Inthefaceofthisplainfactisitnottime，fortheirownsake，thattheAustraliansshoulddroptheircryagainstyellowpeopleandinducetheirParliamenttoabolish，oratleasttomodify，theirimmigrationlawswithregardtotheyellowrace？
Australiansareanxioustoextendtheirtrade，andtheyhavesentcommercialcommissionerstoJapanandotherEasterncountrieswiththeviewtodevelopingandexpandingcommerce。Mr。J。B。Suttor，SpecialCommissionerofNewSouthWales，haspublishedthefollowingadvertisement:
\"NEWSOUTHWALES。TheLandofRewardforCapitalCommerceandIndustry。
SpeciallysubsidizedsteamersnowgivingdirectservicebetweenSydney，THEPREMIERCOMMERCIALCENTEROFAUSTRALIA，ANDSHANGHAI。
ThusofferingspecialfacilitiesforCommerceandTourists。
NEWSOUTHWALESPRODUCTSARESTANDARDSOFEXCELLENCE。\"
Commerceandfriendshipgotogether，buthowAustralianscanexpecttodeveloptradeinacountrywhosepeoplearenotallowedtocometovisithershoresevenforthepurposesoftrade，passesmycomprehension。Perhaps，havingheardsomuchoftheforgivingandmagnanimousspiritoftheChinese，AustraliansexpecttheChinesetogreetthemwithsmilesandtotradewiththem，whilebeingkickedinreturn。
Ibelieveinthedoctrineoftheuniversalbrotherhoodofmen。
ItiscontrarytothelawGodofcreationthatsomepeopleshouldshutoutotherpeoplefromportionsoftheearthsolelyfrommotivesofselfishnessandjealousy；theinjurycausedbysuchselfishactswillsoonerorlaterreactonthedoers。\"Everymanishisownancestor。
Wearepreparingforthedaysthatcome，andwearewhatweareto-dayonaccountofwhathasgonebefore。\"Thedog-in-the-mangerpolicydevelopsdoggishinstinctsinthosewhopractiseit；and，afterall，civilizationwithoutkindnessandjusticeisnotworthhaving。
Inconclusion，IwilllettheEnglishpoet，WilliamWordsworth，state\"Nature\'scase\"。
Listentothesenoblelinesfromtheninthcantoofhis\"Excursion\"。
\"Alas!whatdiffersmorethanmanfromman，Andwhencethatdifference？Whencebutfromhimself？
ForseetheuniversalRaceendowedWiththesameuprightform。ThesunisfixedAndtheinfinitemagnificenceofheavenFixed，withinreachofeveryhumaneye；
Thesleeplessoceanmurmursforallyears；
ThevernalfieldinfusesfreshdelightIntoallhearts。Throughouttheworldofsense，Evenasanobjectissublimeorfair，ThatobjectislaidopentotheviewWithoutreserveorveil；andasapowerIssalutary，oraninfluencesweet，AreeachandallenabledtoperceiveThatpower，thatinfluence，byimpartiallaw，Giftsnoblerarevouchsafedaliketoall；
Reason，and，withthatreason，smilesandtears；
Imagination，freedominthewill；
Consciencetoguideandcheck；anddeathtobeForetasted，immortalityconceivedByall——ablissfulimmortality，TothemwhoseholinessonearthshallmakeTheSpiritcapableofheaven，assured……ThesmokeascendsToHeavenaslightlyfromthecottagehearthAsfromthehaughtiestpalace。HewhosesoulPondersthistrueequality，maywalkThefieldsofearthwithgratitudeandhope；
Yet，inthatmeditation，willhefindMotivetosaddergrief，aswehavefound；
Lamentingancientvirtuesoverthrown，Andfortheinjusticegrieving，thathathmadeSowideadifferencebetweenmanandman。\"
Chapter13。Dinners，Banquets，Etc。
Dinner，asweallknow，indicatesacertainhourandacertainhabitwhoseaimisthenourishmentofthebody，andadeliverancefromhunger；
butinourmoderncivilizedlifeitpossessesotherpurposesalso。
Manisagregariousanimal，andwhenhetakeshisfoodhelikescompany；
fromthispeculiaritytherehassprungupthecustomofdinnerparties。
