Connecticut western news., 1876-07-21
AT THE CENTENNIAL.
Russia was Late, but she Makes a Fine Display- Her silver and EnnmeIed Ware. etc.

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 Although Russia was slow in mak- ing up her mind to participate in the Centennial display, her exhibit as a whole is pronounced superb. The neighboring section of Germany is con- pletely eclipsed by it. Indeed, there is no national department in the Main building that makes Q stronger impress Hion of richness and beauty. The hesilver- ware and enameled work is without Q rival. The forms of the objects and the styles of ornamentation are wholly original. Almost the only object show ing Western ideas is a semicircular plaque in silver of the "Last Supper ]" and its smaller reproductions. Subjects from Russia, life and history form the staples of the bronzes and the silver. The enameled work in silver and gold is exceedingly brilliant, and displays re- markedly fine workmanship. The styles are unique, and recall Asiatic art far more than anything European. Very curious effects are produced by imita- tions in white silver of the Russian nap kin with it's color border, which seems \ to have peculiar national significance. It is worked out in such 8 faithfully minute manner that the threads can al most be counted. So admirable is their workmanship that they might easily be mistaken for real fabrics of linen. A peculiar Russia industry which is abun- dantly and very beautifully displayed, is the manufacture of 8 variety of orna- mental stones found in the Ural noun tains. Malachite, jasper, and lapis lazui are the materials mostly used, but there are also articles made of stones quite unfamiliar in this country, such as Labrador, rhodonite, and nephrite. Very lovely are the punches of fruits carved out of various stones, the natural colors of the stone reproducing almost exactly the colors of the fruits. In this way raspberries, plums, currants, green gages, and grapes are made on paper weights, or set in the front of mantels. A large mantel of malachite, with 8 mosaic front of perhaps score of diff ferent stones, and ornaments of this peculiar fruit work is valued at $6, 500. Malachite vases about three and one half feet high, each cut out of 8 single block of stone, cost $4, 800 8 pair; and a smaller size, about eighteen inches high, is valued at $650. The malachite and lapis lazul tables range in price from $1O0 to $1 ,OOO. There is great variety of small ornaments in malachite, jasper, and lapis lazuli at very moderate prices. The work in these stores, as a rule, follows French models, and does not appear to have been much affected by the recent rage for Muscovite art. The fabrics of cloth of gold and silver, mingled with silk, and sometimes richly embroidered in colors, recall the tales of Oriental magni6cence. The dress silks, woolen goods, cottons and the linen fabrics rival those of France and Eng land.
 There is unique and very attractive collection of garments and table spreads from Circassia, richly embroidered in silk and in gold and silver threads. The display of furs is much the finest to be found in the fair. Some idea of the beauty of these articles may be formed from their cost. A little bunch of sable skins of the finest quality is valued at g., 400; a fur cloak made of the backs of sable skins is ticketed g., 700, and la dies cape of black fox fur is marked $1,400. Some exquisitely lovely gold iewelry in the forms of flowers is re- markable for the delicate shadings of color, varying from the lightest straw yellow to 8 browpish red, produced by the. application of different degrees of heat to the plates of gold: A pavilion of very graceful form made of ebony is devoted to an exhibit of india rubber goods-an American industry neutral ized recently in Russia, which has met with remarkable success, the product of the single factory making the exhibit amounting to $5, 5,000;000 year. Some specimens of work in carved woods come from an industrial school in St. Peters burg that is under governmental patron age. The most noticeable object is a peasants chair in black walnut, across the seat of which lies an imitation of a towel made of some white wood. The handles are formed of hatchets. At the back of the seat lie pair of mittens, admirably carved, and in the frame is the characteristic motto in this Russian language: "Go slow and you will SC far, which expresses in single sentence the spirit of the Slavic race.
 The direct contributions of the Rus sian government to the fair are an ad, miracle collection of minerals and fos sils, and an exhibit made by the Peda gogic museum of St. Petersburg, aI institution under the immediate direc, tion of the ministry of war. The obiec of the museum is to encourage the in troduction of good school books and apparatus, and generally to promote the diffusion of public education. The col lection shows that object teaching i made an important part of primary ed ucation in Russia, the Illustrations o natural history by pictures and models and of geography and ethnology, being complete and systematic. The schoo furniture shown presents nothing tha American manufacturers need study Osher notable exhibits that deserve more than the mere mention that can bt accorded them here are those of pianos scientific instruments, amber, soap chemicals, fans, umbrellas and lalies cloaks of velvet lined with tho whit fur of the Thibet goat, or trimmed witt sable. Under an architectural desigl hung with miniatures of the twenty saintly namesakes of the Czars, from Peter the Great to Alexander H., stand a figure in armor, about foot high worked out in gold against the purpl velvet background. The face is painte and surrounded with raised gloria c diamonds. One hand rests on tabl on which is 8 crown and scepter of dis monds, rubies and emeralds. The fig ure is Saint Alexander Newsky. If any body wants to buy this curious. spec men of religious art it can be had fo 5,000roubles-or about $3, 800. A hea
 of Christ beautifully painted on a rer resentation in silver of a handkerchie
 lying upon gold embroidered bacl
 ground, is marked 1000 roubles.
 The. Russian exhibit in Agricultur
 hall is comparatively large, and we
 represents the farming industry of tE
 empire, as far as it's products are co1
 cerned, and also the industries engage
 in making the various preparations
 food. There are grains of all kinds
 sacks with glass covers and in sheave
 q -l l--.