Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-07-28

and group of pigeons, for spirit and nat
uralness, excites universal admiration. Of
course, female beauty comes in largely for
display, and if the Japanese woman is the
creature these quaint artists have made
her she is not altogether ualoyely. Neith-
er is she as odd in her style Of dress, or in
her manner of fixing her hair, as used to be
supposed, the styles of the Japs in these di-
reetious not violently Outraging present re
eeived modes. The visitor should not in
studying the richness Of the high-priced ar
ticles neglect the humber kinds OF screens,
which are very suggestive of japanese
manners. These are covered with gilt paper
of peculiar texture, the ornamentation
consisting of patches of various material
fastened thereon.
An allied subject is the curious exhibit
Of wall decorations with the same applian-
-ees used in the ornamenting of the screens.
These articles term pictures, in Difference
to american ideas on the subject, but they
are very little like the pictures of Europe
and the New World. They are reduced
copies Of the screens, changed in shape and
framed in a primitive manner. The work
is of the same character as that spoken Of
in the preceding section, uniformly on a
ground Of silk, the designs being either
painted, embroidered or quilted. There
are great number of these pictures, their
subjects covering a large space in the de-
lineation Of Japanese life Of all grades,
from the recreations Of the nobility to the
toll of the lowest order Of working people.
Although not ranking very high as art
works, it is safe to say that there are not
many things in the Exposition more inter-
esting than these pictures-and this from
the view that has been held in these articles
in remarking upon the collective exhibits of
foreign countries. The wall decorations
give US clear ideas Of the people, customs,
industries, scenery and natural character
istics Of Japan, and their very rudeness in
stead Of offering any difficulty to apprehen-
sion Int adds to the charm of the works.
The process to which have been forced to
give the unsatisfactory name of quilting
is one of the verY queerest things that has
been submitted to foreign eyes. 1t consists
of the building up of figures by patient
tailor-wOrk; layer after layer of silken,
woolen, or other materials being sewed or
glued upon each other. Not only clothing
is formed in this way, but every variety of
natural object. Faces are generally paint
ed, and the addition Of real cloths has the
oldest, yet most comfortable effect conceiv-
able.
The humor of the japanese is seen espe-
cially displayed in these decorations. Some
of the, groups are truly comical in idea and
composition, and the fun is of a gentle,
good sort-showing the evident kindly dis
position of the people. Another class of
subjects shows that Beard and other modern
artists were not wholly original in their per-
sonifcations of human peculiarities in
creatures of lower order. Some capital
humorous illustrations of this kind are
shown in these painted and quilted pic
lures. One in particular is extravagantly
funny; it is a procession of grasshOppers
and other insects, headed by soldiers, and
carrying in the centre of their force pal
anquin in which reposes some mighty Dai-
mio. All the actors in the scene are bugs
and insects of various kinds, the most pre-
posterously funny of the number being the
'hoppers, who are as near nature as the
most ardent pre-Raphaelist could desire.
I trust no one viii neglet to give the screens
and pictures from Japan the closest atten-
tion. They viii be found in the highest
degree instructive, and viii give the visit
or new and thorough ideas OF the strange
cultivation of the mystic empire. But 9TH
er features Of this department ana the
Chinese display must be reserved for anoth-
er letter, or 1 shall exceed my space and
weary your readers.
The excessive heat Of the past two weeks
has not been without some effect upon the
grounds, especially during the last few
days. The attendance has not been very
materially diminished because many Phila-
delphians have taken refuge from the
sweltering city in the cooler breezes of the
Park. Yet even here prOstration and ILL
ness have resulted from the intolerable
temperature, in a few cases. More of this
weather is to be expected for two or three
weeks 10 come, ami then, when we get on
the shady side of the summer, and the
farmers get their crops secured, we may
expect the whole country to enjoy a trip
hither.