New-York tribune., 1876-08-22
WORLDS EXPOSITION:
FOREIGN PAvILIoNs AND BOOTHS.

A LETTER FROM BAYARD TAYLOR ON THE SUBJECT
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 49, notice that large
proportion of the visitors to the Exhibition are more
keenly interested in all the auxiliary features winch
reproduce or in any way illustrate foreign life, than
they are in the mere display of foreign art and IN
dustry. The figures in costume, in the Swedish ana
Norwegian department for example, constantly
draw away crowds from the cases which contain the
natural products or mechanical skill OF the Nofse
people. The exhibits which are accompanied by ex-
hibitors of another race, at once recognzaple III
features or dress, have double attraction to the
crowd. This is not only natural, but commentaries
it simply shows how deeply rooted IN all mankind IL
the feeling: homo sum- etc. 1t Is something stronger
and graver than curiosity have watched the faces
of country people as they here-undoubtedly tor the
first time in their livestock upon japanese, Turks
Greeks or Moors: and have not yet discovered the
slightest expression of repulson or instructive preIu
dice of On the contrary 1t is easy to detect an
agreeable surprise in most cases-as II the spectator
had found an unexpected likeness to his own stock
aad recognized if unconsciously to himself that the
ends of the earth are not so very far apart after all
So, after general survey Of the Exhibition,
determined TO visit the pavlions and booths which
assume to display as much of foreign life and habits
as NAV be conveniently transplautcd for a season,
and to ascertain how far they are genuine. Having
spent portions of two days in this interesting task,
feel sure that some report of my experiences may
also have interest for the readers Of THE TRIBUNE.
These are featuEes which are generally passed over
hurriedy In the descriptions of the contributions OF
each nation since i'll most If not IN all cases, they
arc individual specuatons Provided however.
that the specuaor gives an honest representation OF
architecture and costume, furnishes the genuine
refreshments Of his country, and sells the same
knicknacks as at home it makes no difference we
may have, through him, as much of Turkey, or
Tunis, or Japan, as if the Governments OF those
countries had assumed the work.
Let us first enter the Turkish Bazaar, which stands
nearly opposite the western end Of Machinery Hall.
1t is a hexagonal wooden building with heavy pro-
iecting rosf, something like of the fountain
kiosks in Constantlnople. II is painted in large,
coarse arabesques, blue being the predominant color
The interior with its small marble tables, counter
with sweetmeats corner charcoal furnace for light
ing pipes and pervading atmosphere of tobacco
slightly melowed with roses is very fair repro
duction of a cafe in Pera or Smyrna. My companion,
Prof Fiske of Cornell University, was also familiar
with Oriental life, and decided TO try narghlleh
(water-pipe apiece 1t was not the best specimen
of Persian leaf which was furnished and the fire
was coal instead of the Eastern pasille OF mixed
charcoal and carners-dung but we had at least the
flavor of Asia Minor, if not of Damascus or STAN
boul. The attendant Enthusiastically Greek IN
feature, so | addressed him in few words
lrecalled with difficulty from memory of the
language Is years old, and was answered wlth
great alacrity. Thcreupon ventured to say " Kali
'inerap p Good day. TO a large dark-browed dame
behind the counter, who might have sat for PIE
ture of Anactora, and the greeting was returned
The proprietor who wore the full costume OF
Greek palikAr sat beside her: there was no doubt
as TO the nationality of the whole party You are
Creeks said to the attendant, when the pipes
were extinct "Oh, no. we are Turks" he asserted !;
and no doubt they are-Turksh subjects. Wine OF
Samos at 20 cents per glass, was on the carte, ana
we were classic enough TO try it but instead OF the
fine old vintage, warm and strong as the blood OF
Mars. which have tasted in Athens, it was a com
mon. turbd beverage, such as a Samian robber-
chief might pour out to his band. Visitors who are
cassically inclined will therefore do well to keep
Byron's line in memory: Dash down yon cup OF
Samian wine
On the whole, the Turkish Bazaar might be worse
A Greek of Pera is hardly less picturesque than
Moslem of Stamboul, and what they furnish Is
genuine If not always of the best quality. There
was a good attendance of curious visitors: some
native youths were trying chibouks, which they
naturalized by resting the long pipe-stem on the
back of a chair If the chibouk should ever DC IN
troduced into this country, somebody will at once
patent combined rack for the pipe and the smokers
feet No one yentured to try a narghileh, and our
performance was watched with furtive interest one
vounq gentleman taking such keen notice that am
sure he ordered one after we left. Lady visitors
ordered g-paste and coffee the latter OF which they
evidently found more curious than enjoyable; but
if il were Mocha they ought TO have liked 1t.
Hard by there are two booths offering Tor sale
n variety of oliye-wood articles from Bethlehem
and the other rosaries, trnkcts and other kcepsaes
from Jerusalem. There were three or four men in
each all of whom the dress. and had the faces
of Syrian Christians. | saluted them i'll Arabic and
the resnoDse was so quick and cheerful that ii was
impossible to doubt their character. However,
asked further: "Are you Christians or Mosiem Y
"Christiansp they all exclaimed and one of them
added: ave are Orthodox, every one OF us! lhey
were very cordial and communicative and aiter
little conversation felt convinced of the genuine
ness OF themselves and their wares. The latterwere
offered at moderate prices considering their charac-
ter and the distance of transporaon-5O cents, for
instance. for a disk of polished oliye-wOod from
Bcthlehem or Mount Oyet, and 81 for carved
Jerusalem rosary. The booths are so small and un-
important in appearance, being without any Orient
al characteristic that hasty visitor would be
likely to pass them without notice.
Just across Fountain Avenue, south OF the Gov
ernment Building stands the so-cailed Iunsian
Bazaar. There is no great difference between the
common street-architecture of the Babary Coast
and that of Egypt Syria and this Bazaar may be
sufficiently Tunisian in appearance: but that is
about all one can say of it, There are few ORIENTAL
articles for sale mixed with a great deal OF the
cheap jcwelry which is manufactured IN Paris lor
the African market the houri in the spangled head
dress is an American girl, who wears a costume Of