The morning call., 1893-03-24
A QUEER PEOPLE.
The Javanese Visitors to
the Worlds Fair.
SAW THEIR FIRST SNOW.
The Queer Dress and Customs of a
Parkway lsland-Their Arts
and Industries.

sour object and aim in bringing the
Javanese to America and making the dis
play at the Worlds Fair that we intend to
make is to acquaint the American people
with the products of Java-the real products
of Java and not those that are usually sold
under that name"
The speaker was G. c. F. w. Mundt, the
vice-president and manager of the Java
Chicago Exhibition syndicate, organized
with a capital of 5000 for the purpose of
making an exhibit at the Worlds Fair.
When the syndicate first made applica-
tion for space privileges and asked for
room enough to build q Javanese village,
including an opera-house. observation
tower. etc.," the managers of the Colum mbian
Exposition were agIast. but after consider
ing the matter for awhile the privileges
asked for were granted, and the Javanese
are now in the city en route for Chicago.
Mr. Mundt is, as his name signifies, a
German by birth. but for twenty-eight
years he has lived in Java, and has become
so attached to the land of his adoption that
he will never live anywhere else, he says.
Last night he was dressed in the garb worn
in Java. Bare feet in sandals held to the
foot by thong of leather running between
the big toe and the second one, skirt of
striped silk in gay colors and white coat of
comfortable and becoming.
Beside Mr.. Mundt sat A. Kirkhoven Jr.,
whose father is president of the syndicate.
Although native of Java, Mr.. KirkhoYen
has spent most of his life In Europe and
wears the dress of the civilian.
j. n. Kolff. treasurer of the syndicate, is
also with the party.
"In our party" continued Mr. Mundt,
after settling back in his big armchair,
1--WE have l27 people, all natives, thrty-six
n " hn nartr ic IN
charge of son of a celebrated chief and IS
himself a nobleman, bearing the title of
Radeu. His name is Admin [ am sorry he
is not here, but he prefers to remain on
board the ship. None of the natives have
ever been away from home before and
know nothing of cold weather and consP-
quently they suffered considerably on the
voyage coming over, as we had several
storms On the second day out from Hong
Kong we had a snowst0rm and it was the
first time the Javanese had ever seen or, l
guess, heard of snow. They went wild
over it, calling 1t the beautiful white rain
and one of the women begged me to let her
gather some of the fakes and dry them out
on the stove in the cooks galley in order
that she might take them home with her
when she returned. Pretty soon she real
lied that the white rain was very very cold
and then they wanted none of it.
The women we have in our party were
exceedingly difficult to secure. They are
tuc hCdNblSJ U5 tLo anu uduCCIS lIOU Tie
court of native prince, who only loaned
thom 10 us alter repeated visits and much
persuasion They will dance in Chicago
for the first time in their lives outside of
the princes palace, and will wear their
court robes. But few people in Java have
ever seen these girls in full court dress, and
it was only because they were coming to
the great United States that the prince
gave his permission for them to leave the
country.
Then there are the weavers and dyers, and
the latter will certainly prove very inter-
estlng people Their process is peculiar TO
themselves and their own country; but
nowhere else on earth are such beautiful
and lasting results achieved in the art OF
coloring fabrics. They use wax to lay their
colors and designs. For instance. they will
cover fabric here. there and everywhere,
apparently, with patches of wax, and then
dip ii into blue dye, let us say. When dry,
the cloth is placed In warm water and the
wax melted and washed out Then it is
seen that the spots covered by the wax were
untouched by the blue dye. Once again
wax is applied to the cloth, and then 1t is
dipped in red dve, and so on until the work
is completed. In the blending of colors, as
well as in designing, the Java women are
without equals anywhere,
The village we have brought with US
will consist of dwellings for the Radeu and
his people, theater. an observation tower
and several stores, where Java wares and
pIOuuClS Will D6 6AUlUlLeu. II Will De DQllt
exactly as it stood in Java before its re-
moval. for we have brought large section
of village with us in order to show the
people of the United States and the world
just how the Javanese look, how they
work, how and where they live and what
they do TO amuse themselves, and then we
will give them some real. genuine Java cof-
fee and Java tea.'
The conversation turning upon the pecu-
liar dress of the Javanese. as eXemplified
by Mr.. Mundts costume and the costumes
of his three native servants the genial
manager of the Javanese syndicate slipped
a sandal from his bare foot, and holding it
out said: Look. See how my great toe
has been spread away from the others.
That comes from wearing sandals. Now, l
sleep in this dress. and whenever possible
wear it. You can form no idea of the COM
fort and convenience 1t affords one that is
habituated to it, Come and see US often"
concluded the speaker THE natives are
running about town like school-children,
and disagreeable as is the weather are en-
loying themselves very much.'
On Saturday night the Jayanese leave
with their village for Chicago on special
train, and all theiI managers are PRAYING
for is that no blizzard will strike them until
after the Javanese have chance to become
acclimated.