Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-08-03
AT THE FAIR
Hanoiwork and Products Of the
Oriental Empire.
BKILLFUL WORK OF JAPs IN IRON,

An Eagle Which Consumed Five Years in
Carving and Is Valued at SIC, OOO--Pa-
thence big stock in Trade in the
Country of the NIiksdo A Gift to
Chicago.
WORLDS FAIR, July % Especial i -
Japan has contributed splendidly TO the
Worlds Columbian exposition. Seventeen
years ago the artisans and producers of
the Oriental empire made display of
their wares at Philadelphia, and were so
much gratitied at the reception which
they met there and with the market for
their goods which was Immediately opened
up in the western world, that without urg-
ing on the part of the representatives OF
this exposition they were eager to repeat
here their effort at the Centennial, only
charging it n dozen fold and enriching it
with class of fine ware which Is not often
sent beyond the borders of their own coun-
try. The japanese government, not to be
outdone by the enterprise of its merchants,
made liberal appropriation, and the
manufacturers associations of Yokohama,
Nagnsaki and other cities, corresponding
closely to our boards of trade, and the as
ISOLATED tea companies, co-operated in the
work.
The result is such display of japanese
handiwork and products as was never be-
fore seen on this continent. Now for the
first time large masses of the American
people are given their first opportunity to
see Oriental work that is really fine
Most of that which we have heretofore
seen in this country has been of rather
cheap order, though of course graceful
and popular. Here we have if not the
very best the Japs can do an approxima-
ton of their best, and that is surprisingly
good and artistic. Ones feeling is, after
spending few hours among the japanese
exhibits, that those people are not capable
of producing more meritorious work, and
it is rather discouraging to be told by one
! of the japanese commissioners that as a
matter of fact their very choicest pieces in
nearly all lines of effort were left at home
because their owners were not willing to
brave the dangers of the long voyage and
much handling.
Just as soon as the japanese government
learned the scope of the fair and of its To-
| cation in one of the great public parks of
| Chicago, it was decided to erect here for a
national headquarters a building which
might be presented to the city at the close
of the exposition, and which should serve
| as a permanent memorial of the great oc-
| casion. Hence the Hooden palace, char
| acteristically japanese and suggestive of
| their most ancient and classical forms of
architecture, was built on the wooded
| island, surrounded by the waters of the
lagoons; and though it is now the offices of
| the japanese commission, n few months
| hence it will become a part of Jackson
| park. 1t will be one of the few buildings
now In the fair to remain when the gates
| are closed and the work of demolition of
| the White City shall have been completed.
The Japs make no exhibit in their ma
tional building, but in the big Manufact-
ures building they have erected hand
some pavilion wherein the principal part
of the Japanese display will be found.
This pavilion faces Columbia avenue, ad
joining the Austrian section, and directly
opposite the long facade erected by the
American manufactures of textiles, 1t is
even more characteristic of the Oriental
| empire than the HoOden palace With
great, massive, overhangng roofs, it has
carved gateways, thick wooden doors
which are bound with iron, the whole sur
mounted by the golden storks and decor
ated with the japanese and American
flags. The carvings are all in native hard
| woods, with which Japan abouuds, and