The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-08-31
Exposition Notes.
Written for the journal.
FRENCH FINERY

| rhE>4Cil ElNEhI
The ladies are never tired of gazing at
the rich silks and laces which form such
prominent features in the French section
of the Main building. If the French peo-
pie, by their very elaborate display of
dress fabrics and accompaniments, have
innocently been the cause of vast deal
of envy in the hearts Of American ladies,
they can hardly be blamed. 1t was their
aim and duty to make as bewildering a
show as possible, and their complete sue
cess is beyond all doubt. 1t has been
strongly limited that even the masculine
portion of humanity has expressed great
admiration, in secret, for the lustrous
silks and satins. handiwork of the Lyons
factories Well. no doubt of it; they
acould make such captivating necktes
when cut up into narrow strips. The
manufacture of silk in France was com
menced as early as 1886, when immense
factories were established by merchants
of Florence and Lucca. In the season of
1S74-5 the product of silk in France was
more than five times that of Spain, though
only about one quarter that of Italy. Lace
making in France is one of the principal
industries, as many as 100000 persons
being employed III workshops and ut
home in its manufacture. Many admir-
able specimens are shown. OF all the
French laces the most noted is the point
d'Alencon, which has had wide celeb
rity for more than two centuries and has
received the name of the queen Of lace,
| Flowers and ferns are interviewer in it
with high degree of accuracy. Its con-
struction is so elaborate that it is sell
dom made in other than small pieces At
the Paris Exhibition of 1867 was dress
of this lace, the production of Bayeux,
consisting of two tlounces and trim
mngs. which any indulgent husband
could take home to his wife for only 3d.
600 francs, or Sl7 900. 1t required forty
women seven years to complete it. The
incest lace has often been sold at 81 POO
a pound and has been mentioned us high
as 50 800. OF braids and trimmings,
satins, grapes and ribbons, there is such
a varied collection that an inspection OF
them is fully equal to one of Worth's
spring openings. Gloves are in album
dance. Jouvin's and Alexandre's having u
| full representation in all numbers and
! shades | noticed some that would button
certainly half way up the arm (Some
fellows might bo So foolish as to forbid
their girls wearing such) AS TO giving
any idea of the style and quality of the
shawls in this department, it is wholly
out of the question; for this. back num-
bers OF the New Century for Women
should be consulted. Then. again, it is
well known how impossible an achieve
ment it is to render an opinion on Il
shawl, unless it's in its natural place
when the difficulties get narrowed down,
| The Paris sham jewelry is exhibited in
| protusion This looks as gaudy as the
more solid and substantial wares Of Ge-
neva, but the buying OF any quantity of it
will effect the purse less. Then comes
the long lists of fancy articles, rs neck
ties, handkerchiefs feathers, perlumery
soap, ornamental articles and the like. in
which the French claim precedence, aud
very few nations like to contest the point
with them.
JEWELS OF ITALY.
Out of the many products requiring
skill and science, for which the people of
this sunny cline have acquired an envi
able reputation, the single item Of Jew
elry is a world of study in itself. Every
one is naturally interested in this class Of
| goods, therefore the amount OF inspection
they receive is great. Besides the very
inviting aspect that jewels always pre-
sent, wherever seen, the exhibitors have
shown extremely good taste in the style
of cases and manner of arrangement
We find the delicate red and pink coral
in full sets, brooches, cravat pins, brace
lets and necklaces These and the more
common lava jewelry are mostly contrl-
buttons from the shops of Naples from
Venice and Florence are sent the beauti-
| tul mosaics, inlaid and stone sets The
making of mosaics is very fine work, and
requires the most experienced workmen,
who are, as they should be, more liber
ally paid than any other class OF laborers
in Italy. Persons who have seen any
work of this kind will appreciate the diff
ticulties Of producing perfect likenesses
from nature by placing together the mer-
est specks of colored stones, Their dis
| play of pure gold. diamond and cameo
.jewelry is very extensive, quite compre
hensive and awtully expensive.
The Italians are almost rs widely noted
| for their imitation gems as the French,
| but think the same law exists there rs in
Paris to protect strangers against decep-
tion. This is, that all houses offering for
sale any thing in the line of imitation
jewels. must post notices to that effect,
and any violation is attended by very
heavy fine; thus persons may rely on get
ting the strictly genuine, if they pay for
it rs such Many of the finest sets are
marked as sold but the fancy prices put
on them, added to the duty, makes the eX
pense but little any, less than Tiilanys
charges The buyers names are attached
to the purchases in most instances, rs {;
law has existed that no goods on exhibi
ton should be removed till after the 10th
! of November. This has not been SO under
| stood until recently, when the strong eff
forts which have been made to authorize
the selling and immediate delivery of any
goods, have resulted successfully, and
such rule is now in effect, conditionaIly.
MINOR NOTES.
Articles on exhibit to the value of over
ST. 900 have already been stolen from the
Exhibition buildings No wonder at the
good opinion in which Dom Pedro is held
by all Americans His visits to the Cen
tennial have borne fruit in the shape of
orders tor nearly So 900, 900 worth of our
goods, mostly machinery. He is bound
thtt Brazil shall take a front rank among
the nations, if familiarity with our pro-
ducts and inventions shall tend to it.lt
is now thought that not only will the EX-
hibition prove financially successful rs re-
CARDS meeting the running expenses, but
Il considerable surplus will be left over
from which dividend will be declared
soon after the close New York and Mich
gan have the finest of the State buildings,
West Virginia is most hospitable to stran
gers, while Colorado, As the latest conner
has the fullest and most interesting eN-
hibit of natural products The chime
bells on Machinery Hail have received
much praise. They are remarkably sweet
toned and play wide range of tunes. Be-
sides all the national airs, and many such
old and new favortes as 'Hold the Fort, y
"In the Sweet Bye and Bye" The Wear
ing Of the Green" "My Maryland" ETC.
1t is rather strange circumstance that
the immense Krupp guns of Germany
stand Immediately facing the French de-
partment 1t is also noticeable as show
ing the poor taste and boasting spirit OF
the Germans, that very many of their
paintjnUS in Memorial Hall ara of not cd