National Republican., 1876-08-17
THE CENTENNIAL
Some Interesting Notes from Ruhamah's
Sketch Book

| THE CENTENNIAL
Some Interesting Notes from Ruhamah's
| Sketch Book.
PHILADELPHIA, July, 1879.
| The "Centennius," )" as the silyer-throated
Brignoli calls it, is still progressing finely.
| The italian section, which was once an abode
| Joy and pleasure, is now Transformed into a
bowling cave, all because one of the exhibitors
| has been arrested for selling his goods. Genoa
has sent US a different kind of a person from
Columbus, our first visitor from the filigree
city. The present representative from Genoa
| is Salvo, dark-eyed and entertaining youth, ,
who presides over the several cases of silver
and gold fligree ornaments. Either his per-
suasiops, or those of the pretty girls who flock
around his case, proved too much, and custom
house pledges were forgotten. Certain it is
| that he
SOLD HIS JEwELRY
| and allowed it to be taken away, which was a
violation of the rules of the Exhibition as we'll
as of the custom house, which allowed moth
ing to be sold on which the duty had not been
paid. A pretty young lady came over to me
and told me thai "Salvo had been arrested
put in irons and thrown in dungeon for
aught she knew; all because female spy had
bOi Gu Hiil 30 tHdJ u get Ilu Ol HeT he sOu nec
the things she wanted" Ny fair informant
was in a fearful frame of mind, and anathema-
tiZed our laws and officers most violently. /
went over to the section with her soon af,er,
and poor Salvo was sitting by his case, with
an attitude and expression truly melancholy.
The other exhibitors were discussing the little
affair among themselves. Some seemed to
sympathize with him, and others gave evil
dence of internal rejoicing, but tried to look
properly interested in his woes. We were told
how
THIS ATRoCIoUs SPY
besought and plead with him to let her have
the things, and how at last he succumbed to
her satanic eloquence. No one could tell me
just what they would do with the poor wretch,
whether his goods would be coniscated or the
commission would excuse him from exhibiting
any more. We were assured that this was bis
first and only sin; but when called on some
friends at a hotel, the same evening, was
shown four sets of fligree, and told about the
beautiful sets that other ladies had bought
The payments were made at some appointed
place in other buildings, and the articles handed
over according to the arrangements made by
him. Such a commotion as has been raised in
the Italian section can scarcely be imagined.
The exhibitors were, every one of them, chat
tering wildly on the subject, and for the time
their goods were left to the mercies of the
guards. Among the additions lately made in
this section is a case of work illustrating the
manufacture of
FLoRENTINE MoSAICS.
First the design drawn on paper is shown then
the same colored, next the sketch on the stone,
and finally the stone, with the openings cut In
il, ready for the mosaic bits. Specimens of the
different stones from which the colored pieces
are taken are also shown, and the whole is an
interesting study. Sea shells, from which the
she'll canoes are cut, are in another case. Some
OF them have their surfaces ornamented with
cameo cuttings. The process of this work is
also shown, from the little, rough pieces of
shell through the outlining, irst cuttings and
finishing up to the complete canoes, ready for
setting. Two of the beautiful shells from
which the conch-shell jewelry is made are
placed near tie sets of finished work. The
tortoise shell work has at last arrived, and is
now opened. Some of it is perfectly exquisite.
The carvings are fine and delicately beautiful,
ard the colors of the she'll are the richest.
From the darkest mahogany tint down to the
clear, amber-like yellow of the shell every
shade and Style of notifies and stripes are seen.
The work embraces every article Tor use and
ornament that could be wrought from this rich
material.
SOME OF TIE PIECES
have cameo heads and flowers Of the dark
she'll upon the clear yellow, and viee versa; and
fans of the clear, translucent she'll are too
beautiful for the vigorous use required of such
an article to-day. I had forgotten to state,
although the fact is constantly forced upon
me, that the thermom"t ter has taken the mat
ter into is own tube and is soaring way up in
the nineties. From Italy there are also re-
productions Of Cellini's repousse silver work
and copies of the most celebrated antique
statues in Corinthian bronze. More copies ofold
majolica and faience are displayed, and nearly
all Of it has been sold. That indefatigatle in
stitution ''the Pennsylvania Museum and
School of Industrial Art" has, as usual, pur-
chased all of the choicest pieces. Way back
in the Italtsn section are some magnificent
photographs of scenes IN Venice. They seem
far superior to any In the Photographic annex
to the Art Gallery, ard it is strange that they
are not in there. They show to much bet
ter advantage where they are and are greatly
admired. Some other
VENETIAN SCENES,
taken by moonlight, and printed by lunar in
stead of solar rays, have a weird and fantastic
look, the color of the pictures being blush
green, shading into almost a black. From the
Cavalieri museum there is a bound volume Of
antique sketches in ink, charcoal, pastel and
water colors. The few that can be seen have
dull gold backgrounds, and how signs OF
great age. The omnipresent Garibaldi is pre-
sented in this section N a life-size figure.
Busts, medalliors and photographs of him are
portrait of Victor Emanuel, and but one of
the Pope. Turkeys section in the main build
ing is at last open to visitors Though some
work is yet to be done. OF cvarse the princi-
pal things in It are rugs. Rugs are hung from
tie beams and raj sers. on the fence that sep
arates IL from Egypt, at the back of cases and
in every available spot. They are all the
finest and heaviest made, and
THE CARPET DEALERS
are already hocking around them and bargain
ing with the exhibitors. On such hot day as
this it seems incompreheDsible to us to see
how a race of people living in such hot coun-
try should ever dress in the way they do, and
have carpet weaving the chief industry of the
country. Two long-haired pet lambs are stuffed
and mounted in a glass case, and gaze With a
pepsively- sentimental air upon the main aisle.
Hahn Vidal, the A. T. Stewart of Turkey, the
leading exhibitor, and his articles are the finest
in the section. All of the rugs exhibited are
his, and one of the largest bears a compliment
tary inscription to our great anniversary. One
rug is of Mosaic cloth, the pattern being made
of small pieces of colored cloths sewed on to a
heavy floor cloth. Then he has portiere cu--
tains, hargings for rooms, cloths and pieces
for upholstering furniture, all embroidered in
elaborate patterns in silk and gold thread on
eamels' bair. Embroidered gauzes, silks and
velvets for ladies, in the piece and made into
hoods,
CLOAKs, VESTS AND sCARFs,
present dazzling array. Jewelry and coffee
services of filigree silver; all kinds of bowls,
tubes and mouth-pieces for pipes, scented
beads and other curiosities of Oriental make
are displayed by this same Hahn Vidal, who
gives two dots to his rs. This euterprising
merchant wishes to sell his goods. but pro-
poses not to be the victim Of our custom-house
laws, and has sensibly opened store outside
of the grounds, at the Grand Exposition hotel.
Here duplicates Of everything exhibited by
him in the main building can be bought and
carried away in peace. Ottar of roses and
choice Turkish perfumery make the air heavy
with their ravishing odors, and throw Lubin
and Condray entirely into tine shade. He told
me why the Turkish section wfs co late in
getting ready to open. And it is simply be-
cause that rascally Abdul Aziz would not
hand over the money. The Ministers did
their best by quiet and polite hints to make
the Leader of the Faithful do as he ought,
but the lazy thing took his time, and as con-
sequence their section is just