will he of so pleasant a taste they can but ask for more. "It is a mistake to boll curries," he continues.

"They should simmer gently and not lose their flavor. In India and China curries are often served In eeparate dishes. Now, do not boll the rice. Cleanse it, using three times as much water in boiling as there Is rice, and never stir it, and then It all comes out like so many separate snow-flakes." "Joe" says some of these days he Is going to make a tour through the west and south after ho finishes his good missionary work In the east, and then there will be no more "of that which you call dyspepsia floating about in this beautiful country." "Joe" makes all his own curry powders and pastes and makes them so they suit the palates of different nationalities. Just how he does that It is difficult to say, as he follows no special rules, except the spontaneous inspiration of his own bead.

Some nay, when "Joe" has time, he will print a little book, telling the American women what is good for them to eat, how they must prepare it and serve it, and who knows wnat delightful effect this of us young folks, who want to have a good time in the woods." "And the young men?" queried someone, doubtfully. "This isn't leap year, you know "Leave that to me," returned Emily reassuringly. "If I can't make Herbert Winslow take up the idea and carry it out as his own, then I'm not up to enough snuff to make a baby sneeze!" "Oh, Emily, how can you?" came in a deprecating chorus. "I'm not going to him and bluntly ask him to hire a picnic wagon, pay for the provisions, and generally act as field manager for the party," insisted the young lady. "You ought to give me more credit than that.

I'm simply going into a little psychological suggesting. He'll think he did it all himself. When the idea has taken, I expect him to invite your humble servant as his own particular side-partner, after which I'll propose that we girls make up the luncheon." "What a pig!" exclaimed pretty May West, disconsolately; "you'd monopolize the attentions of Mr. Winslow, and leave the rest of us to any Tom, Dick and Harry." that conies of my being the promoter, you know," laughed Miss Hastings, lightly; "as a simple stockholder, you'll have to wait for dividends." "But how about a chaperon?" suggested Blanche Fielding, the demure, "A chaperon!" exclaimed the promoter tragically; "my kingdom for a chaperon! You, of all sobersides in Christendom, to suggest a chaperon!" she continued, argumentatively. "Goodness knows, you don't need one, and as for casting such an espersion on the rest of us what shall we do with her, girls?" When the little bevy had gone into individual pieces, the picnic was assured, if only Emily Hastings' psychological equipment did not fail.

And it did not at least in part. Herbert Winslow took up the scheme like an original enthusiast. A railroad trip to IT WAS A GAY PARTY. Riverside, and a picni wagon to take the party down the river, were fixed upon. The luncheon tclieme was excellent.

A list of the young ladies was made up and a corresponding number uf escorts were considered. The day was set But that night Herbert Winslow wrote an informal invitation, asking for the company of demure Blanche Fielding. If Emily Hastings was keenly disappointed she did not show it. Her interest in the picnic did not Hag. Out of her inventive genius she even improved on the original plans.

"This is to be a novel picnic," she said, "nothing else will do. Now, as the designer of it I am going to be the chef. I'm going to write out a fiat, of just what each girl is to bring in a covered basket. These lists must be kept in secret, and not till we get to the woods, ready to spread the table, is any one but myself to know what we're to have for dinner. Everybody was pledged to the compact of secrecy and when the bill of fare had been made out and distributed, preparations began for the outing.

Saturday, July 1, was an ideal day. Gathered in the union station in the early morning, only Emily Hastings and her escort were missing. Five minutes before train time Edward Austin, breathless, came up to the anxious group with the news that Miss Hastings was ill and could not go. "Nothing serious," he assured them. "Miss Hastings sends a thousand regrets and asks that we fill the rrogram without her." It was a gay party in spite of the disappointing fact that Mr.

Austin 5 JL SPe Best, who, in the absence of Emily Hastings, took the lead. "Here," and Anna Hunt opened the hamper in which a pile of snowy nap-ery lay banked. Nothing else was there. With the opening of the one, others turned to their baskets unsuspectingly. It was a surprise, in fact.

One basket had only knives, forks, spoons, pepper, salt, and the etceteras of the ordinary table. Another had only dishes. On down the list the baskets were opened upon only table paraphernalia on until Blanche Field ing's hamper yielded the first edible things in the party pickles, mustard Worcestershire sauce, and one full quart of vinegar. "But there are lots of pickles," said Blanche, breaking the long, breathless silence that fell on the party. Some body burst into a shriek of laughter, the keynote of the spirit in which all day long the members of the party fasted, save as their teeth were put on edge by pickles.

"Never speak of it to Miss Hastings mind," was Blanch Fielding's parting injunction, as, tired and hungry, they separated at the Union station that night, "And really, we have had lovely time." Not every one- assented to this, but it was noticeable that Herbert Winslow did so emphatically. Less than a week ago this emphasis had a new meaning for the members of the group who marked it. It was brought about from the results of a tete-a-tete in the Fielding's front parlor, during which Herbert Winslow had turned nervously hack and forth on the piano stool. Did you know," he said huskily, 'I ve been thinking a good deal of that picnic of lata." 'I hope you don't let that bother you," she replied evenly, as if she did not know what was coining. Worry me!" he repeated.

