Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-10-28
wy Week ut the Centennial.
ny A MARTINsBURe LADY.

Ny first impression OF the Cen
tennial was received by going
through the main building. This
building is half-mile in length,
and an eighth Of a mile in width,
laid offin sections By means ofthe
flags representing the different
Na.ionalities.
From Italy we have had sent to
us in boundless profusion the pink
and white Canoes of Naples, with
exquisite carvings, and also masses
and piles CT pink and red corals +;
frosted silver in every form and
variety, from Genoa and from
Rome and Florence Mosaic's; (the
description of which, / fear, far
exceeds my power Of delineation.)
From amongst the two hundred
Mosaic tables, all of great beauty,
I will attempt to describe the two,
which, more than the others, rivet-
ed my attention and admiration /;
one in Roman, the other in Flor
entine mosaic: The ground work
of the one in Florentine MOSAIC,
was black marble, the centre piece
representing large Magnolia
bloom with it's green leaves
around the margin of this table
was border an eighth ola yard
deep, representing in their own
natural and perfect forms and col
ors the most beautiful flowers, such
as roses, pansies, Fuschias' Lilies
of the Valley, violets and many
others.
Nesting among these flowers
were humming birds aud butter
flies of exquisite mosaic work, and
of life size and color. This table
was marked "sold, $40, 900" The
size of it, l should judge to be 3-4
of a yard in diameter, and repre-
sented view of st. Peters. The
cost being marked $4,000 neither
of these, however, had the prize
medal but it was awarded to one
called 1.-THE table of Science On
this table was represented in mo-
sales a number of scientific dis
covereries. suppose that the
originality Of the design must
have entitled it to the medal, as it
was certainly not so beautiful to
look upon as either OF the others
which [ have mentioned.
From England we have amongst
many other things. magnificent
cutlery from Sheffield, and superb
sets Of jet and porcelain. From
Scotland, saw an enormous to-
paz, three inches in diameter, made
into shoulder pin to fasten the
Scotch plaids. The prize medal
for jewelry was awarded te Great
Britain.
The grandes. exhibits from
France were exquisite work in
Gobelin tapestry, done in needle
work land beautiful as an oil paint
ing. Two of these tapestry pic
lures, one representing the Light
of the Flaren, ''another," Amy Rob-
sart in Kenilworth Castle" p yds.
square, were marked $4.S50 apiece.
Exquisite French dresses, boots,
gloves, China, &C., were in mag
nificent profusion.
Russia and Sweden delight us
with the exhibition of furs f; and
from Russia the blocks and orna-
ments of malachite are simply
grand.
Malachite is rare stone of an
emerald green color, with veins of
darker green running through. /
noticed In Russia many magnifi-
cent ornaments made from this
stone, and amongst others a man
lie piece. AT one corner was a
large bunch of grapes made from
some green stone, the name OF
which | have forgotten. and at
the opposite corner, bunch of
ripe grapes represented by anne
thysts. In the centre was a large
cluster of different fruits. formed
from carbuncles, garnets. topaz,
and other jewels. The price was
$500. Germany and Austria ex-
celled in clocks. Merschaum
pipes, laces, &c. Some
of the Point lace not exceeding a
quarter of a yard in width was
marked "sold" at the cost of $500
per yard, On this lace the texture
was of course like a cobweb, and
the lilies, butterflies, &C., on the
white lace were as distinct as If
they had been traced in Indian
ink.
What / most liked from Turkey
were the camels' hair, shawls, and
two stuffed Angola goats.
From Brazil I saw such butter
flies, birds, and beetles as never
dreamed Of before. Some of the
butterflies were blue as azure,