nterviews it would not be correct to allude to wives, who are no
more to be mentioned than were the queen of Spain's legs.

One singular custom in connection with visits, official and otherwise,
ignorance of which has led on many occasions to an awkward moment, is
the service of what is called "guest-tea." At his reception by the host
every visitor is at once supplied with a cup of tea. The servant brings
two cups, one in each hand, and so manages that the cup in his left hand
is set down before the guest, who faces him on his right hand, while
that for his master is carried across and set down in an exactly
opposite sense. The tea-cups are so handed, as it were with crossed
hands, even when the host, as an extra mark of politeness, receives that
intended for his visitor, and himself places it on the table, in this
case being careful to use _both_ hands, it being considered extremely
impolite to offer anything with one hand only employed. Now comes the
point of the "guest-tea," which, as will be seen, it is quite worth
while to remember. Shortly after the beginning of the interview, an
unwary foreigner, as indeed has often been the case, perhaps because
he is thirsty, or because he may think it polite to take a sip of the
fragrant drink which has been so kindly provided for him, will raise
the cup to his lips. Almost instantaneously he will hear a loud shout
outside, and become aware that the scene is changing rapidly for no very
evident reason--only too evident, however, to the surrounding Chinese
servants, who know it to be their own custom that so soon as a visitor
tastes his "guest-tea," it is a signal that he wishes to leave, and that
the interview is at an end. The noise is simply a bawling summons to get
ready his sedan-chair, and the scurrying of his coolies to be in their
places when wanted. There is another side to this quaint custom, which
is often of inestimable advantage to a busy man. A host, who feels that
everything necessary has been said, and wishes to free himself from
further attendance, may grasp his own cup and invite his guest to drink.
The same results follow, and the guest has no alternative but to rise
and take his leave. In ancient days visitors left their shoes outside
the front door, a custom which is still practised by the Japanese, the
whole of whose civilization--this cannot be too strongly emphasized--was
borrowed originally from China.

It is considered polite to remove spectacles durin