The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-01-05
The Austrian Embassy and its
Objects.

political, no military nor naval help from
foreign powers; she asks them but to leave
her alone. And certainly no European pow.
er wants Japan as an ally, in the esense OF
the word generally understood among the
nations; 1t Is as new market that we seek
to open the country. We come as traders and
as traders only, and the Austrians have done
wisely in bringing with them samples Of the
wares they have TO sell. Many of these viii,
We believe, be thoroughly appreciated by
the japanese; few who saw the Austrian
Court in the exhibition of 1851 will have for
gotten II, and many articles were there OF
character which the japanese would under
stand and examine with interest, such as In
laid wood, bronzes, arms, carving and leather
work; because they have cognate manufae-
lures of their own as standards by which to
appraise them aud compare. But Austrian
industry has made great progress since 1851;
new manufactures have been created, and
cheaper processes discovered in the old. and
the exhibition of Austrian Industrial Art
which will shortly be opened here will be Of
great interest to many besides Japanese vlsi-
tors. A hurried perusal of the catalogue
now being prepared shows us most varied
list of useful and ornamental goods, the
manufacture of which in Austria we venture
to say that majority of our readers have
never even suspected. Cloth OF all descrip-
tions, colors and qualities, Mohairs, ORLEANS,
Lastings, Lustres, Blankets, Merinos, immi-
tation Cashmefes, Thibets and Thibetins are
among the Woolens and Worsteds, a depart
ment particularly rich many Of the lighter,
finer cottons and some varieties Of linen;
arms and armour, rifles and other guns, use
ful and ingenious preparations OF provisions
for army and hospital use are among the
heavier and staple goods. Then We are to
be shown specimens Of beautiful furniture
and Dldrqueterfs which was so much admired
In 81, embroidery, leatherwork, that work
<<<1
wing and yet apparently so easy to produce,
that half the ladies In England laid aside
their wool and crochet needles for little glue
pots scissors and punches; similar work in
caoutchouc and gutta percha, OF which
countless specimens are catalogued Of book
covers, caskets, and papeteTie. Bohemia
sends a noble collection of glassware and
semi precious stone work, such as agate, and
ornyx and carnelan. Vienna has long been
famous for optical and musical isstruments
and of her bronze work, the Japanese will
find much to immifate and to admire. The
collection of bronzes, though, we fear is but
small, the difficulty of transporting them
being SO great but photography has given
her assistance here and large number oil
infinitely accurate pictures of fine works of
art will be on view. We anticipate much
pleasure from inspecting the collection and
properly used, to the japanese, II will con-
vey valuable instruction.
It has probably occurred to some, and,
when visiting such an exhibition In Yoko-
hama, will doubtless suggest itself to many,
that if the Japanese Government were to
open such an Exhibition of the products of
its own country and the manufactures of
its people, considerable good might result.
Such a museum exists In Bombay, In which
most of the productions and manufactures Of
India are represented, and great advantage
has been derived from 1t. stimulus has
been given to design, particularly, and In
dian art is steadily advancing. A Japanese
writer, whose pamphlet on the Revolution
and its causes, we lately published In these
columns, asks pertinently enough why 1t
should be maintained that Western nations
so uniformly excel Japan. We make good
ships and guns and machinery, be admits,
but he claims for the smiths Of Japan that
they make good swords and spears He
might have said more and found better ex-
amples of the superiority of Japanese manu-
features. To say nothing of their lacquer,
too familiar article to quote, their goldsmiihs
work the best artists in London and Paris
confess themselves quite unable to approach.
Their Kioto silk looms produce most beau
tiful and valuable webs, their inlaid wood
work and palmer cabinet work is not to be
beaten, and in many Ingenious applications
of paper they eau show us much that we do
not know. Why not accumulatein 1edo mu-
scum of raw products and art manufactures?
There must be thousands OF Japanese In
Yedo 50 imperfect are the means OF commu-
nieation, who are unacquainted with many
of the productions of other parts OF the
country aud such a collection would add to
the many attractions of the Mikado's new
capital. To Foreigners, many specimens
would be absolutely new, and certainly, to
almost all of US, the show pieces which
would be sent to such an exhibition would
be wonders and delights OF the value of
fff,t,a af fha
mems of all their raw silks. hemp, fax, cot
ton and other hbres, grain from various dis
tricts and other staples, we need not speak,
II is obvious. But with respect to their
manufactures, many of which are so artisti-
cally beautiful, an immediate and direct ben
eft would at once accrue. japan is becom-
ing favorite resort for wealthy travellers
from all parts of the world aud the rapidly
increasing and improving communication
with the West Is making II more so every
day. In the dimly lighted crowded curio
shops Of Yokohama, the eye soon wearies in
ranging over the ill-arranged cabinet, lac
quer, ivory, tortoise-hell and bronze ware
How much more tempting would these look
in well arranged museum and how much
more rapidly would they be sold Crystal
Palaces are the greatest advertisements for
tradesmen in articles of luxury.
But whether such result be among those
to be produced by the Austrian Exhibition
Wllcn VIII enOftly De opened mere, tnere can
be no doubt that this Exhibition will do
good to Austrian manufacturers and we hard
ly know which we admire most: the clever
ness of those who thought of such scheme
as a commercial embassy, carrying with 1t
specimens of what its country's commerce
had 10 offer to an ally, or our own stupidity
in not having hit upon the same idea. Eng
lish, American, French and Dutch goods
have only been painfully and slowly Intro
duced into the country where they sought
market by the ordinary narrow channels of
trade. Austria is not ashamed boldly to
proclaim her object; she comes to trade and
with her Embassy, she sends samples of
what she has to sell The money so spent is
far better expended than is most required by
as costly, and, as the phrase would probably
run, more strictly diplomatic missions. But
those who think that an Ambassador who
thus brings traders in his train, acknowl-
edged and avowed, loses any of the dignity
which attaches to the person Of n plenipo-
tentiary are singularly mistaken. The truest
dignity is the dignity Of truth, and the OBJ
ject Of mission is its success and II BY thus,
at the outset, proelaiming that trade Is the
purport Of Austria's seeking an ally In Japan.
trade in Austrian goods Is at once created,
the Ambassador will have ample reason to
congratulate himself and in comforting upon
traders portion Of bis own importance and
Prssfigs, he will find he has lost nothing, but
Uained anueh -.TnrA0,. 7fsarr Cce ia