Inattendingdinnerparties，however，theguestsasaruledonotseeksustenance，theyonlygotothemwhentheyhavenothingelsetodo，andmanyscarcelytouchthefoodthatislaidbeforethem。
Theirobjectistodohonortothehostandhostess，nottoeat，buttobeentertainedbypleasantandcongenialconversation。
Nevertheless，thehost，atwhoseinvitationthecompanyhasassembled，isexpectedtoprovideagreatabundanceandalargevarietyofsavorydishes，aswellasagoodsupplyofchoicewines。Fleshandwineareindispensable，eventhoughtheentertainerseschewbothintheirprivatelife，andmostoftheguestsdailyconsumetoomuchofeach。
Fewhavethecouragetopartwithconventionalpracticeswhenarrangingasocialfunction。
Americanchefsareexcellentcaterers，andwellknowhowtopleasethetastesoftheAmericanpeople。Theyconcentrateontheartofprovidingdaintydishes，andhumaningenuityisheavilytaxedbythemintheireffortstoinventnewgustatorydelicacies。
Thedisheswhichtheyplacebeforeeachguestaresonumerousthatevenagourmandmustleavesomeuntouched。Atafashionabledinnernoonecanpossiblytaste，muchlesseat，everythingthatisplacedbeforehim，yetthefoodisallsonicelycookedandservedinsoappetizingamanner，thatitisdifficulttoresistthetemptationatleasttosampleit；
whenyouhavedonethis，however，youwillcontinueeatinguntilallhasbeenfinished，butyourstomachwillprobablybeasadsufferer，groaninggrievouslyonthefollowingdayonaccountofthefrolicofyourpalate。Thisill-matedpair，althoughbotharechieflyinterestedinfood，seldomseemtoagree。ImustnotomittomentionhoweverthatthenumberofcoursesservedatanAmericanmillionaire\'sdinnerisafteralllessnumerousthanthosefurnishedataChinesefeast。
WhenaChinesegentlemanaskshisfriendstodinewithhimthemenumayincludeanywherefromthirtytofiftyorahundredcourses；
butmanyofthedishesareonlyintendedforshow。Theguestsarenotexpectedtoeateverythingonthetable，oreventotasteeverydelicacy，unless，indeed，theyspeciallydesiretodoso。Again，wedon\'teatsoheartilyasdotheAmericans，butcontentourselveswithoneortwomouthfulsfromeachsetofdishes，andallowappreciableintervalstoelapsebetweencourses，duringwhichwemakemerry，smoke，andotherwiseenjoythecompany。
ThisisadistinctadvantageinfavorofChina。
InEuropeandAmerica，dessertformsthelastcourseatdinner；
inChinathisisservedfirst。Idonotknowwhichisthebetterway。
Chineseareeverreadytoacceptthebestfromeveryquarter，andsomanyofushaverecentlyadoptedtheWesternpracticeregardingdessert，whilestillretainingtheancientChinesecustom，sothatnowweeatsweetmeatsandfruitatthebeginning，duringdinner，andattheend。ThishappycombinationofEasternandWesternpracticesis，Isubmit，worthyofexpansionandextension。Ifitweretobecomeuniversalitwouldhelptodiscouragethepresentunwholesomehabit，foritisnothingmorethanahabit，ofdevouringflesh。
OneofthedishesindispensableatafashionableAmericandinneristheterrapin。Thosewhoeatthesethingssaythattheirfleshhasamostagreeableanddelicateflavor，andthattheirgelatinousskinnynecksandfinsaredelicious，butapparentlythemostpalatabletidbitspallthetasteintime，foritissaidthataboutfortyyearsagoterrapinsweresoabundantandcheapthatworkmenintheiragreementwiththeiremployersstipulatedthatterrapinshouldnotbesuppliedattheirdinnertablemorethanthreetimesaweek。Sincethenterrapinshavebecomesorarethatnostylishdinnerevertakesplacewithoutthisdish。
