, 1876-09-16
Decorating the Naain Centcn-
ninl Exposition Building.

The central pavilion, or transtcp of the
main building. is about $50 feet square,
with tower AZ feet square and l20 feet
high at each corner. From the floor TO
the top of the roof the transtrp is 100
feet high. 1t is well lighted by day, and
ut night chandelier having LAO burn
ers, and elevated to the vicinity OF; ;the
roof, will illuminate the scene, On the
four sides OF the central pavilion four tro'
phies, painted on canvas, named respect
lively Europe, Asia, Africa and America,
have been erected. Each trophy istwen'
ty.eisht feet high and thirty-two ice'
wide, and, including the halo OF fl'gs
surrounding 1t, is sixty feet in extreme
width. The design OF the artist was to
group the representation and symbolic
elements Of each grand division of the
earth, and by 50 doing to add his share
to the international character OF the Ex
hibition.
Europe (wbitc) is represented 10y the
figure Of woman Of the Caucasian race.
.he holds in one hand q Thyrsus, the
symbol of the vine, and in the other n
cup of wine. The figures OF Shakespeare
(the artist wanted Homer, but the Com
mission oyer.ruled HIM. artist and poet,
and of Charlemagne, warrior and lcgis
lator, crown the pediment. Shakespeare
holds in his hand the pen which produc'
ed his immortal master pieces. Charlie
magnc, leaning on his sword OF conquest.
holds in his hand the terrestrial ball; be-
hind him are the laws "Capitular' which
have made him famous. On the central
cartouch is the word Europe The
symbolical head of the horse is in the
middle Of the trophy.
Asia yellow is sreprcsented by baya-
dcre, one Of the female dancers ot India,
richly dressed, and holding in her hand
the symbolic tea-plant Beneath her
from u gilded field appears the head OF
an elephant. surrounded by specimens OF
Oriental architecture and crown OF pea
cock feathers. Two Chinese monsters
retain by their weight large cashmere
shawl, ON which is embroidered the word
Asia. In the middle of the shawl Is
pancply composed Of u Hindoo shield.
japanese swords and two gigantic fans
made of ostrich feathers. On red
ground appear the names OF ContuciuH
and Mahemet. Coniucius, the pbiOso'
pher, holds in his band scroll Ol paper
upon which is written u Chinese inscrip
ton, which, being literally translated,
means: " Hundred years; great Cen
tennial !" Mahomet, as a military and
religious chieftain, wears green turban,
the green being the Prophets color, ami
in his left hand holds Il hook, from
which detaches itself the wOrL Al ko-
rsn." In the other hand he grasps the
bare blade of his scimeter Between him
and the symbolic horse.tailed crescent OF
the God of Mecca is the inscription !;
" Great is Allah, and Mahomet IS his
Prophet"
Africa (black) is represented by the
figure of a young slave girl Offering II
waiter on which Is served coffee. This
trophy is almost exclusively Egyptian
and the play OF colors is archGOlogically
explained. The Otos plant expands nt
the top, just at the feet of the female hg-
ure. In the middle of the " Black Scar
abee," The symbol Of immortality, its feet
supporting the sum- where the fancy oil
the artist had placed the head of camel.
The two figures, each wearing diadem
adorned with u snake and feathers, repre-
sent Ramcses and Sesostris, the founders
of two OF the most important dynasties
of remote times They are sitting, their
feet resting on the heads Of sphynxes'
The names of these sovcreigns arc en-.
graved underneath. From frame show
ing the profile Of door the word Africa
detaChes itself
America Ged) is represented by the
figure Of an Indian girl holding in one
hand corn stalk and the other n horn
filed with liquor. She rests on an anvil
and Il cog-whcel, cmblematic Of the in.
dustrial genius Of America. From the
middle of the wheel the head Ot il buffalo
projects. The figures Of Washington
go, 4 E,,o,,I.I;,, or,,,,,, a, =, ,,oItn,nn+ Er,uL-