Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-07-27

Neither is she as odd in her style or
dress, or in her manner of fixing her
hair, as used to be supposed, the style
ot the Japs in these directions not VIC
lentiy outraging present received
modes. The visrtor should not in
studying the richness of the high
priced articles neglect the humber
kinds Of screens, which are very sug-
gestive 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 ex-
hibit Of wall decorations with the same
appliances used in ornamenting Of the
screens. These articles I term pict-
ures, in deferance to American ideas
on the subject, bnt they are really
very little like pictures Of Europe and
the New World They are reduced
copies of the screens, changed in shape
and framed in primatiye Manu.,
The work is Of the same character as
that spoken Of in the preceding sect
ion, uniformly on ground OF silk, the
designs being either painted, embroid-
cried or quilted. There are a great
number Of these pictures, their subjects
covering a large space in the delinea
ton 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
Fq position more interesting than these
pictures and this from the view that
has been steadily held in these articles
IN remarking upon the collective oxhib-
its Of foreign countries. The wall de-
corations give US clear ideas of the peo-
pie customs, industries, scenery and
natural characteristics Of Japan, and
their very rudeness instead of Offering
any difficulty to apprehension but adds
to the charm of the works. The pro
cess to which | have been forced to
give the unsatisfactory name CT ''quiIt-
ing" is one of the very queerist things
that has been submitted TO foreign eyes.
It consists Of the building up Of figures
by patient tailor-work; layer after layer
Of suken, WOODEN, or other materials
being sewed or glued upon each other.
Not ouly clothing is formed in this
way, bat every variety OF natural OBJ
ject. Faces are generally painted, anc
the addition of real clothes has the Cd
deat, yet most comfortable effect con
ceivable.
The humor ofthe Japanese is seen
especially displayed in these decrations.
Some Of the grougs are truly comicaI
in idea and composition, and the fun is
of gentle, good sort showing the
evident kindly disposition of the peo-
pie, Another class Of subjects shows
that Beard and other modern artists
were not wholly original in their per
sonifcations or human peculiarities in
creatures of lower order. Some cap,
itaI humorous illustrations Of this kind
are shown in these quilted and painted
pictures. One in particular is extrav-
agently funny; it is procession Of
grrsshoppers and other insects, headed
by soldiers, and carrying in the centre
Of the force a palanquin in which re-
poses some mighty Daimio. All the
actors in the scene are bugs and insects
of various kinds, the most preposter-
ously funny of the number being the
hoppers, who are as near nature as the
most ardent pre-Raphaelitist could de-
sire. [ trust no one will neglect to
give the screens and pictures from ia
pan the closest attention. They will
be found in the highest degree instruct
i've, and give the visitor new and thor
ough ideas of the strange cultivation
of the mystic empire. But other feat
ures of this department and the Chi
nese display must be reserved for an
other letter, or 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