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

PIe-The HOsWtatheF.
OF all the exhibits on the Centennial
grounds those OF China and Japan embrace
some Of the most curious and novel There
ere many things in the Government build
ing and in az tthe other buildings of great
er interest and more instructive to the ma
jority of visitors; but when it comes to
mere curiosity and admiration Of odd inge-
nuity, the Chinese and japanese get the
palm. The displays Of these two national
tiles in the main building are closely asso-
ciated in the public mind but the resem-
blance is more apparent than real, and the
mingling Of interest in the two depart
ments is no more than a general attraction
towards all things strange and curious. 1t
has already been demonstrated that the
majority OF the people only go to the Ex-
position to be amused, and, taking that in-
genuous view Of the Fair, they do not both
er themselves about distinctions, but cool
ly place all the 'barbarians" on the same
plane. But the more discriminating Wis
itor scarcely needs to be told that there
are in fact not as many points of resem-
blanee as of difference between the Jspa-
nese and Chinese. The superiority Of the
former race was never made more clear
than in the present contrast Of their capac-
tiles, and their points Of divergence are
very curious. The propinquity of the de-
partments offers the best Of opportunity
for comparative display, and although
people for the most part take the whole
thing as an entertainment, there is still q
elass-apd constantly increasing one
which delights in comparing and critically
estimating those wonderful demonstrations
of Eastern humanity.
These departments are on the main ave-
nue. in the eastern end Of the Main Build
ing. The screens for which the Japanese
have been famous time out of mind form a
leading feature Of their display. These ar
tieles serve the double purpose Of use and
ornament, and it is easy to understand
from looking at them how important q
part they bear in the peculiar in-and-out-
of-house life Of the Japanese. Articles Of
furniture hold DIRECT relation to the do
mestic needs and habits Of 8 people, and
these sereens, WHICH We here regard msin-
ly as curiOsities, are with the Japanese
house. lold necessities as much almost as
chairs and tables, They are all made upon
one general plan, genearlly in three di-
visions connected by hinges Of metal or
webbing, and Of uniform size. The frames
are Of bamboo and other light woods, and
the coverings Of silk, cotton or paper. The
goods here shown being designed to show
the best grade of manufacture, the ground
work being rich silk Of neutral tints, and
the ornamentation Of the most surprising
and lavish character. This ornamentation
Is Of threefold sort-painting, embroidery,
and unique process Of ''piecing" or
quilting" which is not to be seen in the
decorating art Of any other people. DC
casionally all three styles may be seen in
single work, but usual lily when In ooniunos
tiOn only the first two or the first and last
are noticed. Embroidery and quilting are
not seen together. The really finest works
are the embroideries proper, for while the
paintings are curious, the japanese do not
as yet excel in this art. In embroidering,
however, they equal the world, and the
work on these screens will be found as good
as the best in the Royal School Of Art Nee
dlework or elsewhere in the Exposition.
The colors, contrasts, and whole manage
mept Of The effects are extraordinary hne,
The deiineation Of small birds Is exquisit,