Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-10-13
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Philadelphia Letter.

rather quiet one compared to the previous
week, yet the attendance has been large,
averaging about 10000 cash admissions n
day. The people of Rhode Island had their
"day" on Thursday, and the state was very
well represented. OF course no such brushes
as were experienced on Pennsylvania and
New York days were expected, as the ad.
missions to the grounds on Pennsylvania
day numbered about 80 900 more than the
entire population of Rhode Island.
Foreign Exhibits.
In the main building the Chinese aud
japanese exhibits attract much attention.
The principal feature of the Chinese exhibit
is the work in carved wood and ivory.
There are cauopied bedsteads and other ar.
ticles of furniture completely covered with
carving which is made up Of various beasts,
birds and flowers and the multitude of gro
tesque imaginary forms in which the brain
of the celestial seems always so fertile.
1t is in this kind of work, requiring years
OF ingenious, painstaking labor, and pa
thence in comparison with which that of job
was mot circumstance" that the China
men excel. The attendants in this depart
mcnt are by no means the slightest attraction.
Their odd manners and grotesque appearance,
and the 'lOnchalGat way in which they go
about, whistling or hummiug what is sup
posed to be the Chinese national air, are
continual source of amusement and enter
tainment to the visitors.
In the japanese department the chief at
traction is the inlaid lacquer work, consist
ing Of various useful aud ornamental articles
such as fire screens, escretoires, jewel cases,
and the like. This work is made by the in
laying Of gold dust and leaf and mother-oi-
pearl 10 the lacquer varnish after it has been
applied to the wood Of which the articles
are constructed, and has tho appearance of
polished ebony with designs in gold both fiat
aud in relief. The work Of the Japanese,
while it is not of kind to require so much
patience and time in the execution as the
Chinese carving, gives evidence of more in
telectual ingenuity, and the lack of mechan-
ical skill is more than balanced by the
greater delcacy Of the designs and the more
perfect representations Of nature and life
which they give.
The exhibits of Great Britain and France
are so large and varied and contain so many
articles worthy Of special mention that it
would be impossible to do them any justice
in a short newspaper article. The long row
of carpets along the north side of the main
building, from various English exhibitors, is
very attractive to the ladies, and many sales
are made. The exhibit Of hardware, cut
lery, weapons and other metallic products
is very 6ue, though not in any way superior
to the American exhibit, and probably far
from being as fine show as might be made
by English manufacturers in this line.
In the French department the largest
sheets of plate-gla and mirrors ever i'm
ported are shown by st. Gobain, Chauny Il
Grey of Paris, whose exhibit of different
kinds of glass is very large and interesting.
Silks in every stage Of manufacture from
the cocoon to the richest finished webs are
one Of the speciatles in this department.
Lovers of humbug can fud much to inter-
est them in the display Of paste jewelry and
limitations of diamonds and precious stones.
In the display from Austria, which is
large aud varied, the first thing to attract at
tention is the beautiful exhibit of glassware,
in my opinion superior to anything else Of
the kind ia the exhibition. The Austrians
also make the finest show of meerschaum
pipes to be seen anywhere.
The British colonies in Australia and Tas.
mania have shown a great deal of enterprise
aud judgment in the selection and arrange.
ment of their exhibits. Some models of the
great nuggets of gold which have been dug
up in the various gold regions Of the colo
MES are tempting enough to give almost any
one the Australian fever, and u large collec'
ton of photographs and views of the towns
and agricultural regions are such as to give
a very pleasing idea of the topography o.
the country to all who examine them. The
collection of agricultural products is very
fine.
Swedeus exhibit of iron and steel is sale
to be the finest ever made anywhere, and
cannot fail to attract the notice Of every Wis
itor. The whole exhibit of this cold
country which we are accustomed to think
Of as land Of perpetual ice and snow
is of a nature which shows the people to b.
intelligent, enterprising and Industrious, anC
far ahead Of many European states in edu
catlonal and social advantages.
Thus might 60 on through the twenty
nine foreign countries having exhibits in thu
main building, but want of time and space
must bring this letter to close and dele
all further remarks until some later date
when much about Vermont exhibitors which
has been crowded out of this letter will ap
pear. find that almost every exhibit from
the state has received an award, which
proves that the state makes up in the quail
ty Of its articles for the lack in quantity
There are displays in the Agricultural and
u. s, Government buildings which in par
make up for the small exhibits in the othe
departments. D.F,
! Philadelphia, Pa, oet. GA.