The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-05-15
THE WORLDS FAIR.
From One Who Was There and Came
Away Instructed.
NO a.

NO. 81
Among all foreign exhibits Mexico oc-
cupies the first place. In one corner Of
the grounds, nearest the city and the
river, they have their barracks and sew
eral other buildings. They designed
one of these for bazaar, but with tropi-
cal deliberation they proceed at such O
rate that they may see it ready too late
for the fair. Another building Is q
chocolate house, where Mexican choco-
late of traditional density may he had
pv asking for il. But the cooks and wait
ers soon learned American taste, and
now serve it just right, /. e., of every
grade % desired. They are building O
truly beautiful octagonal structure near
the main building. This Is of Moorish
design, most beautifully finished. No
where is there allowed a piece of plain
wood, or any plain building material to
be seen. It looks as if it might have
been pressed out Of papier mache with
small raised figures every where over 1t,
and the raised part colored red and gold
while the background is blue. The rooi
is dome shape and made Of colored
glass. The columns supporting the cen.
ter unite in arches about half way up
their walls then follow the eight sid
ed plan of the outside walls, while down
their center pours flood of bright light
Between these two walls were arranged
glass cases for their minerals. Before
the building vas completed they begar
to arrange their mineral specimens, bu
the peculiar light obscured their beauty
and the general verdict was, 1t would
not do. Either the beautiful work o
art or the beautiful works Of nature mus
be removed. And the question remains
which? Their collection of cactus planti
was immense. There were great many
kinds, and great many of kind. They
may have been intended for ornament
ing their grounds, and the climate prov
ed to severe. Many of them stood II
Horticultural hall, and many others, TIT
largest ones, laid here and there il
| heaps outside frozen. Some were tel
to fifteen feet long and three feet thick
Though frozen dead, they were not soft
but hard as wood. Some of these plant
presumably would bloom as spring sd
vances, but unfortunately were destitut,
of flowers during the cold weather.
The exhibit in the main building Ia 8,
full, that simple enumeration Is vel
nigh impossible. The furniture from
one large manufacturing house, owne,
by Mr.. Kuhn, Mexican, was very at
tractive, and bore close inspection. !
was made of fine polished rosewood
with ONYX slabs, wherever they coul,
be used. Heavy French plate mirror
adorned the dressing case and Armoire
The effect that the mirrors in each doc
of the Armoire had upon the passerb,
was comical. The furniture was place.
facing the avenue, but ut the farthe
side of mat covered floor, leaving al
empty space of twenty feet, and ID,
mirror served as magnet, to attrac
every eye. The flashing of the light up
on it, and the sudden impression Of on
in motion just there, drew the attention
before one knew il, and often secon,
glance was necessary to know that TIN
had just engaged Michigan man to Y
and he, the new manager, thought hi
first work of learning the Language
would be his hardest work.
Stuffed birds Of bright and varie(
plumage, filed many cases, and one di
vision contained the most curious worl
in birds. 1t was really difficult to know
| what they were, or what they meant
They were the most diminutive of birds
finely mounted, brilliant in color, anC
perfect in form, like great surprise II
nature. But they must certainly hav,
been manufactured. A game cock stood
in all his swelling greatness, only thret
inches high, and in like proportion
were scores of them, perhaps hundreds
Saddles and wide brimmed hats, of {
style to suit the cowboy Of the plains
but not commensurate with his purse
hung in bewildering richness. CheaI
straw hats and woven baskets, and the
crudest of pottery, gave evidence of thu
poor people in the land. Elegant cary
lngs in wood and stone, and works o
art, speak of the conservative richel
there. But their coffee and cereals, anC
stone and gold and silver, and wonder
ful variety of fine grained wood, anC
ment are sure TO lead Mexico to an i'm
portant place in the near future.
British Honduras did not present
very interesting aspect at first glance
as nothing very pretty was in sight. !
improved, however, upon closer inspeC
ton, A great abundance of coffee ant
spices, woods and furs, medicinal herbs
and specimens of handicraft filed tn
room. \ most primitive loom abou
three feet square with web of rougl
cotton cloth in it, shows what the Ind
ians could do before the days of machin
cry or civilization.
As if transported bodily from Japan
land, stands the Japanese tea house
where fragrant Heno tea is dealt out I,
all corners, free of cost, all day long. !
light rattan structure, pagoda style, will
papering inside of Japanese figures. tn,
inevitable stork and its surroundings
and rattan seats within, and plants ant
tall storks without, gave one the impress
sion of seeing the pictures he has lon
been acquainted with. standing ont sud
denly into life. This Heno, by the way
is only mixed tea, and is advertised
on the wrappers, as procurable from
only one Boston importing house! The
Japanese and Chinese, indistinguishabl,
TO- strangers, have each their main ex
hibit in its own location. But beside
ent places, probably leased by enter
prising individuals, independently
They could speak in broken English, il
some instances, and it was pleasing Il
note their politeness. Their courteou
manners, united with our courteou
words, were truly quite an improvement
on some Mclean" manners TO be seel
every day. They had all the wares OIL
country has dealt in for the past few
years, and quantities more. Some mu
steal instruments of novel shape an,
workmanship, and some scientific in
struments were marked Presented u
| the L. S. Government"
England sent but little. Among tina
little was stone ware in white and darl
lavender variegated, said to be made o
the Stag or refuse of the iron furnaces
mixed with lava, and other things no
to be mentioned to those not in the Sc
cret.
The Italian section was full but no
varied, nor did 1t represent the genera
industries of the country. These ex
hibitors came TO make money. The sole
coral and shells and silver work ant
lava articles. A small contribution iron
country that once held the supremac,
in commercial power.
Bohemia was there, glittering In he
celebrated glass ware OF most beautiful
designs and finest tracery. The colon
and tints were of exquisite beauty, anC
the patterns of elaborate elegance
From a child's cup Of clear glass, will
figures in silhouette upon it, selling 70
twenty-five cents, to a punch bowl wortl
three hundred dollars, the prices ant
styles extended in tempting array.