"You don't understand that was the happi est day of my life. I've been wonder ing ever since why as we could be so happy for one day on a pickle and mus tard diet why we couldn't be happy always in a home that had a better and more varied bill of fare?" She was thrusting the golden point of a scarf pin into the brocaded sur face of a settee, regardless of the dam age that she was doing. "Blanche," he said, appalinglv. She looked up and let him read the answer in her eyes. QUICKSANDS OF ARIZONA.

Iukel IMtfalla Are Frequently Found in the IK'Hert. Curious but dangerous freaks of na tu re frequently found in the desert of Arizona are called sumideros by the Mexicans and Indians. They are masked pitfalls of quicksand that occur in the dry plains and are covered with a treacherous crust of clay that has been spread over them in fine particles by the wind and baked dry by the sun The peculiar properties of the soil re tain all the moisture drained into them after the infrequent rains, and allow it to be filtered to unknown depths, so that a man or a horse or a cow or sheep that once steps upon that de eeptive crust instantly sinks out of sight beyond hope of rescue. The sumideros are on a level with the sur face of the desert. There is no danger signal to mark them, and their surface cannot be distinguished by the or dinary eye from the hard clay that sur rounds them.

They occur most fre quently in the alkali-covered flats, and are often fifteen or twenty feet in di ameter. Sometimes they are only lit tie pockets or wells that a man can leap across, but the longest pole has never found their bottom. A stone thrown through the crust sinks to unknown depths, and no man who ever fell into one of them was rescued. They account for the mysterious disappearance of many men and cattle. When They Bobby "I think Tommy Jones is the meanest boy I ever knew." Mamma "What has Tommy been doing now?" Bobby "I said I was going to be a poet when I grew up, and he said he'd be an editor, and wouldn't print any of my poems unless I'd he his horse every time." Harper's Bazar.

Betty Is he apt? Letty I don't just know about that. But I do know h's apt to, if ths lights are a bit low. har lias pinned a handsome design in recognition of Ranji's services to him. I was so much impressed with these turbans, and they looked so becoming upon one very pretty young woman's head, that I asked him if he would not make me one. It takes five yard9 of silk, twined and twisted Into such firm shape that it looks as though a yard would cover the whole outline, and the cost Is about $15, as this material must be of the finest quality.

"Joe" has made several turbans for prominent people on the stage, usually placing a sweeping feather to one side, to give it the necessary jaunty touch. He never places himself under contract to any one, as he wants to see tho great American world. He says. In every instance where he has served his Indian menu the people have returned for a second, many of the ladies asking for his various recipes to use In their homes. "Joe" explains: "All this I would do, but I am so very busy.

I must think out each day something new and very novel, because, dear me, the American public must bo entertained as well as fed." This foreign cook Is a very handsome representative of his country clear, dark skin, brilliant black eyes, smooth black hair and the whitest of teeth. "This," ho says facetiously, "conies from tho care ful way we cat in India, and before I return will tell how to the ladies of America." WHY ZULUS ARE UNDECIDED. Reports from South Africa would seem to indicate that Ihe Zulu warriors are somewhat, divided among themselves as to which side they shall take in the present conllict. While most of them seem to he anxious to fight with the English, the great Chief Dinizulu Is apparently doing his best to ics! rain them. Chief Uslbebu, on the other hand, Is reported as being distinctly hoslile to the lloers.

Usibelm is a brother of Chief Cetewayo, who was conquered by the British after hard lighting in Four years later Cetewayo was reinstated in his kingdom by the British. Then Uslbebu attacked and conquered him and made himself chief of the tribe. Usibebu found, however, that his territory was being gradually taken from him by the Boers of I he Transvaal. He appealed to the English, who took Zululand under their protection, and in 1SS7 formally declared it to he a British territory. Then the Boers are said to have taken the part of Dinizulu, son of old Cetewayo, in his claim to succeed to the throne of his father.

Partly by their aid, his Influence grew constantly greater, until he was recognized a superior In authority to his uncle. Consequently his feeling toward the Boer may well be even friendly, while old Usibebu is eager for revenge against them. Collin or tiolil. The lieutenant governor of Burma has ordered the renovation of Min-doon Mln's mausoleum at Mauduluy, the work to In; by the public works department as the maintenance of a historical structure. This is the tomb which some few years ago was desecrated by some Burma budrnasbes, who believed that they would come upon the gold coffin In which king is said to have been burled, but were frustrated in the attempt, as the coffin i.i said to be entirely surrounded by huge bowlders which can only be removed by machinery.

Upper Burma Gazette. tear USIBEBU. way have on the masculine tempera.

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About The Alta Vista Journal Archive

Pages Available:
10,627
Years Available:
1899-1975