OystersareanotherWesternsinequanon，andarealwaysservedraw。
Iwonderhowmanyladiesandgentlemenwhoswallowthesemolluscawithsuchevidentrelishknowthattheyareveritablescavengers，whichpickupandswalloweverydirtythinginthewater。
Afriendofmineaftertakingafewofthemononeoccasion，hadtoleavethetableandgohome；hewasillafterwardforseveraldays。
Onecannotbetoocarefulastowhatoneeats。TheUnitedStateshasaPureFoodDepartment，butIthinkitmightlearnagreatdealthatitdoesnotknowifitweretosendacommissiontoChinatostudylifeintheBuddhistmonasteries，whereonlysanitary，healthfulfoodisconsumed。Itisalwaysasurprisetomethatpeoplearesoindifferenttothekindoffoodtheytake。Publichealthofficersareusefulofficials，butwhenwehavebecomemorecivilizedeachindividualwillbehisownhealthofficer。
Someofthewell-knownChinesedishesareveryrelishableandshouldnotbeoverlookedbychefsanddinnerhostesses。
Irefertothesharks\'fins，andbirds\'nest——theEasterncounterpartoftheWesternpiecederesistance——theterrapin。
Fromahygienicpointofviewsharks\'finsmaynotbeconsideredasverydesirable，seeingtheyarepartoftheshark，buttheyarecertainlynotworse，andareperhapsbetter，thanwhatiscalledthe\"highandtender\"pheasant，andotherfleshfoodswhichareconstantlyfoundonWesterndiningtables，andwhicharesoreadilyeatenbyconnoisseurs。Birds\'nestsoupisfarsuperiortoturtlesoup，andIhavetheopinionofanAmericanchemistwhoanalyzedit，thatitisinnocuousandminustheinjuriousuricacidgeneratedbyanimalflesh，thecauseofrheumaticandsimilarpainfulcomplaints。
The\"chopsuey\"suppliedintheChineserestaurantsinNewYork，Chicago，andotherplaces，seemstobeafavoritedishwiththeAmericanpublic。
Itshowsthesimilarityofourtastes，andencouragesmetoexpectthatsomeofmyrecommendationswillbeaccepted。
WillsomeoneinformmewhysomanyvarietiesofwinesarealwaysservedonAmericantables，andwhythesparklingchampagneisneveravoidable？
Wealthyfamilieswillspareneitherpainsnorexpensetospreadmostsumptuousdinners，andithasbeenreportedthatthecostofanentertainmentgivenbyonerichladyamountedtotwentythousandpoundssterling，although，asIhavesaid，eatingisthelastthingforwhichtheguestsassemble。
Idonotsupposethatmanywillagreewithme，butinmyopinionitwouldbemuchmoreagreeable，andimprovethegeneralconversation，ifalldrinksofanintoxicatingnaturewereabolishedfromthediningtable。
Itisgratifyingtoknowthattherearesomefamiliesmaythenumberincreaseeveryday!whereintoxicatingliquorsareneverseenontheirtables。
Thefirstinstanceofthissortthatcameundermynoticewasinthehomeofthatexcellentwoman，Mrs。M。F。Henderson，whoisanardentadvocateofdietreformandteetotalism。Mr。WilliamJenningsBryan，theSecretaryofState，hassetanobleexample，asfromnewspaperreportsitappearsthathegaveafarewelldinnertoAmbassadorBryce，withoutchampagneorotheralcoholicdrinks。HehasaloyalsupporterinShanghai，inthepersonoftheAmericanConsul-General，Dr。A。P。Wilder，who，tothegreatregretofeverybodywhoknowshiminthisport，isretiringfromtheserviceonaccountofill-health。Dr。Wilderisverypopularandfigureslargelyinthesociallifeofthecommunity，butDr。Wilderisastaunchopponentofalcohol，andthroughhisinfluencewinesatpublicdinnersarealwaystreatedasextras。
