The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-04
Exhibition Echoes.
In the Main BaiIding-EurOpe, Africa,
and the Isles of the Sen.

After thoroughly viewing the Japanese and
Egyptian courts the visitor who has leisure
will ind it interesting to inspect the Turkish
and Tupisian departments close at hand In
the large circle embraced by the Ottoman en-
pire one finds the spices of the East the almond
and rose of Damasc US, olive wood from Jerusa-
lem, massive silver work from the bszaars of
Constantlnople, palm leaf mats from Bagdsd
woven stuff, shawls from Mosul, silks from
Cyprus and Trebizond, striped cottons from
Aleppo. the narghile and its attendant box of
lataika the mildest of tobacco. Sesame
seeds call up visions of the Arabian Nights,
anise and cumin sacred associations. In Tunis'
the ancient mosacs of Carthage, the heavily
ornamented weapons OF antique shape, the
silken hangings and household furniture pro-
woke the attention. Passing through Spain
and tarrying to look at the medals and shields,
the daggers of Toledo, the collection of ma
tional costumes, and the yellow silk from the
Cauaries, one comes to the magnificent exhibit
of Russia.
There his attention will be arrested and held
by the masses of malachite, jasper and lapis
lazuli everywhere around him. Great vases
and broad tables of the beautifully banded
green stone, and of the scarcely less beautiful
blue give an idea of immense wealth and
luxury which one scarcely associates with the
frozen empire. The impression is strengthened
by the splendid display of furs sable and black
fox, OF cloaks of velvet lined with the hair of
the Thibet goat, of fabrics of cloth Of gold rich
ly embroidered in colors, of ecclesiastical gar
ments heavy with precious stones, of silver
plaques, of enamelled and repouSSe work in the
precious metals. The qualification to the eyes
will be so great that he will scarcely care to
step into the next court, the Austro-Hungarian
department. That however should not be neg
lected; for the exquisite Bohemian glass, the
beautifully carved amber and meerschaum in
the great pipe cases, the Hungary porcelain,
the Vienna bent wood, the carved wood work of
the Tyro, the stained glass from Innspruck,
the great opal, all are worthy of the closest at
tention.
From Austria the visitor can wander where
he peases. Time and inclination are his only
guides. Germany, next door to Austria, makes
its finest display in the superb Berlin porcelain.
Germany bring us to the centre transept and to
the wares and products of our own country,
which extend in the long line on the right of
the nave to the east entrance of the hall. Of
course If the visitor have time he will devote it
to the enormous and highly creditable display
of the United States. He should not fail at
least to take few steps down the asles and
find the Bryant vase. To the left of Germany,
but beyond the centre transept, is the exhibit of
France and her colonies. Certainly there is
much that Is beautiful therein, but the general
Ink ia shonnv Rr0pzas Iain faappo
silks, laces, velvets and jewelry are in profu-
sion; but for the famous Sevres ware on must
60 to the art hail. Beyond France is Switzer-
laud. There the exquisite laces will pro-
woke the admiration OF the most indIf-
erent masculine eyes, while the watches
and the wood carving will come in for
large share of praise. The visitor now passes
through Belgium, Brazil, the Netherlands and
Mexico, and strikes the immense display of the
United States again. In Holland he will tarry
few minutes to look at the East Indian pa
CODA, filled with the products of the Dutch COL
onies in the South Sea.
On the return trip, west Of the center tIaE-
sept and north of the nave, the visitor can pass
through the department of Great Britain and
her colonies, inspecting if he have the incliaa-
ton, the textile fabrics, the woods of ornament
and use, and the pottery, and lingering for a
time among the strange beasts and birds, the
collections of minerals, the native weapons and
implements in the Australian court. Leaving
these be is in the Scandinavian kingdoms
again.
Even this inspection, hurried as it is, cannot
be made in one day or two. The visitor of
very limitel time will be wise to confine his
attention chiefly to Japan and Egypt, not
emitting however, to devote some leisure to
Russia, and to look at the Bohemian glass, at
the Switzerland lace, and at the mosaics from