Fong Lee the wealthiest Chinese merchant in Oroville and probably in Northern California, and likewise the most progressive one, tendered his American friends a magnificent banquet yesterday afternoon at his residence and place of business at the foot of Lincoln street. The affair was very select and was given regardless of expense with true Celestial magnificence.

The dinner was announced for 4 p.m. and half an hour before that time the guests found themselves at the door of the Fong Lee’s store where they were received with deep courtesy by the host, his intimate friend and associate Hi Loy and a retinue of cousins, clerks, lackeys and white-robed coolies. The guests were at once escorted to the main reception room. This apartment was in a state of gorgeous decoration and arranged in a circle around the room were chairs of state, high-backed, solid ebony affairs, each one covered with silken drapery embossed with solid gold embroidery. On the walls were silken placards of welcome which being interpreted by Fong Lee to his guests signified: “Welcome Melican Man,” “Heap Good Flend Fong Lee,” “Melican Man Will Now Sabe Chinaman Chow-chow,” “Eat Plenty in the Abode of Bliss,” “When the Mouth is Full forget not the Benefactor,” “Take Cockel’s Pills after Dinning,” etc.

The preliminaries were commenced by the serving of delicate Imperial Moy Une tea imported for the occasion (contrary to the Geary act), in delicate and extremely valuable Gorody-Shonshi ware which had been in the host’s family for over 400 years. At this stage Fong Lee announced that the festivities of the occasion would soon commence and while the guests drank tea, he would bombard the devil with bombs and firecrackers. Giving the signal to his menials the fun commenced. The whole front of the elaborately decorated build was hung with festoons of firecrackers worth $75 a string, while from the subterranean store rooms, coolies in flame colored fire proof robes brought out box after box of bombs, fire crackers and daylight illuminations, and for half an hour the noise was deafening. After the devil had been effectually driven from the premises and out of the constitutions of the guests, to effect which probably $1500 worth of powder had been burned, Fong Lee and Hi Loy, preceeded by a band of Chinese musicians led the way to the festival board. The witching harmonies of the band so affected the guests that they called for a renewal of the bombardment.

The massive teak and ebony tables inlaid with mother-of-pearl were spread with Oriental splendor in the dining hall opening from the main reception room. The hall was likewise decorated with silken and cloth of gold banners bearing mottoes signifying, as the host explained, “Fong Lee’s Venerable Ancestors desire Welcome,” “Big Melican Man Eat Here Today,” “Melican Man Eat Here Today,” “Melican Man no Talkee Japan War,” and other fitting and appropriate sayings.

The tables were a model of neatness and extravagant elegance. Pure yellow Tusseh silk table cloths, rarest Moonga silk napkins, each embroidered with the guest’s initials, ancient ivory bronze and gold filigree chopsticks and solid silver knives, forks, and spoons with the rarest and most delicate of China ware embossed in gold and worth in themselves a fortune. The old miners among the guests had seen vast stores of gold but the embellishments of this Chinese merchant’s table made their eyes bulge to a degree that compensated for the expansion of their vests after the feast.

At the head of one table on a raised dias sat Fong Lee, attired in countless silk brocaded coats, which as the feast progressed and the pressure became heavy, he discarded one by one until the hem of his expensive undershirt was apparent.

At his right sat his “good flend” Major Frank McLaughlin, who with true politeness, copied his host by unbuttoning various portions of his attire occasionally, and down on either side sat J.A. Lawrence, Banker C.H Schiveley, H. W. Smith, G. H. Cordy, C. H. Deuel, G. W. Braden, Judge H. C. Hills, Major H.V. Reardan. At the head of the adjoining table sat Hi Loy robed in a gorgeous combination of green silk, red satin, gold, silver and pearl embroidery, and E.A. Halstead, Senator A.F. Jones, H.N. Almy, George F. Geisse, County Clerk Ed Harkness, Carleton Gray, M. Reyman, O.M. Enslow, J.V. Parks and J.A. Weldon. White-robed waiters brought in the dinner in countless courses.

As the first course consisting of appetizing pickels, preserves and Chinese caviare was being removed, a wild refrain burst from the orchestra, which was stationed in a velvet draped alcove which was followed by a thunderous discharge of bombs. So alarming was the peal, that the guests, feared an attack from the Japanese hordes of Biggs. It speaks volumes for the civilization of our State, that only thirteen pistols were drawn—the balance of the guests being armed with bowie knives.

A word of explanation from the polite hosts assuaged these groundless fears, and, thereafter, the music of the orchestra and the boom of firecrackers were drowned by the popping of champaign corks.

After the sixth course had been removed, the curtains at the end of the main room were drawn to one side and six of China’s loveliest dancing maidens were disclosed to the guests. The stately dances, or rather motions, of the ancient Chinese ceremony were pictured to the delighted guests. The curtain slowly dropped over an effective grouping and the feast resumed its course.

Words would fail to truly depict the gorgeousness of the dances, and our reporter confesses himself not equal to it this morning, owing to a serious lightness above his ears. Curious to say, this epidemic seems to have struck the leading citizens of the town, almost all the offices bearing notice “called out of town; back tomorrow at noon.” After the thirteenth course, Ki Yang, the Chinese magician delivered his most astounding feats of disappearance palled upon the guests who had been watching Surveyor Enslow’s attention to the viands. The competition seemed to have been entered into between himself and Mr. Geisse to clear the tables for the succeeding course. Dr. Karsner reports this morning no further dangerous symptoms reported in; both gentlemen will resimie business within two or three weeks.

With dessert, speeches were indulged in and thanks returned to the hosts by Senator Jones in a speech replete with pigeon English and Chinese witticisms. 

Letters of regret were read from Sheriff Wilson, District Attorney Sexton and Banker Fogg, The former gentlemen being called to a murder case and the latter gentleman having hired a fast horse and carriage in the morning. The Sheriff's and District Attorney's offices and the bank are open for business today.

The thanks of the guests were tendered in the choicest Oroville Chinese by Major Frank McLaughlin, who seemed too full for utterance. Songs were rendered by Mr. Almy and the really beautiful Miss Fong Lee, in the daintiest of Chinese costumes, having handed around the cigars, the same were lit at the glowing countenance of G. W. Bradden, and, with three hearty cheers for their hosts, the guests left the hospitable domicile.

We have repeatedly called attention to the desirability of a local ice manufacturing company. Stock would be rapidly taken by the leading citizens.