The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-07-28

LACE EXHIBIT IN BELGIUM SECTION.
ing of fingers, the concentration Of facul-
ties required to produce yard of this
round point lace, fifteen inches wide, and
worth S19.50 per linear inch, or $40 per
yard.
Here is fan Of black lace, in which the
naadle has sketched d picture of the mon
Gstery of Mount st. Michael, Off the coast
of France, that is almost as perfect as
painter could make it with brush and
palette. The fan is worth $145. Paris ex-
GELS in fans, and in some styles of lace; but
evidence Of the close relationship and good
understanding existing between the
French and the Belgians is found in the
fact that the lace which ono country pro-
duces the other lets alone, so there is no
rivalry between them. The Belgians show
some lace with shaded flowers which is
surprisingly fine, the widest, thirteen
inches, selling at $40 yard, and the mar
rowest, four and q half inches, at $40
yard. They have recently revived the
Burano, an old Italian lace-the Belgians
are apt imitators-which sells at S115 per
yard. They show some fine Valenciennes
from convent in Flanders, the sisters of
the convent alone possessing the secret of
its manufacture.
There is not much else in the Belgian
exhibit that one cares about, save the guns
and the bronzes. OF the latter the num-
Der is small, but the pieces are full of in
terest. Directly within the main entrance
to the pavilion stands striking represen-
tation of Leonidas at Thermopylae. 1t
was cast by the lost wax process, which
signifies that only one statue can exist
since the mold of wax is lost in the cast
ing. The purchaser, therefore, may have
no uneasiness about his piece having q
duplicate somewhere in the world, though
If q man loves art for arts sake, and not
rs collector of rare things, like collector
of old postage stamps or obsolete tea pots,
could never understand why he should
weep If some one else enjoys copy Of
the thing which gives him pleasure.
Near by is twelve-fronted bronze vase,
simple, yet beautifully ornamented. In it
are combined the Chinese and Japanese
methods of fabrication. Still another SUI
perb casting is piece in Florentine bronze
representing "Innocence Troubled by the
Loves" 1t is much admired. These fig
ures are worth from two to three thousand
dollars each in Belgium, and of course a
high duty would have to be paid to keep
them in this country.
The Belgians are such lovers of tho
chase that they have brought the art of
gun-making to high degree of perfection
They make one of the finest dis
plays of sportsmen's guns to be
found in the exposition, and one is sur
prised to learn that they make pretty
good gun which can be bought in their
country for about the equivalent of 81 in
our money.
Hats and caps are other Belgian special
ties, as well as leather goods. A display
of native marbles, some of the blocks Of
white stone being equal in texture and
| clearness TO the celebrated Parian marbles.
In small glassware the Belgians apparent
| ly make no effort, but they show remark
ably fine plate glass. One piece is worthy
mention. 10 is 12x1S feet in size, fawless,
and so clear that guard has to be sta
toned hard by to prevent visitors walking
through it.
Belgium raises little wool, but she i'm
ports shiploads of fleece from the Argen-
| tine Republic and weaves from them some
| of the finest fabrics that ever rolled out Of
a loom. Belgian tapestries and carpets
are well known throughout the world.
| Take it all in all, the little kingdom which
| lies geographically surrounded by the
| great powers of Europe has no need to feel
ashamed OF its showing here.
| WALTER WELLMAN.