The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-05-18
China and Japan at the Centennial.

CHINA and Japan, our newest aCquaint-
ances, are side by side, as they should be,
and one has rare chance to observe the
resemblances and dissimilarities of the
neighbors. 1t was very intercstingto con-
trast their ways of working; the one as
busy as the other, but the japanese the
more vigorous and independent, in spite
of the funny work he makes in copying
our clothes and manners, while the China
man is an unambitious if gentle barbarian,
so far as he is represented here. Some
how it looks very absurd TO see young
japanese gentleman in plug hat, specta-
Giles and fOrked COat-thOugh there is no
reason why it should. There's strong
force of both these nations, and they
worked rapidly and effectively, as you
may suppose, to gain the distinction of
the first in readiness. China is marked
out by great yellow gateways, inscribed in
ica-chest characters, and gayly painted
lanterns, tall porcelain pagodas, bright
red booths adorned with dragons, point
her out at once. Jars and vases, and other
specimens of ceramic art, are naturally the
most noteworthy part of her exhibition,
for it is in this line that she can teach us
most There is some handsome work in
wood, however; a great state bedstead
with ivory landscapes inlaid in the wood,
and portal carved, not as design in re-
lief, but into a tree and branches bearing
fruit, twined by vine with clusters of
grapes, on which a pretty, squirrel-like
animal is perched. The humor of the ma
tion appears in a great many Of the pot
teries, for instance, on a porcelain screen
representing sea-shore the very peculiar
waves peopled by grotesque human be-
ings-in one corner pair of lovers, she
coyly looking down on covered dish she
carries, while lie casts languishing eyes
upon her, and bears in one arm big
Hover, nearly as tall as himself. Then
there is gray philosopher, borne on a
good natured dragon, another standing on
a turtle, and third, with a great scroll
on his shoulder mounted on a donkey
with his face toward the animals tail.
All these, and more, are in the curling
waves; and another funny bit is moon
faced child leaning over rock, and with
a long brush tickling frogs nose; the
frog lifting one hind leg to sweep away
the intrusive hair.
This humor is less rich, however, than
that in the japanese paintings, which
fully justify Mr.. Jarve's enthusiasm about
them-one of wedding procession OF
foxes, for instance. Another queer piece
of work by japanese hands is process
sion of insects cut out of cloth and in
geniously colored, great green dragon
flies stalking ON in tremendous strides,
wasps bestrode by ,argely-magnifieda cari
many flies bearing flowers pink, clover,
convolvulus) like banners-the whole evil
IDENTIFY forming an escort to a distinguished
beetle borne in palanquin in the center.
There is no little satire in this thing. Pho
tOgraphs and other artistic work in silk
from Yokohama factory, are exhibited
and beautiful landscapes on linen. 1t is
in porcelain and bronzes that Japan makes
her main show, in both which she is un-
surpassed by any country in exquisiteness
of workmanship. An extremely interest
ing department of this exhibition is that
of their books and educational work,
which indicate, in measure, the Won
derful progress they are making in the
new order Of civilization they have adopt
ed. The japanese have also added
feature Of rare interest outside the exhi,
bition building, in their two houses,
which attract everybody Cor. Spring.
field (Hass.) Republican,.