Marshall County Republican., 1876-08-10
PHILADELPHIA, July 29th, 1876

Kingdom-Other Notes about the show
Total Attendance to July 10th.
From our Special Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA, July 29th. 1915
Taking up the review where / left il
last week the comparison of China and
Japan by their respective displays is
still in order. Another careful tour
through the two sections confirms my
impressions in some respects and modi-
fies them somewhat i'm others. l must
confess that the average curiosity hun
ter would argue for a great similarity
in the handiwork of these people. The
Chinese section runs parallel with that
of Japan, opening upon the main ave-
nue.. There is not sufficient room Civ
EN- for the extent of the display, and
the result is that the space is generally
uncomfortably crowded, but the ar
rangement of the section is effective
and pleasing. The Characteristic gate
way to the department gives good
idea of the world of wonders to be seen
within, and all the fittings-up are, to
foreign eyes so odd and fantastic as to
attract almost as much attention as the
articles exhibited. 1t is the st yle to de-
nominate these modes OF building and
decorations as ''tea caddy" fashions.
but looked at impartially, these designs
are seen to have kind of wild beauty.
The portals, cases, etc., appear heavy
and cumbrous. but the fact mnst not be
lost sight of, that each of them gives
in itself a condensed idea of the whole
science of architecture as the Chinese
understand it. There is strange lack
of versatility about this people. They
have been doing the same thing in the
same way for ages and it Dev-
er seems to occur to them to vary from
settled usage. A temple is built in a
certain way; and if one looks cum
brous while the other seems well pro-
portioned, the fault is in the need of
having so small a structure. The Wis
itor will observe various pictures in the
department, of Chinese edifices of vary
ing size and elegance. and will notice
both that the one style of building runs
through all, and that when it can be
properly displayed it is not heavy, but
light and elegant.
Here, as in the. Japanese section, a
prominent feature consists of those
wonderful and very elaborate screens,
some drawn and shaded in India ink,
but more of them embroidered. The
framing of these works by the Chinese
is superior to that of the Japanese.
The frames are of open carved wood
work. beautifully executed and form
ing splendid border all around the
picture. This wood-carving is one of
the best things done by the Chinese.
A variety of woods are shown in this
section, but the only kind which enters
into the construction of goods describ-
ed in this letter is magnificent black
close-grained wood greatly resembling
ebony. This material takes dull, deep
polish, and makes one of the finest me-
diums of Ornamentation l have seen.
In addition to the framework of the
screens, various handsome and peculiar
articles of furniture are made of it, A
parlor set is noticeable, including a
splendid sofa. A favorite article with
Chinese housekeepers appears to be
sort of buffet, with doors on the lower
portion and open shelves above; it
makes charming piece of furniture.
There are elegant centre tables, card
tables, etc., of the same material, with
tops of native variegated marble, as
of painted china resembling mosaic
work. The vases and bronzes made by
both the Chinese and Japanese are
noticeable features. The extent to
which animal subjects are portrayed in
all their works is marvellous. Birds,
dragons, fishes, and reptiles are intro
duced everywhere, sometimes with a
humorous turn and again with an effect
anything but funny. Some idea of the
elaborate workmanship of these orna-
ments may lie gathered from the prices
marked on the exhibits. A pair of huge
vases covered all over with gold dra-
gons costs only the trifiing sum of
g, 800, and a very handsome carved
chamber set might be obtained for an
outlay of only $1,000. Young couples
venturing into matrimony this season
are recommended to visit the Exposi-
tion and perfect their housekeeping ar
rangements.
In the manufacture of silk, China had.
for ages the monopoly of the world. At
last France broke in, and of late years
other kingdoms have powerfully fol-
lowed, but the flowery kingdom still
holds front place in this respect, and
in some particulars her silk manufac-
lures are even yet unrivaled. The dis
play of this kind is reasonably satisfac-
tory, though not as complete as might
have been expected, considering Chi
nese supremacy in this field. Perhaps
the authorities considered that silk
would be no novelty to people who had
been always used to them in their stores
and houses. But the grades of goods
here shown are not at all familiar in
America, and will well repay any ones
inspection. The figures are large rath-
er than neat, but they are beautifully
worked, and there is gorgeous solids
ty about the fabric altogether wanting
in the products of most other looms.
There are also rich plain silks as well
as light summer goods. and full line"
of the famous Canton crepes. The
silks are decidedly among the best
things shown i'm the Chinese section,
the display as whole, outranking that
in the Japanese department. Other in
teresting foreign displays, among which
are Brazil, Egypt, Spain and Switzerland
will come in for review in succeeding
letters.
1t is officially announced by the Cen
tennial Bureau of Agriculture that the
live stock display will be held in the
months of September, October and No
vember, and that the periods devoted to
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