Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-07-07
AN ORIENTAL ExHIeir.


Persian Rugs, Swords Of Damascus, and
tho Drapsrics of tina Dark-Eyed Haidesa
The knowledge 10 be gained by the wis.,
itors to the coming Centennial Is far
more potent In its diversity and eharac-
ter than can be decided by cursory note.
1t would require whole tones to tell OF
the wonderful things TO be seen there.
The whole world, it may be said, has not
been slow to bring its manifold tribute.
The scientist, no less than the artist, or
mechanic, may stand amazed before the
cosmic vision The witnesses to the re-
suit Of this scheme, 30 mighty that it
appals the ordinary brain, are the real
benefciaries Of its greatness. Men may
dream for years of being able, at some
period of their lives. to traverse the
haunts Of youth, and Of gathering treas
ures and knowledge at the ancient
shrines, yet can fail, perhaps, to recog-
nize the value Of the privileges thus
afforded them by this enterprise. Where
ever float the banners of civilization
there is cognizance of this exhibit, and
the workers in brass and iron, as well as
of stone, bronze and wood, will HE
them there with specimens of their
genius to the end that their fame may be
known throughout the earth, and yield
future harvests-
Yesterday / saw dark-eyed, tawny
citizen of Damascus, who is here for the
purpose of erecting booth in the de-
partment of arts for his textures, the
like of which was never before the New
Orleans Fair shown In America. The
boastful words of Naaman, the Leper,
care not the waters of ALBANIA and
Pharphar better than all the waters of
Israel?' may find their rival In the assur-
ance of this sombre-eyed Turk (whose
name is Fares H. Ferzam, Zonnk Mekail,
and home Lebanon, in Syrnia, from
whence the cedars of ''The Temple" were
brought as precious woods,) that he
has textiles more than seven hundred
years old, some of which he showed us,
valued at something over two thousand
dollars in our money, the colors of which
are as glaring as though yesterday dried
from the dip. Perhaps once only in
lifetime will opportunity be given for a
sight of these well-nigh priceless things.
Nothing more than these, said the New
Orleans Picayune, attracted the atten-
ton of the curio-lovers at their exhibit.
The colors are fadeless, every ounce of
silk being washed, boiled and otherwise
tested, till the impossfbility of change is
made o fact. He will weave the gold
foil filament and the wonderful hued
threads into cloths before our eyes, on
loom that has been the property of his
family for centuries, as well as the
method of work, materials and secret
dyes. A genuine Cachemire shawl is
among his precious stores, and embroi-
deries on Grape, with the thread so fine it
seems like phantom, and colors so rare
they might have been resurrected from the
sea depths. He showed lace woven from
the ipner bark of tree that grows on
Pharphar's sunny shores. He will bring
to the exhibit veritable swords of Da
mascus, the character of which has gone
into song and story, and Damaskeening
models--the art of incrusting wires of
silver and gold on the surface of iron,
steel or bronze. When Nez, the son of
Aram, who, according to Josephus,
founded Damascus, little, indeed, did he
dream of its cheekered history, or of the
time when bit OF carving, mosaic or
textile from its looms would be held as
among the choicest treasures of the art
world