SolongastheliquortrafficissoextensivelyandprofitablycarriedoninEuropeandAmerica，andsolongastheconsumptionofalcoholissoenormous，solongwilltherebeadifferenceofopinionastoitsilleffects，butinthismatter，bymeansofitsStateProhibitionLaws，Americaissettinganexampletotheworld。Innoothercountryaretheresuchextensivetractswithoutalcoholasthe\"DryStates\"ofAmerica。
China，whoiswagingwaronopium，recognizesinthisfactakindred，activemoralforcewhichisabsentelsewhere，and，shakinghandswithhersisterrepublicacrosstheseas，hopesthatshewillsomedaybeasfreeofalcoholicpoisonsasChinaherselfhopestobeofopium。Everyvice，however，hasitsdefense。
SomeyearsagoImetafamousDutchartistinPeking，who，thoughstillintheprimeoflife，wasobligedtolayasidehisworkforafewdayseachmonth，duetoanoccasionalattackofrheumatism。
Ifoundhewasfondofhiscup，thoughIdidnotunderstandthathewasanimmoderatedrinker。Idiscoursedtohimsomewhatlengthilyabouttheevileffectsofdrink，andshowedhimthatunlesshewaswillingtogiveupallintoxicatingliquor，hisrheumatismwouldnevergivehimup。
Helistenedattentively，ponderedforafewminutes，andthengavethischaracteristicanswer:\"IadmitthesoundnessofyourargumentbutIenjoymyglassexceedingly；ifIweretofollowyouradviceIshouldbedeprivedofalotofpleasure。Indeed，Iwouldratherhavetherheumaticpains，whichdisappearaftertwoorthreedays，andcontinuetoenjoymyalcoholicdrinks，thanendurethemiseryofdoingwithoutthem。\"Iwarnedhimthatincourseoftimehisrheumatismwouldbelongerindurationandattackhimmorefrequently，ifhecontinuedtoignoreitswarningsandtoplaywithwhat，forhim，wascertainlypoison。Whenanyonehasahabit，beitinjuriousorotherwise，itisnoteasytopersuadehimtoabandonit。
\"TheAristocracyofHealth\"writtenbythetalentedMrs。Hendersonisanadmirablework。Iowemuchtoit。Thefactsandargumentsadducedagainsttobaccosmoking，strongdrinkandpoisonousfoods，aresetforthinsuchaclearandconvincingmanner，thatsoonafterreadingitIbecameateetotalerand\"sanitarian\"*
andbeganatoncetoreapthebenefits。IfeltthatIoughtnottokeepsuchagoodthingtomyself，butthatIshouldpreachthedoctrinefarandwide。Isoonfound，however，thatitwasanimpossibletasktotrytosavemenfromthemselves，andIacquiredtheunenviablesobriquetof\"crank\"；butIwasnotdismayed。FrommynativefriendsIturnedtotheforeigncommunityinPeking，thinkingthatthelatterwouldpossessbetterjudgment，appreciateandbeconvertedtothesanitariandoctrine。AmongtheforeignersIappealedto，onewasadistinguisheddiplomat，andtheotheragentlemanintheChineseservice，withaworld-widereputation。
Bothwereelderlyandindelicatehealth，anditwasmyearnesthopethatbyreadingMrs。Henderson\'sbook，whichwassenttothem，theywouldbeconvincedoftheirerrorsandturnoveranewleaf——
Iwasdisappointed。Both，inreturningthebook，madesubstantiallythesameanswer。\"Mrs。Henderson\'sworkisveryinteresting，butatmytimeoflifeitisnotadvisabletochangelife-longhabits。
Ieatfleshmoderately，andneverdrinkmuchwine。\"Theybothseemedtooverlookthecrucialproblemastowhetherornotanimalfoodcontainshurtfulpoison。Ifitdoes，itshouldnotbeeatenatall。
Weneverhearofsensiblepeopletakingarsenic，strychnine，orotherpoisons，inmoderation，butmanyfoolishwomen，Ibelieve，takearsenictopaletheircomplexions，whileothers，bothmenandwomen，takestrychnineincombinationwithotherdrugs，asatonic，butwillanyonearguethatthesesubstancesarefoods？
