Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-02

In walking through the many transepts,
courts and galleries of the Exposition build
ing ones attention is often called to a group
or collection of articles by large crowd as
sembled at the same place, as, for instance,
around jewelry stand, gliitcrng with gems,
precious stones, ana diamonds. There is
certain fascination about diamonds, when on
display, that seems to charm the spectator,
and after making several attempts to leave,
he goes back and looks them all over
again, choosing in his mind which he would
like to be posscssor of himself, or have in his
power to give away to some particular friend.
While walking up the Strand in London,
often found myself stopping il front Of shop
window trimmed with diamond rings, and so,
under like charm my feet were drawn to 4
magnificent display of briliiants, on exhibition
in the Austrian department, near the
liotunda, in a small case, protected by an iron
railing from sharp rogues, such as thrive in
London, one of whom, so the people say
came so near the Arabian grey, on which the
Shah of Persia was riding, as to clip off from
the harness a diamond of inferior value
worth about $500. But ! must return to this
case Of diamonds, and leave the Shah aud hi
rogues to themselves. The most striking and
valuable article in this little case il = neck
lace which belongs to the Arch Duke. Carl
Luu"is' IL contains 10 dlahohas OF remark
able SIZE ans! lustre, ana IS valued, 50 the
Uiiicef saia' az SZ9o:oUo "a quarter OF mn
ilon2i money enough 10 puma I'VE reSpecta-
pie Protestant churchcs, rs many more school
| houses ana cioth anu ieed lof NE a few OF
'he ragged beggafs that one IS constantly
meeting in london, Paris and other continent
al cities. at the railway stations, or couehed
q: the entrance OF some Cathedral There
WERE ocSloeS i,dS riGit necklace, many other
afueles III Jeweiry' "hich' coliechVe!y, would
pfooa9iy exceed III value the necklace nell
'ioHeu, 'iias making III az enllection worth
soinGthlng over nan mliioh. IN the French
ana Ehghsh departments mere was also a me
sho" Oh precious stones, ana Vaieabie gems
Out 'hcy attract niue a'tehtion after one has
seen the fich necklace OF the Archdnke
Charles. One OF the speeialtlcs in Vienna
SHOPS j. enameiied SILVER Jewelry, and many
beautiful specimens were on exhibition, such
as blue and black enamelled breaches, brace
lets, earrings, and Gull buttons. Very little
OF the manufactured goods OF Austria find
thelf way TO American markets, with the eX-
ception however, OF mothef-oi-pcarl buttons.
Ihe greater part OF tile Austrian ware Is eX-
ported to the East and South. In the Bohe-
man department one - obliged to spend some
time looking al the glass and earthen ware.
study; beng covered with figures having
historical Specification, all artistically mould
ed and highly colored In porcelain. The
show OF garnet Jewelry from Bohemia is very
large. These bright red stones are lnlaid on
the covers OF oibles, prayer-books, photo
graph albums, besides being made into many
varieties OF small Jewelry While looking at
THESE sparkling gems the time glldes away,
and, before one Is aware OF IT. the afternoon,
| n NJ u a a "A "a oh lg
passing rapidly. There are SO many rich and
beautiful things to see, it is quite difficult at
times to leave them; but the sight of some
thing attractive further along claims the at
tentions, and so the round is made through
the galleries, courts, and transepts.
The rich display OF 1lags IS an important
feature in the exhibition Every department
has its flag festooned over the entrance way,
and, to visitor standing at one end OF the
court and looking down, the display Of so
many flags is quite pleasing spectacle.
While passing by the French department,
the sound of music from piano claimed my
attention. Quite company were assem-
bled, young man presided at the piano, and
turned out marches, waltzes, polkas, and the
like, by the means of crank not drumming
at all with his fingers. The plan struck me
as being novel .one, so | watched him very
closely. 1t had nothing of the appearance of
street Hauu-oTgdH; Dut very ihuCH TeStli-
bled piano of the ordinary kind. After he
had finished, he proceeded to explain. In
few minutes he showed the astonished specta-
tors that any tune could be played upon the
instrument, by changing the folds of the past
board notes, which were passed into one side
of the piano. These pasteboard notes were
folded, making package about six inches
long and four inches wide, perforated with
holes, so that only the notes passing through
the holes in the pasteboard gave musical
sound, the other notes being suppressed by
striking the bare pastboard. The piano (if 1t
may be called piano. playing was wholly
mechanical, but quite as rich IN tone as any
7 ever heard. II such instruments come in
: fashion, piano playing will be Il very easy and
simple amusement.
The Rotunda is the central point Of inter
est in the great exhibition. 1t is delightful
for situation, a large and beautiful fountain
plays during the busy hours of the afternoon
: when the number Of visitors increase, and,
= after walking about until tired, they often
come and watch this fountain play in the CEN
tire of the Rotunda, listening at the same time