The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-09-06
OUR CENTENNIAL LETTER.

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The 1.-Two Stock Displny--Japanese Hend
dresses--Liberia--NIi ellaneous Notes.
LIVE STOCK.
The live stock display begins, as has
been noted before, on the first of Sep
tember, and will comprise 5000 head
exclusive of poultry. The live stock
Judges will make general report on the
origin, progress, development and pres
ent type of each breed represented al
the show, Among the animals is a steer
weighing 5000 pounds, and mule
twenty-one and one-half hands high, ano
weighing 1000 pounds. Both these
we'll developed specimens of anima
life are from Tennessee, State famous
for good stock. Some of the dogs en-
tered for the bench show from Septem
ber 4 to 8, cost as much as 81, 900. The
steamship Erin left London on the tenth
of August with specimens from the
hocks and herds of Lords Ohesham and
Walsingham. those Of the Royal Agri
cultural school, and others. It is re-
ported that Great Britain will send 8
hundred specimens of her blooded cat
tie to the cattle exhibition.
JAPANESE HEAD ORNAMENTS AND TOYS.
Kiyoto, Japan, exhibits some elegant
articles of their industry in the shape
of artificial flowers, hairpins, and many
handsome articles for the coiffure. The
most costly ornaments worn in the hail
are made of light colored tortoise shell.
In manufacturing the articles the white
spotless parts are cut out OF the rough
tortoise shell, and by warming, press
ing and gluing with the white of an
egg, they are shaped into hairpins o1
all kinds, and mostly into those -four
cornered pins, eight to ten inches long,
which are worn horizontally through
the hair. When light and transparent,
these pins are quite expensive. The
brown colored tortoise shell is used fol-
combs, trays and baskets, and is fire.
quently ornamented with gilt lacquer
paintings. From the same district is d
Quaint collection of children's toys.
They usually initiate animals, represent
ing hair and feathers with hemp and
silk threads. Pictures are made by
pasting pieces of silk, cut to represent
different figures Of men and animals on
sheets of paper.
Liberia lies on the west coast of Afri-
ca, midway between Sierra Leone and
Cape Palmas, extending 800 miles along
the coast, with an average breadth of
eighty miles, having Cape Mesurado,
lat. six deg. nineteen min. NJ, lon., ten
deg. thirty min. west, near tho center OF
its coast line. It was founded IS COL
ony in 1920. The government is re-
public, being declared independent in
l847.
After an interview with Mr.. Morris,
consul general, to whom I am indebted
for valuable information regarding his
country, at least territory to whose in
terests he has devoted the best years OF
his life, I feel assured an intelligent ar
ticle bearing upon this country would be
acceptable. but letter space does not ad-
NIT, hence the reader will be contented
with a skeleton sketch Of the products Of
this rapidly improving country. Consul
General Morris explained to me the
workings of the coffee trade of Liberia.
A hull holding three grains, with which
he decorates his watch guard, was a
unique and practical souvenir of the
coffee interests. It seems that, in spite
of the immense resources of Brazil,
and the reputation of Java, that Liberi-
an coffee is pronounced the best in the
market By many experts. What the
opinion of the judges of award will be, I
can't say, but the grain seems to be
large, smooth and firm. For the benefit
of journalists who barter, General Nor
ris says he requires one bushel of coffee
in the hulls for years subscription to
his paper. One coffee tree at Monrovia
has been known to yield thirty pounds
of coffee. Another specially with Libe-
ria is palm oil. Sixteen hundred jars,
hermetically sealed. are now en- route
for the Centennial. Camwood, red
wood, and barwood are valuable woods.
An iron steamer was built expressly on
the CLYDE for river use in Liberia, and
was devoted to pursuing the courses of
the different streams and interesting the
planters in shipments to the Exhibition,
which movement was a complete suo-
cess, and the entire structure of the e1-
hibit with it's management is in the
hands of General Morris, who is Justly
commended for his efforts in bringing
the products of this far-off. country to
international recognition.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
The Argentine Republic exhibit a
cuirass made Of grass, q handsome
Vienna cloak without seam, also a
handsome Pampa girdle and variety of
fabrics made by the Pampa Indians. A
curious collection in the Argentine e1-
hibit consists of ladies' headdress, COL
lars, bracelets and gloves made of bris-
ties. An unpleasant thought springs
up in the minds of most visitors on
viewing Argentine boots made OF snake
skins. And one can almost imagine
snakes in his boots, in the skin at any
rate.
There is portrait of Rubens, panels
from Gailait, portrait of Cousin in Ara
bian costume, eight panels together,
representing eight gods, from Olympus,
with all their attributes from Audran.
Full length painting, style Louis XVI.
The tapestry carpets are perfectly beau
tiful, representing in bright and attrac-
tive colors different scenes in rural life.
An Aibe straw hat is quite pretty
from Catamarca, Argentine Republic.
Cordoba sends handsome mats made
OF feathers, also soma very handsome
flowers made of hair.
Buenos Ayres sends a gold necklace
and medallion representing the fourteen
Argentine provinces, pretty and instruc-
tive. They send from Cordoba beautl-
full flowers made of seeds.
Zurich, Switzerland, has a specially
on exhibit in fig meal. Another specially
is surrogate of coffee.
The most beautiful tapestries on e1-
hibition are from Belgium.
Antwerp sends gin made from tne
grains. ,
A wonderful exhibit from Switzerland
is collection of cereals from sandy
soil. What has been added to make
it productive must be a secret, as sand
entire is not generally adapted to agri-
cultural purposes.
The Japanese exhibit beautiful leather
made of soft deerskins, printed and
dyed. This fabric is from Toxic. The
Japs are famous for their paper this
they make from the "Kodzu, " Kali,
"Gampi," the Kuwa or mulberry tree: