The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-11-17
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.


1ition, where all the United States and 7
part of Europe seem to be enjoying them
selves, each in his peculiar way. Groups
inger before the japanese bronze vases
and try in vain to work out the legends
by the grotesque figures which
bear no rese mblanee to any living or ex-
tinct species of the animal race. 1t Is
the fashion to say "lovely," and every
one accordingly says "lovely ~ mag
niicent ~ "grand IN but not soul re-
marks "absurd !' No one, we think,
will deny dexterity to the japanese; no
one will refuse them the premium for
exactness, delicacy of touch, intricacy |
of design; but as to classical or artistic |
beauty, their specimens of carving and |
their school of design is sadly out of
place in the nineteenth century, and it is
to be hoped that the old Eastern coun-
tries will be induced to revise their art
school upon European model. Majol-
lea ware, so very fashionable, must be
classed in the same category. Would
any refined or cultivated man or wom-
an order set of French china with the
hideous, ill-shaped frogs, lizards and
pug nosed dogs in the blue and pale yell
low after the fashion of the majolica
ware? and yet every one now must
have majolica matchbox or a wall
plate or some such monstrosity, or else
be out of style. AS to color and design
the English and the French ware must
nearer appeal to the cultivated eye; but
even these cannot compare to the classi-
cal beauty of design and delicate work.
manship of the pottery exhibited by Ip-
sens widow in theDanish department. 1t
is only clay, red and black, black and red,
but so delicately shaped, so exquisitely
painted One plate of black clay, thin
as French china, was covered by bright
eyed forget shooting up from a
bed of dripping moss; here nature was
closely followed and civilized art had so
moulded the moss in its bed of clay that
the whole seemed just lifted from some
shady spot near a crystal stream.
In the Russian section the great at
traction seemed to be the gorgeous cloth
of gold and shining silver; some ol
these are woven with bright colors, red
green, and purple, heavily embroidered
, in gold and silver bullion. The imita'
ton tea napkins of spun silver are 6
r marvel in themselves, and as they liz
! upon the embossed gold and silver ser
vice, which are in some instance!
studded with precious stones, imagina
, ton wanders in fairy palaces, and w
: almost forget that these luxuries ar
/ produced and enjoyed by the ruggec
: sons of a vigorous climate and by peo
8 pie who, but few centuries ago, wer
}, cIassed as barbarians by the decayin
n nations of Southern Europe. But this
: not all, nor quarter part, of the Rus
e sian exhibit. They display massiv
d bronze vases and statuettes, and their ia
r bles of malachite, lapLs LdzuH and jas
n per are evidently appreciated, for scare
o one is there that does not bear the ticke
g sold! In large case are numberles
il articles manufactured from highly-pol
: ished minerals, and as the prices ar
j. moderate, they are being rapidly solo
: In this hurried transit through Ru:
r sia, we must at least glance at the case
y of furs, which begin to look very invit
Is ing in these cold October days, and W
IS doubt not that ere two months are owe
e the contents of those cases will clin
!, closely about the persons of our well-tC
do citizens as comforting souvenirs {
,r the Centennial Exposition.
g Utterly regardless of natural limi
l. and geographical outline, step frol
lie Russia brings you into Spain, at whic
10 single glance will satisfy, unless, il
" deed, you stop to listen to the sonorol
I; tones of the old VizlainO, who sells rosi
ID ries of painted wood at "ln peso" al
er conscientiously translates his sentent
ee each time, Zone dollar" Has the rosal
a. nothing to do with the poverty of tt
IL Spanish manufacturing exhibit? Loo
ueSpi IuIuh "SllI auu SCalSh S0ACANi
D. for the hidden hand of the cOntrOllir
ee priesthood. Beneath the sacerdot
es robe lies the secret of Spanish defe
g. and Spanish degeneracy. Like ever,
N thing else in this world, they have he
W their day and served their purpos
ID their work of civilization is over in E
III rope; their duties as benefting maj
ce kind are finished, and as nothing in n
Is ture is still, when we do not e, forwal
ne we must go backward. PoorSpain fin,
ne herself saddled with burden for whiC
s. she has no use, and yet cannot get r
of she is smothered, yet cannot resi-
her fate. Perhaps the contrast Of b
own with the other exhibits ms
awaken q new train of thought and u
be lock the door where her natural tres
be ures lie mouldering. Certain it is, tn
or many of her artisans have, like Il
or Turkish Commissioners, expressed
o; determination to remain in the Unit
". States, and have applied for papers
n naturalization.
p But whilst we linger in the Exhit
d. ton building in Philadelphia, we mu
N. not forget the vital interests at sta
I 4.