New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-25
THE SPANISH EXPOSITION
AMERICAS POOR SHOWING AT THE GREAT
BARCELONA FAIR.
tvaox AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF rHx InBuSr.l

ment and gayety. The Infanta of Spain and her
sister, wife OF Prince Louis Ferdinand OF Bavaria
have been staying here for the last ten days on te
way to Madrid; and Barcelona has done it's best
to entertain them. They are visiting at the
house Of the Marquis de Camilla, son of Antonio
Lopez Lopez, the great statesman Of Spain. A
fine ball was given in their honor at this palace
and another, few nights after by a prominent
family here, whose home adjoins a theatre which
they own There were 1000 invitations, and
the entertainment was given in the theatre, the
palace itself being reserved for the royal per-
sonages and their suites. Tonight there is an
other large ball in progress at one of the fine
houses in the new part OF the town. There is
much rivalry between Madrid and Barcelona and
the latter is putting her best foot forward in
these festivities, as the Infantas will go from
here to Madrid to visit the Queen Regent and
will of course, receive every attention there.
Thursday last was the fete of All Saints, and
the streets were filed all day long with holiday
makers From morning till night steady stream
Of gay, laughing folk, of all classes walked past
our hotel up the Rambla to the Flower Market
and back again The peasants in Catalan costume
from the surrounding villages the women with
their black silk handkerchief or lace scarfs, for
heedcovering, and the rich Spanish senior
and sonora out walking, were all laden with
flowers Some little maidens carried huge bou-
Quets under each arm: carriages passed, filed
with gay occupants almost covered with flowers
in wreaths. bouquets and pyramids The crowd
went to the cemetery in the morning leaving the
flowers and wreaths the graves of their loved
ones. The afternoon was given to pleasure,
thousands visiting the Exposition.
The Exposition has been a great surprise to
me. expected something fairly good, and
thought it would probably be well enough for
Spain" But the country itself is a surprise,
and the Exposition much more Of a success than
I anticipated Barcelona has given up to it her
fine Park, and al the permanent beauties OF
this spot add to the general effect, as the tempo
rary buildings, chalets, cafes. etc, are scat
tered about among lakes, canals, fountains, cas-
cades and orange groves. This park has been
the pride of Barcelona. 1t was laid out by
public competition, and the gardener sent
by the municipality to study in Belgium for two
years. There is project for new park after
this year. on the outskirts of the town The
Main Building of the Exposition, the Palacio
de Ia Industrial" contains the exhibits from
different countries, and is built in seml-clrcu-
lar form, with divisions or naves like elongated
triangles. One could spend days in this building
alone, but by examining the departments in the
most cursory manner without spending too
much time on the details we were able TO get
. pretty fair idea of its contents In two long
afternoons. Unfortunately for the United States,
we started at the furthest end from its section
and so were able TO see what all the other ma
tons had sent to this fine Universal Exposition
before we came to the American exhibit. To
begin with we entered China's nave This is
q small but choice exhibit of beautiful embroid-
cries, superb lacquer screens with flowers and
leaves of pearl, wood-carvings, china, etc. Then
comes Uruguay, with wheat and other grains
They must be particularly fond of crackers in
that Republic, as one firm alone displays 100
different kinds. Chill has grains, wines, liquors
and mineral products Paraguay has sent
small exhibit Of SKINS rugs, samples of wood,
and tobacco in different forms. .
Belgium has large space here. filed with
coal, tiles, oils, and wine: fine large window
Of laces for which this country has such reputa-
tion esquisite dpoint-ducheSse and point dc
venise and beautiful Brussels lace handkerchiefs.
II also has superb show Of heavy cut glass, and
many manufactures of cottons and woollens, re-
markable embroideries and Brussels bronzes. and
clocks The French display is fine one, occu-
pying four naves. This is the nation which has
responded best to the invitation of Spain. France
comes out well in her two great in
dusries of wine-making and silk manufacture.
There are Cbablis, Champagnes, Bordeaux, Cog
macs absinthe Marseilles beer, and liquors in
profusion, and one firm shows seven
different kinds Of punch in bottles.
LYONS has a beautiful exhibition Of silks. There
Is a musical instrument made of petrlied bones, on
which the exhibitor will play you tune for one
franc Indeed the French department. with It's
exhibition of Autographs, bicycles sphons, photo
rraphs, chocolate, toys dolls, bronzes, enamels'
miniature paintings on IVORY exquisite
ewelry, etc. is too immense to re-
.eve Justice in short description like this.
Tunis makes small but interesting display oc-
supying only part of section, and next comes
The Spanish exhibition. This is in the central
portion of the building, and takes up nine naves
besides the central hall, which is occupied by the
Government with most interesting collection OF
Spanish military costumes of the different epochs
There are several pieces Of cannon recently con-
structed, magnificent arms of Toledo, and splendid
plans. There is a large exhibit from
the Civil Guards, that body of men TO whom the
present safety OF property in Spain and It's freedom
from molestation by robbers and brlgands is
certainly due. 1t would be useless to attempt TO
describe the many wonderful and beautiful articles
which Spain has sent in, for it takes hours to ex-
anime them. / have never seen such emproidery,
some If the raised work is beyond description.
There is one dcsiSn Of large chariot with winged
horses embroidered on square of white muslin
IS fine as the daintiest handkerchief; yet these
norses are in bas-rehef, an inch in thickness and
The wings sland out from the material IN most
ielicately wrought feathers.
Ingenious designs are shown in the structure OF
he booths and pavilons in which the articles are
displayed One is blue tower, fifty feet IN |
height, copied from the tower of the Cathedral at
seville. 1t is composed of packages of stationery
n blue wrapp ng paper There is one exhibit de- |
,iened from an arch of the Alhambra, with Its
brilliant Oriental colors and Arabic figures, and
his is formed OF bottles of olive OIL There is an
organ, thirty feet high with complete set OF
pipes, made of bobbins of cotton IN thousand
different shades. or course Spain displays her