Theruleofmoderationisapplicabletothingswhicharenutritious，oratleastharmless，butnottonoxiousfoods，howeversmallthequantityofpoisontheymaycontain。
Ihaveneverbeenasmokerandhavealwayseschewedtobacco，cigarettes，etc。；thoughforashortwhiletoobligefriendsIoccasionallyacceptedacigarette，nowIfirmlyrefuseeverythingofthesort——
Pleasantconversationatthedinnertableisalwaysenjoyable，andagoodtalkerisalwayswelcome，butIoftenwonderwhyAmericans，whogenerallyaresoquicktoimproveopportunity，andarenotedfortheirfreedomfromtraditionalconventionalisms，donotmakeamoresystematicuseofthegeneralloveofgoodconversation。
Anyonewhoisawittyconversationalist，withalargefundofanecdote，issuretobeaskedbyeverydinnerhosttohelptoentertaintheguests，butifthecompanybelargethefavoritecanbeenjoyedbyonlyafew，andthosewhoaretoofarawaytohear，orwhoarejustnearenoughtohearapartbutnotall，arelikelytofeelaggrieved。
Theycannothearwhatisamusingtherest，whilethetalkelsewherepreventstheirtalkingastheywouldiftherewerenointerruptions。
Araconteurgenerallymonopolizeshalfthecompany，andleavestheotherhalfoutinthecold。Thismightbeavoidediftalkerswereengagedtoentertainthewholecompanyduringdinner，aspianistsarenowsometimesengagedtoplaytothemafterdinner。
Or，theentertainmentmightbevariedbyengagingagoodprofessionalrecitertoreproduceliterarygems，comicorotherwise。Iamsuretheresultwouldbringmoregeneralsatisfactiontothegueststhanthepresentmethodofleavingthemtoentertainthemselves。
Chineseemploysinginggirls；Japanese，geishastotalk，singordance。
TheidealwouldhereagainseemtobeanamalgamationofEastandWest。
Itisdifficultforamixedcrowdtobealwaysagreeable，eveninthecongenialatmosphereofagoodfeast，unlesstheguestshavebeenselectedwithaviewtotheiropinionsratherthantotheirsocialstanding。Placeanumberofpeoplewhoseideasarecommon，withadifference，aroundawell-spreadtableandtherewillbenolackofgood，earnest，instructiveconversation。Mostmenandwomencantalkwelliftheyhavetherightsortoflisteners。
Ifthehearerisunsympatheticthebesttalkerbecomesdumb。
Hostswhorememberthiswillalwaysbeappreciated。
Asarule，adinnerconversationisseldomworthremembering，whichisapity。Man，themostsensibleofallanimals，cantalknonsensebetterthanalltherestofhistribe。PerhapstheflowofwordsmaybeassteadyastheeastwardflowoftheYang-tse-Kianginmyowncountry，butthememoryonlyretainsarecollectionofavague，undefined——what？
Theconversationliketheflavorsprovidedbythecookshasbeenevanescent。
Whyshouldnothostessesmakeasmuchefforttostimulatethemindsoftheirguestsastheydotogratifytheirpalates？
Whataboonitwouldbetomanyabashfulman，sittingnexttoaladywithwhomhehasnothingincommon，ifsomepublicentertainerduringthedinnerrelievedhimfromthenecessityofalwaysthinkingofwhatheshouldsaynext？Howmuchmorehecouldenjoythetastydisheshishostesshadprovided；andasforthelady——
whatanumberofsuppressedyawnsshemighthaveavoided。
Totakegreatpainsandspendlargesumstoprovidenicefoodforpeoplewhocannotenjoyitbecausetheyhavetotalktooneanother，seemsapity。Letonemantalktotherestandleavethemleisuretoeat，ismysuggestion。
Theopportunitiesaffordedatthediningtablemaybeturnedtomanyusefulpurposes。Ofcoursenotallareill-paired，andmanyyoungmenandladiesmeet，sitsidebyside，engageinafriendly，pleasantconversation，renewtheiracquaintanceatothertimes，andfinallymergetheirseparatepathsinthehighwayofmarriage。
