Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-06-02
Japan at the Exposition.

ONE of the most satisfactory exhibits,
from an objective point of view, is that of
Japan. A great many of us have been
accustomed to speak of the Japs as
Oriental barbarians, who speak and write
an incomprehensible language, and have
strange ways Of doing things. Japan
kept her doors shut TO the world so long
that we thought she was of no account,
and, more for curiosity than anything
else, we at last went to work and pushed
the doors open. 1t is only twenty-five
years since Commodore Perry went TO
Japan, and laid the foundation Of that
familiar intercourse Which has since eX-
listed between that country and the United
States. What the japanese can do Is
shown in their department, and it gives
rise to great many eXclamations of as
tonishment. I" / never thought these peoa
pie could do anything like this" said
lady yesterday, as she examined some
delicate embroidery on tire-screen.
There isn't a woman in America who
could initiate it with any show of sue
cess" she continued, and all the members
of her party echoed her opinion. The
japanese embroidery is something won
derful, and one does not easily weary of
studying it. The japanese touch must be
very delicate, and the eye very accurate;
they embroider birds 50 that every feather
is visible, and they depict fish so that you
see every scale. Their colors are bright
and warm, and they know how to put
birds and fish, animals and men, into
graceful and artistic positions. Fire
screens, fans, robes, handkerchiefs, table
covers, and everything of a textile char
acter, show the most careful attention to
details, and most slIillful handling Of
the finest threads. Lacquered ware ap-
pears in profusion, and includes great
variety of articles for table, and toilet,
and general use. There are curious
nests OF boxes that fit into each other with
such accuracy that you must press them
down slowly in order to allow the air to
escape. The lacquer is almost invariably
of gold upon black ground, and it is so
durable that you may plunge the articles
into hot water without injury. The or
namentation includes figures Of men,
birds and animals, and sometimes of i'm
possible dragons and other hideous things;
and there are frequently bits of scenery,
in which the perspective is rather at va
rance with our own notions. The Japa-
nese do understand perspective, as one may
easily see who visits their department
and studies their drawings but they seem
to have their own ways about it. They
believe in sharp contrasts, and their col
ors are generally strong and marked.
Light with them is generally white, and
dark is about as black as his Satanic
Majesty. The japanese bronZes are eX-
quisite, and attract groups of spectators.
They are quite as fine as any in the
French department so far as the work is
concerned, and some of them are wrought
into cunning and curious shapes which Il
Of IN 1Nt
They make quite an extensive exhibit in
the department Of books and maps, and
they have some very fine work that looks
like wood engraving, and also like lithog-
raphy. They exhibit the copper plates
from which some of their bonds are en-
graved, and so it seems they have a Ma
tional debit If you did not believe they
were civilized, you must believe so now
Cor. ChScago Tribune.