The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-06-28
From our Regular Correspcndent.l
PARIS LETTER.
30 RUE CAUMARTIN,

Salient features Of many Exhibits. A dou6te
quick repie,c of the nations. First France
then England, and the Insignificant remain
der Of tie world, The United States, Nor,cay
and S,ceden, Italy, Japan, China, Hunga-
ry, Russia, Switseriand, Belgium, Holland,
Greece, Spain, South america, and Others.
The month which has just closed since the
inauguration of the great show has seen the
great enterprise gradually brought to compile.
ton, and it is perhaps time to make closer
study of its most important and striking parts.
First in importance, of course, comes France
and after her England .and the remainder of
the world. The exhibits of these two coun-
tries are so extensive, that other nationalities
seem small in comparison. After the large
space devoted to England and her colonies,
the United States dwindles into insignidcance.
We hold a creditabe rank among the nations
in our machine department, and a high COM
piment is paid us when it is said we are, in
this, inferior only to England.
Contiguous to the United States is the
Norwegian erection, and the first thing to
strike one is the peculiar effect produced by
the pleasing yellow natural tint of the pine
wood cases, The principal features Of the
Norwegian exhibit are elder down, turs,
cloths, hangings, and remarkably handsome
cups and plates. The sister nation, Sweden,
makes show of industrial objects, tools, pot
terry, etc.
Sweden and Italy are separated by a trans
verse nave, in the centre of which are placed
at regular distances, with fine effect, beautiful
groups Of marble statuary surrounded by vases
of flowers. The italian exhibit is fairly over
f1owngiwith beautiful works of art. The dis
play Of cut glass objects, as also the pottery
and mosaics, are of the best in the Exposi-
ton. A special pavilion is set aside for silk
en- stuffs, and another for jewelry, in the CEN
tire of the latter is placed a statue of Caesar
Augustus.
A step takes us into the japanese Empire,
represented by scores of exquisite vases,
dishes, cups, fans, lacquered screens. The ia
panese porcelains are of grotesque beauty
that is really beyond description.
China is still more gorgeous in the cbarac-
ter of her displays than Japan. Her very
showcases. instead of being built of black
wood, and of a rectangular shape, are quaint
in form, and resplendant in decoration.
Those who have charge of the Chinese de-
partment religiously wear their national cos
tune of rich silken stuffs, whereas the Japa-
nese have adopted the ugubrous pocket coat
and ungraceful pantaoon.
Spain seems cold and prosaic after the
splendors of Japan and China. There is a
considerable display of arms, and iron, and
uniforms and lady visitors will find delight
in an abundant show of lace.
Hungarys opening rooms are devoted to
upholstering on a grand scale. The model
of large drawing room is remarkably rich
and fine. Shawls, laces, and vases, are fea-
lures of the Austrian section.
Russia does not very compactly cover the
liberal space apportioned to her, her section
here, like her territory, is comparatively
sparsely settled. She has a profasion of NAL
achite and the visitor to the Philadelphia
Exposition will recognize here some familiar
objects, both in malachite and bronze. Rus
sia has fair display of cloths, furs, jewelry,
| and neurological specimens.
The hall OF embroideries of the Swiss de-
partment is perhaps the finest of the kind in
| the Exposition, and the Swiss silks and cot.
ton goods prove that they can compete with
the French and English houses both in quail
ty and price. But the most complete and
artistically arranged display is that of the
Geneva watch trade. 1t is evident that they
feel the necessity of making powerful ef-
fort in order to compete with the cheaper,
machine made watches displayed in the Ame-
rican section.
Denmark covers but little space, but objects
Of interest are to be seen in this section and
the furniture, jewelry and ceramics are of
handsome design and exquisite workmanship.
The industrial character of the Belgian Sec
ton strikes one at glance Iron in all its
forms is seen, and everything has character
of solidity which is sometimes allied with art.
The exhibit of pottery, cloths aud upholstery
is very complete.
In the narrow strip devoted to Greece, la
ces, carpets, and complete collection of the
Greek minerals, and fora, are the salient
points.
A little hut represents Greenland thickly
strewn and hung with furs upon which are
arranged warus teeth and other fruits of the
ice fields.
The exhibit of the Republic of Guatemala
is very important. Uruguay and Hayti are
somewhat extensively represented, though
they have no curious or interesting objects
The Argentine Republic exhibits large
collection of grains, and its leather production
is well represented
Central America exhibits in its little build
ing, weapons, grains, nuts, etc. A small
stone construction represents Bolivia, and
capital reproduction of native hut, stands
for Nicaragua. The part of the foreign Sec
tion where these small pavilions are cluster
ed is highly picturesque.
The sections are arranged without the least
regard to their positions on the map of the
world. Next comes Holland whose section is
well filled with industrial exhibits. The sill
versmiths of Amsterdam make superb show
But the great attraction of the Dutch section
is the Frisian house, in which are life size
figures, dressed in National costumes of Dutch
peasants People crowd around these life.
like figures with the same interest that they
hocked to see similar representations of
Scandinavian folk life, in the Swedish and
Norwegian departments at Philadelphia.
The entire space devoted to exhibits is lar
ger than at Philadelphia, but the enclosure is
smaller, hence this Exposition has the ap-
pearance of being more crowded. The lar
gest number of tickets sold on any one day
were 5S,ll7.
Il