PerhapsChinamightborrowaleaffromthiscustomandsubstitutedinnerpartiesforgo-betweens。Thedinner-partymethod，however，hasitsdangersaswellasitsadvantages——itdependsonthepointofview。
Personalpeculiaritiesanddefects，ifany，canbeeasilydetectedbythewayinwhichtheconversationiscarriedon，andthemannerinwhichthefoodishandled。Ithassometimeshappenedthattheaffiancedhavecancelledtheirengagementafteradinnerparty。Ontheotherhand，mattersofgreatimportcanoftenbearrangedatthedinnertablebetterthananywhereelse。Commercialtransactionsinvolvingmillionsofdollarshavefrequentlybeensettledwhilethepartiesweresippingchampagne；
eveninternationalproblems，endinginelaboratenegotiationsandtreaties，havebeenfirstdiscussedwiththeafterdinnercigar。
Theatmosphereofgoodfriendshipandequality，engenderedbyawell-furnishedroom，goodcheer，pleasantcompany，andagenialhostess，disarmsprejudice，removesbarriers，meltsreserve，anddisposesonetoseethatthereisanothersidetoeveryquestion。
InChinawhenpeoplehavequarreledtheirfriendsgenerallyinvitethemtodinner，wherethemattersindisputeareamicablyarranged。
Thesearecalled\"peacedinners\"。IwouldrecommendthatasimilarexpedientshouldbeadoptedinAmerica；manyaknottypointcouldbedisposedofbyafriendlydiscussionatthedinnertable。
Ifinternationaldisputeswerealwaysarrangedinthiswaytherepresentativesofnationshavingcomplaintsagainsteachothermightmoreoftenthannowdiscoverunexpectedwaysofadjustingtheirdifferences。Whyshouldsuchmattersinvariablyberemandedtoformalconferencesandsetspeeches？Thepreliminaries，atleast，wouldprobablybebetterarrangedatdinnerpartiesandsocialfunctions。
Eatinghasalwaysbeenassociatedwithfriendship。\"Toeatsalt\"withanArabformsamostbindingcontract。Even\"theserpent\"inthebookofGenesiscommencedhisacquaintancewithEvebysuggestingameal。
ItalmostseemsasiftherewerecertainunwrittenlawsinAmericansociety，assigningcertainfunctionstocertaindaysintheweek。
IdonotbelieveAmericansaresuperstitious，butIfoundthatThursdaywasgreatlyinfavor。IrememberononeoccasionthatMrs。Grant，widowofthelatePresident，sentaninvitationtomywifeandmyselftodineatherhousesomeThursdayevening；thiswasthreeweeksinadvance，andwereadilyacceptedherinvitation。Afterouracceptance，aboutadozeninvitationscameforthatsameThursday，allofwhichwehad，ofcourse，todecline。Curiouslyenoughwereceivednoinvitationsforanyotherdayduringthatweek，andjustbeforethateventfulThursdaywereceivedaletterfromMrs。Grantcancellingtheinvitationonaccountofthedeathofoneofherrelations，sothatwehadtodineathomeafterall。
NowweChinesemakenosuchdistinctionsbetweendays。
Everydayoftheweekisequallygood；inorderhowevertoavoidclashingwithotherpeoples\'engagements，wegenerallyfixFridaysforourreceptionsordinners，butthereisnotamongtheChineseanentertainmentseasonasthereisinWashington，andothergreatcities，wheneverybodyingoodsocietyisbusyattendingorgiving\"AtHomes\"，teapartiesordinners。Ifrequentlyattended\"AtHomes\"orteapartiesinhalf-a-dozenplacesormoreinoneafternoon，butnoonecandineduringthesameeveninginmorethanoneplace。
InthisrespectAmericamightlearnalessonfromChina。Wecanaccepthalf-a-dozeninvitationstodinnerforoneevening；allwehavetodoistogotoeachplaceinturn，partakeofoneortwodishes，excuseourselvestothehostandthengosomewhereelse。
