The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-07-20
Centennial Letter.

SOME Japanese screens 0ad Pie
turcs-7nc laps a Humorous People
The Hot Weather.
From our Regular Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA, July II, 1876.
Ofall the exhibits on the Centcn-
NAL grounds thcse Of China and jap
an cmbra &C some Of the most curious
and novel. There are many things
in the Government building and in
all the other buildings of greater in
tcrcst and more instructive to the
ma ority of visitors; but when it
comes to mere curiosity and admi-
ration ofodd ingenuity, the Chinese
and japanese get the palm. The
displays of these two nationalitics
in the main building are closely as
ISOLATED in the public mind, but the
resemblance is more apparent than
real, and the mingling Of interest in
the two departments is no more
than general attraction towards
all things strange and curious. 1t
has already been demonstrated that
the majority of people only go to
the Exposition to be amused, and,
taking that ingenious view of the
Fair, they do not bother themselves
about distinctions, but coolly place
all tho "barLarians" on the same
plane. But the moro discriminate
ing visitor scarcely needs to be told
that there are in fact not rs many
points of resemblance as of differ
ence between the japanese and
Chinese. The superiority of the
former race was never made more
clear than in the present contrast
of their capacities, and their points
ofdivergence are very curious. The
propinqnity of the departments Of
fcrs the best ofopportunity for COM
palativc display, and although peo-
pie for the most part take the whole
thing as an entertainment, there is
still class-and Il constantly in
crcasing one-which delights in
comparing and critically estimating
those wonderful demonstrations Of
Eastern humanity.
These departments are on the
main avenue in the eastern end of
the Main Building. The screens
for which the japanese have been
famous time out of mind form n
leading feature of their display.
These articles serve the double pur-
pose of use and ornament, and it is
easy to understand from looking at
them how important part they
bear in the peculiar n-and-out-of-
house life of the Japanese. Arti-
cles Of furniture hold u direct re-
lation to the domestic needs and
habits Ola people, and these screens.
which VIC here regard mainly as Gu
riositics, arc with the Japanese
household necessities as much al
most as chairs or tables. They are
all made upon one general plan,
generally in three divisions connect
ell by hinges of metal or webbing.
and of uniform size. The frames
arc ofbamboo and other light woods,
and the coverings of silk, cotton or
paper. The goods here shown, be-
ing designed to show the best grade
of manufacture, the groundwork be-
ing rich silk of neutral tints, and
the ornamcntation of the most sur
prising and lavish character. This
ornamcntation is of thrccfold sort
painting, embroidery, and Il
unique process of "piccing' or
quilting" which is not to be seen
in the decorating art Of any other
people. OCCASIONAL VI all three styles
may bc seen in single work, but
usually when in conjunction only
the first two or the first and last are
noticed. Embroidery and quilting
are not seen together. The really
finest works arc the cmbroi,lcrics
proper, for while the paintings are
curious, the japanese do not us yet
excel in this art. In cmbroi,lcring.
however, they equal the world, and
the work OH these screens will be
fonnl as good rs the best in the
Royal School Of Art Needlcwork or
elsewhere in the Exposition. The
colors, contrasts, and whole manage
mcnt of the effects arc cxtraordi-
nary fine. The dclincation of small
birds is exquisite, and a group Of
pigeons, for spirit and naturalness.
cxcitcs universal admiration. Of
course, female beauty comes in
largely for display, and if the Jap
anese woman is the creature these
quaint artists have made her she is
not altogether unlovcly. Neither
is she as odd in her style of dress,
or in her manner of fixing her hair,
as used to be supposed, the styles
Of the Japs in these directions not
violently outraging present received
modes. The visitor should not in
studying the richness of the high
priced articles neglect the humber
kinds of screens, which are very
suggestive of Japanese manners.
These arc covered with gilt paper
OF a peculiar texture, the ornament
alton consisting of patches of va
rious material fastened thereon.
An allied subject is the curious
exhibit of wall decorations with the
same appliances used in the orna-
mcnting ut the screens. These ar.