The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-20
THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.
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Description OF Axsirles-The Uscful and Or
Although the weather in the early part OF yester-
day was uniavorabe for outdoor amusement we found
large number Of visiters in the Crystal Palace The
majority Of those who visit it consists of persons
from the country, whose stay in the city is BRIEF and
who cannot wait till the arrangements perfected
and all the articles placed exhibition. Only =
small proport Of New Workers have yet visited it,
as they naturally prefer waiting till they at
once all that is to be SEEN The fountains for the
establishment Of the exterior Of the building in
Of construction, and will be in operation in q
few days. There will be another fountain on large
scale in the interior Of the Palace the jet from which
will be thrownup by centrifugal pump. This pump
has been already placed in its position, in the east
nave, short distance from the entrance to the ma
chine arcade. When completed and in operation
it will form one Of the most marked and attractive
features of the exhibition
We we're pleased to notice, among the many i'm
provements which had been made since our last visit
the provision that had been made for the convenience
OF the visiters. At each entrance is placed stand
for umbrellas and walking sticks, which are left un
der the care Of young woman who gives you
check in return for the article left in her charge
This relieves the vster of some trouble, while it is
also benefit to the exhibitor in preventing damage
to the articles. Glass are in less danger now
of being cracked by the ends Of canes or umbrellas
and statues and busts stand securely upon their
pedestals than they did before this arrangement was
made. We may add that there is no additional
charge for this desirable provision, the fifty cent
entrance fee covering all expenses.
Each day brings large additions to the articles on
exhibition, and it is found impossible to unpack the
goods as fast they arrive. The south nave is rem
dered almost impossible by bales and boxes of all
sizes and shapes, some containing statuary and
paintings, and others filed with the various pro
ducts Of manufactures and agriculture. In the de-
partment assigned for the mineral kingdom there is
every promise Of splendid display; but there has
been no arrangement made yet. As soon, however,
as the hurry and hustle incident to the present COM
paratvely unfinished state of the exhibition over
Professor B. Siiman, Jr, who has charge of the de-
partment Of mneralogy and chemistry will classify
and arrange the minerals which have been contri-
buted by our own and other countries.
A saloon, which is fitted up with considerable
taste, has been opened in a recess joining the ma
chine arcade Its decorations and ornaments are in
fine harmony with the embellishments of the Palace
itself and attracts fair share of the attention of
the visiters.
THE NETHERLANDS.
THE JAPANESE COLLECTION AND DUTCH C0NTRIBU-
TIONS.
Although the space appropriated to Holland is
limited in comparison with the extent OF that given
to England, France, Germany and other countries,
yet the display will compare favorably with any of
them in the quality if not in the number and variety
of the goods exhibited. Those who are fond Of Gu
rosities will find much to interest and amuse them
in the japanese collection furnished by Mr.. A. II.
Levy d Son. Some of these denote greater degree
of cultivation and knowledge Of the arts and sciences
than we would be inclined to believe possible in na
tion whose exclusiveness has prohibited even
friendly intercourse between her people and the more
refined and civilized Europeans. 1t is true that her
splendor is barbara aud that in the richest and
most beautiful Of her contributions you can dis
Germ the evidences of an imperfect civilization
but we must confess that we were consider
ably surprised to find among them many
things the use of which we thought was
known only to outside barbarians like ourselves.
On opening one of the numerous boxes of toys-for
there are it appears, children in Japan as well as
hook line, and all the other angling appurtenances,
together with number of fishes of a corresponding
size. Now there was nothing very remarkable in
this discovery but there is in the fact that the fish,
when in the water, are captured by the juvenile
angler by means of magnetic attraction. Here, then,
in this simple toy, vast field is opened for the study
Of the historian and philosopher. How long has ia
pan possessed the knowledge Of the wonderful vir-
tues and power Of the magnet Was she ahead Of
us in this important scientific discovery, did the
Dutch, in return for the astounding liberalty of
the Japanese towards them above all other people
did they reveal to them it IS valuable properties!
These are questions should like to have answered.
We expect the Japan expedition will clear up this
and other mysteries in which that empire is at pre-
sent shrouded.
The silks which we find among the Japanese col
lection though somewhat inferior to those Of own
manufa cture displayed in other parts Of the building
are equal if not superior to them in quality. Some
specimens nearly thick as pasteboard and the
web of all that have is much better woven than
the ordinary kind of silk sold in stores 1t would not
be fair, however giving due credit to the japanese
weavers for those specimens OF their work we have
SEEN to suppose that they the best they had We
must recoect that it is not Japan but the Dutch who
send these articles for exhibition for if the former
could be induced to engage in the noble rivalry which
is now going on between the nations Of the earth to
surpass each other in the peaceful arts feel con-
fident that they would excel us in some things.
Surprised as we were at the important Disco
very revealed to US on opening the toy
box containing the magnetic rod and fishes we were
only less astonished by finding further investiga
fion that the japanese also knew the art of making
papier mache. We could hardly trust our eyes when
we saw very neat card basin made of that material;
but there it was and after infinitely examining the
pearls with which it was ornamented we salts
fled that it was a bona fde substantial reality 1t
shows that if the Japanese do not mix in friendly in
fercourse with other nations, they practice the anne
mites and cvites which form excellent feature
in our own social life.