No dinner is complete without wine, which brings joy and drives away depression, and makes the old feel young and the young still more youthful. Taken in moderation, it is undoubtedly an excellent stimulant. In the far north where the climate is cold and kaoliang abundant, Kaoliang wine, which is somewhat stronger than Russian vodka or English gin, is commonly drunk.

In Central China a milder drink known as Shaohsing wine—named after its producing centre in Chekiang—is very popular. It is the wine of China. It has another name Hua Tiao ~tfa W meaning flower decoration, because the jars in which the wine is kept usually bear a floral decoration. When a girl is born, it is the com­mon practice for the parents to make several jars of Shaohsing wine, the quantity depending upon the size of their purse, and keep them in a cool and dark room, until their daughter is married, so that on her wedding day, they will have at least some good old wine with which to entertain their guests.

In the South, where the climate is much warmer, a still milder drink known as Liao Pan  meaning half strength, is commonly used. Stronger varieties, the double distilled and triple distilledare, however, obtainable. The flavouring of the wine is usually added afterwards, such as orange blossom and green plum

Though Confucius was very particular in regard to food, his list of undesirable foodstuffs being a long one, he was not so with wine, as apparently all wines were acceptable to 'him. There are no records as to his capacity, but he is believed to have been a good drinker like the rest of those ancient scholars.

My own capacity does not exceed one wine cup of Shaohsing, so I am really not qualified to say much on the art of drinking. Perhaps it is well, for it is a subject in which I suspect our Western friends can give Eastern folk quite a few lessons.

In days gone by, good wine was named after an official in Chingchow. By a strange co­incidence, the best Shaohsing wine obtainable at the wine merchant Wong Yu Ho in Shanghai is called LL.D. wine, after a famous Chinese lawyer who was one of his best customers. To secure some of this brand for my own use I have to go to the shop armed with a note from my legal friend as I know full well that I would not get it otherwise: the shop will not supply it to anyone who they think will not appreciate it.

The lawyer is now in Geneva, but I do not doubt that this shop continues to supply him with his favourite wine.

According to our ideas tea should be drunk in quiet surroundings, while wine should be accompanied by song. This may be the reason why restaurants are always noisy.

The renowned poets of old were, as a rule, good drinkers. Among them I may mention Li Po, T'ao Tsin, and Pa Chu I  Wine gave them inspiration, and, when they drank enough, they wrote beautiful verses, a great number of which are still recited by school boys and girls of today.

Below is a song composed by a well-known tippler of the past who used to cheat his wife to get liquor. One day he told his wife that he had made up his mind to give up drinking, but as he had had the habit for so long, it was only fair to allow him one final session before quitting.

Wine Pot and Cups

Ten Wine Cups

His wife was overjoyed to hear this, and proceed­ed to search the whole town for the necessary wine. When he got the wine, he immediately drank the entire lot in one gulp, and then sang the following verse referring to Chinese wine measures:—

Liu Ling, Liu Ling (that's my name)
From drinking comes my fame:
A "hu" each bout I take,
Five "tou" I need to wake,
My wife she tries to plead,
Her words are naught to heed.

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