Bythismeansweavoidtheseemingrudenessofadeclination，andescapetheillfeelingswhicharefrequentlycreatedintheWestbyinvitationsbeingrefused。TheChinesemethodmakespossiblethecultivationofdemocraticfriendshipswithoutviolatingaristocraticinstincts，andforcandidatesatelectiontimesitwouldproveanagreeablemethodbywhichtomakenewfriends。
WearelessrigidthanAmericansaboutdroppinginandtakingamouthfulortwoatdinner，evenwithoutaspecialinvitation。*——
*Sincewritingtheabove，IhaveheardfromanAmericanladythat\"progressivedinners\"haverecentlybeenintroducedbytheidleandrichsetofyoungpeopleinNewYork。
Themodusoperandiisthatseveraldinnerswill，byarrangement，begivenonacertainday，andtheguestswillgotoeachhousealternately，eatingoneortwodishesonlyandremainingatthelasthouseforfruit。
Icanhardlybelievethis，butmyfriendassuresmeitisafact。
Itseemsthateatingisturnedintoplay，andtoappreciatethefun，Iwouldliketobeoneoftheactors——
Washingtonofficialsanddiplomatsusuallygivelargeentertainments。
Thearrangingoftheseatsatthedinnertableisadelicatematter，astheruleofprecedencehastobeobserved，andinattentiontotherule，byplacingawrongseatforagentlemanorladywhoisentitledtoahigherplace，maybeconsideredasaslight。Itisatsuchfunctionsasthesethattheprofessionalstory-teller，thegoodreciter，thecleverreader，theperfectentertainerwouldmakethenaturalselfishreserveofmankindlessapparent。
Fashionablepeople，whoentertainagooddeal，are，Iunderstand，oftenpuzzledtoknowhowtoprovidenovelties。InadditiontothesuggestionsIhavemade，mayIbepardonedanother？
TherearemanygoodcooksintheU。S。A。WhynotcommissionthesetosometimespreparearechercheChinesedinner，withthefoodservedinbowlsinsteadofplates，andwithchop-sticks\"nimblelads\"wecallthem
forshow，butforksandspoonsforuse。IseenoreasonwhyChinesemealsshouldnotbecomefashionableinAmerica，asWesternpreparationsarefrequentlyfavoredbytheEliteinChina。OnemarkeddifferencebetweenthetwostylesisthemannerinwhichtheChinesepurveyorthrowshismostdelicateflavorsintostrongreliefbyprefacingitwithadietwhichisinsipid，harshorpungent。Contrastsaddzesttoeverythinghuman，beitdining，working，playing，orwooing。
Thissuggestsanoccasional，toothsomevegetarianrepastasaset-offtothesameroundoffish，flesh，fowlandwinefumes。
NopeopleintheworldcanpreparesuchdeliciousvegetarianbanquetsasaChineseculinaryartist。
AbanquetisamoreformalaffairthanthedinnerpartiesIhavebeendiscussing。Itisgenerallygottenuptocelebratesomespecialevent，suchastheconclusionofsomeimportantbusiness，orthebirthdayofsomenationalherolikeWashington，Lincoln，orGrant；
ortheChambersofCommerceandAssociationsofdifferenttradesintheimportantcitiesofAmericawillholdtheirannualmeetingstohearareportanddiscussthebusinessestransactedduringtheyear，windingupbyholdingalargebanquet。
Thefoodsuppliedontheseoccasionsisbynomeanssuperiortothatgivenatprivatedinners，yeteverybodyisgladtobeinvited。
Itistheinevitablerulethatspeechesfollowtheeating，andpeopleattend，notforthesakeofthefood，butfortheprivilegeofhearingotherstalk。
Indeed，exceptfortheopportunityoftalking，orhearingotherstalk，peoplewouldprobablypreferaquietmealathome。
