The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-08-31
BRAZIL AT THE FAIR.
A South American Exhibit at the
Great Exposition.
Ornamental Woods and Fabrics
From the Amazon.

Brazil has but little more than
5000 square feet of space at the Fair.
1t IL located directly in the rear OF
Switzerland, with Spain neighbor on
the west. Two sides OF the section are
high walls, which have been utilized
for the display of cotton cloths princi-
pally, these having been arranged in
a rather attractive form OF decoration.
The country produces its own cotton
and manufactures cloth enough out OF
1t to supply the entire republic 1t
exports none at present but hopes to
do SO before many years. The quality
OF these goods is excellent and the col
| oring SO rich-not gaudy-that they
resemble woolen cloths except on close
inspection Many fabrics are woven
by hand, the best results being shown
in hammocks, the very contemplation
of whose perfect adaptability to the
purposes of construction produces II
cool and comfortable feeling in these
hot days.
1t is not cotton, however, that Brazil
is bossting about The product in
which she takes most pride is her fur
n1ture and other articles made from
wood, such as ornamental ceilings and
panels and wood carpets. Nature has
supplied woods, endless in variety and
inexhaustible in quality, while art has
| trained skilled carveFs and unexcelled
| designers in mosaic.
The wood susceptible of the highest
finish and the most delicate carving is
| known az jacaranda, resembling ebony
in color and texture. A very plain
pallor set made of this wood, with
| cane seats in the chairs and sofa, is
valued at ST ,000 A single armchair,
with arms, legs and back elaborately
carved, Is said to be worth 81, 900.
Before the articles sent to the world 8
fair left Rio they were exhibited in q
local fair. The owner of this chair
was awarded gold medal. 1t repre-
sents the work of one man for six
months.
The highest skill is shown in the
wood mosaics. The figures are mostly
geometric and of intricate design.
Some of the pieces of wood are as fine
as a hair, and in such articles as the
top of table nearly all are so small
that they were handled with needle
when put in place. In spite of the
minuteness of the parts and the great
variety of woods used--often hun
dred kinds in the top of a small center
table-the joints are mathematically y
exact and the pieces perfect parallelo-
grams. Marble mosaics are equally
perfect.
Vice President Peixoto, now acting
president of the republic, was pre-
sented by prisoner of the state with
Il small table whose top was of marble
tanned his freedom thereby. In the
center Of the design is the country's
coat of arms, worked out in the minut-
est detail. The vice president sent
the table to the fair with other ex
hibits.
Among other curiosities is chair
which belonged to Dom Pedro, to-
gether with his saddle, bride, spurs
and other accouterments.
There are exhibits of tile painting,
wall papers, hats, boots and shoes,
ladies' corsets, etc, for each of which
some point of excellence is claimed.
In the center of the two posts of
Brazils pavilion there is an arched
opening thirty feet in width and twelve
feet high. The arch is surmounted by
the countrys coat of arms, large star
whose rays are half white and half
green, within which is ring of twenty
smaller stars, again within which are
five other stars. Surrounding the
whole are branches of the coffee and
tobacco plant, one on each side. The
United States and Brazilian flags,
half dozen of each, alternating, float
above the national insignia.
The exhibit is strictly one of the
country. Those who We're patriotic
enough sent articles to Rio, where the
national government took charge OF
them and where it will deliver them at
the chose of the exposition. While
L Il