Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-09-09
EIPOSITIOY NOTES.
Correspondence Of The Evening Star.l
PHILApHIPHIA: 1910,


sia as not yet emerged from . sort OF half
pastoral half-warlike barbarism, and Spain
as having well.nigh relapsed into o like con-
dition, are likely to be q good deal astonished
by the exhibits OF these two countries. Doubt
less there still exists some ground for this
common belief In both cases, but not nearly
SO much as most people suppose. This the
displays Of the two countries will abundant
ly show. The exhibit of Russia is partic-
ularly rich and attractive, both in natural
products and manufactured articles. In in
dia rubber goods, in cotton, linen, and wooden
fabrics, in metals, and indeed In nearly all
branches OF industry affecting the every day
life OF her common people, she furnishes very
decided evidences OF progress. But 1t is in
her exhibit OF Jewelry, gold and silver wares,
bronzes, valuable minerals, furs and deco
rated cloths, and other articles OF higher
luxury, that she comes out strongest and
furnishes most food for surprise. Her show
Of rich gold and silver ware is excelled by
that In the English section alone; and even
that does not seem TO pass the best Rus.
sian work In massiveness, splendor OF color,
novelty OF design and delicate handiwofk.
These qualities are particularly noticeable
In the large collection of punch bowls, goo
lets, salvers, cups, spoons, ETC., made OF
mented by all the various processes known
In that art. Many are decorated with costly
gems, and nearly all are beautiied by ara
besque and other exquisite designs wrought
In Iula work, or by the still more diff
cult and costly process OF damaskeening.
In oxidised and also in reroLsse silver
equaled by that of any other nation rep
resented here Repousse, let me explain
for the benefit Of the uninitiated, is a
style OF high relief metal work, In which
the projecting figures are all hammered
out from behind. instead OF being cast
or stamped by dies, as is usually done. The
amount OF time, patience and Intelligent
artistic skill required to execute II properly
are almost incredible; and the wide dispro
portion existing between the value of the
labor bestowed ON piece OF work OF this
kind and that OF the material OF which IL Is
composed will be appreciated by q close
study OF the principal piece representing
that branch OF art In this collection. viz;
At 81 600, Of which sum perhaps little more
than the hundredth part is represented by
the raw material itself;,all the rest is brain
are In many qualities equal both In design
and execution TO those OF any in the build
ing. They are likewise more interesting than
most OF them for the reason that the classic
and my pathological ideas and forms so com
mon In that branch OF art are here given up
for subjects which illustrate the history and
and low degree But AFTER ali, what is likely
TO amaze visitors most Is the gorgeous and
entirely unequaled display of semi precious
stores, such as malachlte, lapis lazuii,
agate, rhodeDite, jasper, comedian, labra
oorite etc. These and others OF their class,
which we are accustomed TO see used for
rings, sleeve buttons, studs, etc are exhib-
TIED here In the form Of massive mantel
pieces, vases, pedestals, and tables, and
sometimes In rough blocks nearly as large
as the immense Jumps OF coal which dealers
In that article sometimes place at their
office doors as sign Of their calling. One Of
these, In malachite, weighs nearly eleven
hundred pounds, and is valued at S. 900. A
mantel piece OF the same material, hand
somely inlaid and ornameuted In relief with
other precious stones, is held, including
clock and side pieces, at $40 600; pair OF
vases OF the same, over two feet high, at
$1,000; and a large table with gilt bronze
frame at 50 400. A small circular table OF
laps lazuli, about eighteen inches In diane
ter, Is held at $50, and pair OF card re-
ceivers OF rhodonite, a very hard red stone.
which has TO be cut with diamond dust, are
valued at $4,000 each. In furs, of course
ers will understand when told that q single
cloak OF sable exhibited here Is valued at
$500 gold, and collar OF black fox fur at
81 200. There are hundreds Of other articles
that might well be named, but only the
more important end striking can be referred
TO in the skeleton form prescribed for these
| notes.
| The exhibit of Spain is not near so rich
as that Of Russia, but on many accounts it
is hardly less interesting. 1t is especially
creditable when 1t is remembered that 1t was
prepared while her people were distracted by
civil war, and other wise unified for the task
OF competing in an industrial exhibition
with other nations more fortunately situated
In that respect. In fine work In steel, iron,
and other metals of that class, II Is particu-
larly large and attractive. In elegantly
carved furniture, likewise, and in pottery,
leather. silk, wooden, linen, cotton, cordage,
and other manufactured goods, she also
makes q handsome and creditable display.
Indeed her whole exhibit is In the highest de-
all the circumstances. It serves to show,
also, In q most gratifying manner, that
Spain Ii still alive TO the memory OF her
past sSTss AND u Inspired Sy IL to make
of her former proud and commanding posi-
ton among nations. At all events 1t Is evil
them all In material development and SUBJ
stantisl progress.
The largest and showlest OF the buildings
erected here by the several states il that OF
New Jersey; but the most interesting and
creditable, 20 far as its contents are con-
cerned, is the one built and occupied by
Kansas and Colorado jointly. That por-
ton Of 1t devoted to Colorado is mostly
filled with natural curiosities, and q large
display OF minerals, and these together
attract a good deal of attention. The ex-
hibit of Kansas is, however, more system
attic, compI ehensive, and business-liks In
its scope. 1t includes the choicest attain
able specimens OF all her principal products,
agricultural and mineral,-the former, as q
matter OF course, being largely In exc cess OF
the former These are supplemented by vari.
Gus maps, surveys, statistical tables, etc, all
projected on SO large and plain scale that
even he who runs may get all Information
needful to q tolerably fair understanding OF
the resources. progress and probable future
Of that enterprising and prosperous young
state. The whole display, which is much
like the BEST features Of State Fair, Is
arranged in such an intelligent and attrac-
tive way as to hold quite large crowd con-
stantly In hand and call ont much favorable
comment The exhibit must have cost the
state q pretty round sum, but no doubt she
will ind her profit In IL from the favorable
Impression 1t makes on the vast number OF
persons here who expect at some time or
other to ego west" and grow mp with the
country. i notice, especially, that IL attracts
great deal OF attention nom foreign vtsi-
tors.
**&
The French collection is full Of poor pic
lures. But II one wishes TO see how thor
oushly badly Frenchman can paint, Let
him examine Dumaresque's picture repre-
senting . session OF the Geneva Arbitration
Commission II Rould bo hard 20 md any.