Speakerswithareputation，orators，statesmen，orforeigndiplomatsarefrequentlyinvited，andsometimeseminentmenfromothercountriesaretheguestsofhonor。Thesefunctionsoccureveryyear，andtheForeignMinisterswithwhosecountriestheAssociationshavecommercialrelationsaregenerallypresent。
Thetopicsdiscussedarenearlyalwaysthesame，anditisnoteasytospeakatoneofthesegatheringswithoutgoingoverthesamegroundasthatcoveredonpreviousoccasions。Irememberthatacolleagueofminewhowasacleverdiplomat，andforwhomIhadgreatrespect，oncewhenaskedtomakeanafter-dinnerspeech，reluctantlyroseand，asfarasIcanremember，spoketothefollowingeffect:
\"Mr。Chairmanandgentlemen，IthankyourAssociationforinvitingmetothissplendidbanquet，butasIhadthehonorofspeakingatyourbanquetlastyearIhavenothingmoretoadd，andIreferyoutothatspeech；\"
hethensatdown。Thenoveltyofhisremarks，ofcourse，wonhimapplause，butIshouldliketoknowwhatthecompanyreallythoughtofhim。
Formypart，Ipraisedhiswisdom，forhediplomaticallyrebukedallwhoseonlyinterestisthatwhichhasitsbirthwiththedayanddisappearswiththenight。
BanquetsanddinnersinAmerica，asinChina，are，however，oftenfarremovedfromfrivolities。Statesmensometimesselecttheseopportunitiesforapronouncementoftheirpolicy，eventhePresidentofthenationmayoccasionallythinkitadvisabletodothis。Speechesdeliveredonsuchoccasionsaregenerallyreportedinallthenewspapers，and，ofcourse，discussedbyallsortsofpeople，thewiseandtheotherwise，sothatthespeakerhastobeverycarefulastowhathesays。OurPresidentconfineshimselftothemoreformalprocedureofissuinganofficialmandate，thesameinkind，thoughdifferinginexpression，asanAmericanPresident\'sInauguralAddress，oroneofhisMessagestoCongress。
CommercialmendonotunderstandandareimpatientwiththerestrictionswhichhedgeroundaForeignMinister，andintheiranxietytogetspeakerstheywilllookanywhere。OnoneoccasionIreceivedaninvitationtogotoCanadatoattendabanquetataCommercialClubinoneoftheprincipalCanadiancities。Itwouldhavegivenmegreatpleasuretobeabletocomplywiththisrequest，asIhadnotthenvisitedthatcountry，but，contrarytoinclination，Ihadtodecline。IwasaccreditedasMinistertoWashington，anddidnotfeelatlibertytovisitanothercountrywithoutthespecialpermissionofmyHomeGovernment。
Publicspeaking，likeanyotherart，hastobecultivated。
Howeverscholarlyamanmaybe，andhowevercleverhemaybeinprivateconversation，whencalledupontospeakinpublichemaysometimesmakeaverypoorimpression。Ihaveknownhighlyplacedforeignofficials，withdeservedreputationsforwisdomandability，whowereshockinglypoorspeakersatbanquets。
Theywouldhesitateandalmoststammer，andwouldprovequiteincapableofexpressingtheirthoughtsinanysensibleorintelligentmanner。
Inthisrespect，personalobservationshaveconvincedmethatAmericans，asarule，arebetterspeakersthan……Iwillnotmentionthenationalityinmymind，itmightgiveoffense。AnAmerican，who，withoutpreviousnotice，iscalledupontospeak，generallyacquitshimselfcreditably。Heisnearlyalwayswitty，appreciative，andfrank。Thisisdue，Ibelieve，tothethorough-goingnatureofhiseducation:heistaughttobeself-confident，tobelieveinhisownabilitytocreate，toexpresshisopinionswithoutfear。
Adiffidentandretiringman，whosechiefcharacteristicisextrememodesty，isnotlikelytobeagoodspeaker；butAmericansarefreefromthisweakness。
Farbeitfrommetosuggestthattherearenogoodspeakersinothercountries。Americacanbynomeansclaimamonopolyoforators；