Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-11-03

SeJo~u~0 M yVosssOos
4 Toxic (Japan) correspondent writes
about tho exposition there ~ follows
The mikado attended in person the cers'
monies at the opening OF the exhibition
In this city. which seems 10 have been
copied pretty closely from the Philadsl,
phia centennial. There was oonsidera,
bic pomp and display attendant upon
the mikado's appearance ON tho streets
the nolles were dressed in various COS.
tunes, some with great brilliancy and
splendor.
The exhibition has ito horticultural,
agricultural, machinery halls and art
building-three general exhibition build.
ings. They form the outside Of circle,
and the ground in the centre is very
prettily laid ont with Aower.beds, foun.
tains and specimens Of japanese land
scape gardening. On the outskirts are
tea.houses and water-booths, some built
around trees. Outside the entrance are
rows of booths, where all sorts OF things
are for sale. The exhibition is TO be
open one hundred days the general
price Of admission is seven cents (Satur-
day il 10 three cents, Mondays, thirteen
cents), and they have now between six
thousand and seven thousand visitors o
day. II is supposed the authorities are
trying to make it financial success.
The buildings are frame and slightly put
up, except the art building, which is
brick. In connection with it is q per-
manent educational museum, where they
have all sorts Of teaching, with a model
school.room, and quite complete col.
lection OF mathematical and astronomical
instruments.
The exhibitors are all Japanese and
the articles have been made in Japan.
In the machinery hall they are chiefly
copied from American or other foreign
inventions, but there are some very in.
genious native machines that We Ameri-
cans could copy from to advantage. The
horticultural hall is full Of Japanese
plants Of all kinds. The agricultural
building is very interesting, and there
is splendid collection Of the woods of
Japan, which are prepared in different
ways to shown the grain Of the wood.
There is section in one of the build
ings devoted TO building-stones and mar
bles. Then there are skins dressed (and
also in the natural state), few stuffed
animals and q collection of birds. The
collection of silk and silk fabrics, of
lacquer work, porcelain and Of bronze,
were magnificent. There was one pair
of vases between five and six feet in
height, by no means the finest kind Of
porcelain, but valued at 5000 for their
great size, and pair of most elaborate
bronze vases, nearly as large. Many Of
these things it is intended to exhibit at
the Paris exposition in 1878. The inlaid
cabinets were beautiful and the prices
were fabulous for the size, but then they
are inlaid and overlaid with silver and
gold. Many of the silks and brocades
are only such as the empress and court
ladies' and officials are allowed to wear,
and were all marked not to be sold.
They had some beautiful carved furni-
lure in the different sections, and chairs
and tables Of inlaid woods. The build
ngs were arranged on the plan Of Sec
lions of each department Of the empire.
The different government departments
made separate exhibits, the navy de-
oartment having some fine models and
title ships. There seemed to be no
foreigners besides ourselves in the build
ng, but the people were too much occu-
oied to take much notice of us. Flags
md different colored silks were draped
lround the interior of the buildings, and
many beautiful things were put up SO
high it was hard to see them. The
Japanese take little lunch and stay all
lay /; they never pay more than one
admission fee. Just outside the ex.
libition inclosure are some fine temples
nd the tombs Of some of the Tycoons.
The park around the grounds is beauti-
ul-thick groves of very old trees, and
venues cut through. In places one
atches glimpses of different parts OF the
ity.