Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-22
THE CENTENNIAL.
Some OF the Most Attractive and pseiui
Articles on ExhIbitiOn-A Running
Commentary.
From an OCCASIONAL Correspondent of the

From an Occasional Correspondent oi Inc
Appeal
PHILADELPHIA, August % Many OF
our Memphians visit the Centennial ana
vet our citizens hear but little OF the
great and irdescribsbly beautiful slghts
here to be seen. Why is this? 1 am
sure our friends at home feel lively IN
terest in our great national exposl1iopi
and are equally gratitied to learn what
they can OF its exhibits and general
features For me to attempt desefip-
ton OF the Centennial would be folly:
leave that to some competent
pen, and content myself in fitting, but
terfiy like, from one attractive OBJECT 10
another, No common thread can unite
these stray illusions; they will be ols.
ioiuted and very sslimited descriptions OF
q few articles. No more could you cnar-
acterizs es en- department Of the curious
and beautiful here than you could critl-
else Kaleidoscope at single gance:
Each turn gives new combination OF
beauty. The iuclostd ar OF west
Fairmount park is five hundred and
thirty.six acres. The five principal
buildings are the main building, art gal
Iery, machinery hall, agricultural hall,
and horticultural hall; besides these
there ere about one hundred aud hfty
other buildings, used for various par
poses. So tastefuily have these been
arranged that the grounds are indeed
made thing of beauty. with the
exception of the art gallery, which Is
built of white stone, and Will remain as
: Cto+o aoadannY OF =IrfG, .aIlnaIsIsn-
nmd f3Ghn6 gi8sJ has been used, giving the
buildings light, siry appearance, and
unconsciously opening the channel OF
memory, which leads to early concep-
tions of fairy-lapd; but very restless
spirit would seen to have seized the In
habitants, for the whole scene is alive
with human figures passing in every
direction. So equally are the attrac'
tions distributed that when thirty five
or forty thousand people are present, no
one place seems uDple2santiy crowded.
1 would advise visitor, on first enter
ing the grounds, to taka the narrow
gauge railroad and Tiie around the
grounds several times TO acqusint him
self with their location, then go to the
main building. Here he will find ex-
hibits of extraordinary beauty, from all
parts of the world. Snould he enter at
the western main entrance, 10 his left
he will find The displays Of Chill, the
Argentine Republic and China. OF
course the exhibits of the Argentine Re-
public are inconsiderable, but their de-
gree of proficiency in various depart
ments was q matter OF much surprise.
Their carpets and cotton goods are
coarse, but they make me show Of art
in few bronze busts and large mosaic
table. Chill has quite variety OF min
erals, her silver ores being quite inter.
esting. The exhibit from Busnos
Ayres is more blessing. The
tree "Philadelphia," embroidered on
white silk, bearing the various Fl ags and
coat-of- arms of different nations, ia very
fine; but one of the most ingenious
things / saw was travelling iunk. On
being closed it is large tqu are trunk; ;
on opening, it is found to contain com.
Portable bed, dress;ng-case, a case OF
dishes, cooking utensils, and c8ss for
carrying provision. / mention this be-
cause l have seen nothing in its line to
equal this invention of Buenos Ayres
We now come to the Chinese depart
ment. Of-course every body is familiar
with the syle Of Chinese crockery, but
very few have ever seen such exquisite
carving IS theirs. A written description
could give you no just conception of its
intricacy and delicacy. In badstead,
known as the "Chinese bedstead, ;" the
art OF carving reaches that degree of
perfection which stands pre-eminent
above all other nations. The carving on
this, though two or three inches through,
is most perfect and complete in every
detail, even to the turning of tendril,
or the adju ltment of q father upon the
little birds WrC ght in among the vines
and flowers. They have various articles
in which the carving is exquisite, but
hours Of interesting s. udy can be passed
at their case of ivory, which contains
specimens Of extraordinary art and
beauty. Here you will see the most del
icste flowers, with every threadiike part
complete; vases, boats, work-boxes,
fans, ALI infinitely and beautifully carved.
I could write psges on each department.
but must hurry on, only touching at
Japan just long enough to glance at
their lscqered W are, " hich is exceeding ly
beautiful, and in which they certainly
excel. L wish / had time to tell you of
8 mosaic furniture they make, which is
lovely. 1 consider the japanese exhib.
its the finest in the building. 1t was my
intention to select the most interesting
objects Of each nation for special notice,
but find this would consume too mu 3h
time and space, SO will mention only
those most noted in the building, among
which is the Bryant vase. This, as an
American specimen of ideal and histori-
cal work, is considered very fine, and is
regarded by all Americans with much
pride. The vase, at first sight, would
strike you as quite simple and rather Sc
we're in form. 1t is entirely covered with
a fretwork # the apple blossom, primrose
and smarantb, typical Of the purity and
simplicity of the life they are intended
to Commemorate. The body of the vase
bears six expressive medallions of the
poet, illustrative of his life and work.
The vase is solid silver, and is wrought
in what is called the repouSSe process,
that is, beating the silver bars out by
hand and then working the surface cut
ward by means OF a snarling iron. The
value Of this handsome gift is not esti-
mated by the amount of silver it con-
tains, but by its exquisite workmanship.
There are other vases much larger and
handsomer, but they are Of other work.
nanahin Or halOnp To the EuToDean eX-