The herald., 1893-09-11
BEWADER|NG BRIO A. BRAC,
Marvellous 0bjets de Vcrtu in
Italy's Exhibit.
Art Works Redolent Of Poesy In the
Manufactures Building.
che IndescribAbIe Beauty and va
riety OF the Works of Art
From All Parts Of Sunny y,
Italy.
Special correspondence TO the HERALD.

CmcAGo, Sept. Q.
II is In the great manufactures build
Ing that one must look for the choicest
bits. finest articles, highest art and
greatest variety of beautiful and costly
things. Vast as the structure, the space
assigned to each country in many cases
hardly seems sufficient for the innumer-
able exhibits that crowd and jostle for
supremacy and admiration in each Sec
tion. Thus Italy, replete with charac-
teristic wealth Of productions, industries
and manufactures, has her display al
most spoiled by the necessary massing
and the cramping OF quarters. To make
an advantageous showing there should
be'about twice as much flooring occu-
pi0d, aH now the gorgeous and Risten,
ing bric-a-brac have entirely overfiowed
their bounds, and Little Fisher Maiden
angles for compliments, and The Wrest-
ler- wrestles for room at the entrance.
and all sorts and conditions of (sculp-
tured) men-and women, too-ftl the
narrow passage ways, block the portals
and swarm the surrounding walls, "Thick
as sutumnal leaves that strew the brooks
in .Vallombrosa."
1t is hard to appreciate or study any
single statue in a close group OF 20 or 40,
aud therefore many Of the best points
are lost here that would be readily taken
in II amongst more suitable surround
inRs, such as in the immense art palace.
The whole display reminds ont very
much OF the windows down the Via
Rpms, Naples; the shops along the
Corso, Rome; the arcades Of the Piazza
di San Marco and booths OF Merceria,
Venice, and the shorea of the Piazza
della Signoria of Florence. The wares
are unmistakable; one would recognize
their nationality" at once. Venetian
glassware Florentine mosaics, Roman
silks and Neapolitan coral are known the
world over and have been brought here
in all their beauty and height Of per-
lection. The marble employed for the
statusry 10 principally the Carrara, and
several new pieces have been created
above the regular stock in trade for this
fair. None OF these approach the degree
OF excellence attained in those executed
expressly for the last Paris exposition.
All seem to be having q remarkable
sale, though, as perfect ropes and chains
OF duplicate order cards are attached to
some of the favorite subjects.
There are several terra Gotta figures OF
Egyptian and negro children that look
for all the world like some OF tie little
boys up In the plaisance. They are far
more natural than wax, the plaster be-
ing tinted for skin and clothing. The
bronze and alabaster does not compare
favorably with that brought from other
countries. The bizarre Italian majolica
is very plentiful, as is other pottery and
ceramic art. Quaint wrought iron
ornamentations and ancient lamps;
antique furniture and tapestries
that perhaps came from some old
palace along the Grand canal,
for they seem strangely familiar from
the reading OF Poe's tales. There seems
lack Of the rich and beautiful Roman
silks which all Americans buy 30 largely
OF when In the city of seven hills; and
also there is very little Of the real rare
and exquisite Venetian point guipufe
and other laces shown.
The wonderful inlaid and carved
woods, the grotesque life-size figures
hewn from solid blocks Of Venetian
wood, attract great deal OF attention,
and are selling well. Magnificent chairs,
cabinets, escritoirs, pedestals and frames
carved in fine old walnut, rival, If not
O4COk bA0 i0l4Quo 0Wlcb luQubbLys 1H0I6
are mirrors of all sizes, shapes and de-
scriptions, useful as we'll as ornamental;
painted tiles and porcelains copied from
the more peaceful and tender pictures
in the noted galleries, and Venetian
glassware in an endless assortment.
Every variety of mosaic work in the
Byzantine, Florentine, Boman and Ve-
netian styles, all Of which one tires OF
unless seen in the great masterpiece of s.
Paulo fuori le Mura, Rome or some
dainty bijou. OF the small and portable
wares for sale there is q most tantalizipg
array. Roman gold, cut and filigree
silver, pink shell and lava ornaments,
and highly FURNISHED and chased tor
toise-ehell articles.
1.-The corals comprise the finest collec.
lection ever shown in this country, and
anyone accustomed to thinking of them
as red, cxumbly, zig-zaggy cheap stuff
finds these jewels revelation In their
brilliant beauty, for the strings of pol
iahed roHe-pink ones and the Holitoires,
set In diamonds and pearls, glowing
from their rich velvet cases, are go fas-
cinating that they amaze everyone. The
pure white and family blushing coral is
considered the choicest, and from the
rows upon rows Of enthusiastic girls
swarming about the cases, and the obs
and abs Of ecstacy over their fair loveli-
ness. makes one think they sigh for the
purse of Fortunatus.
,aOf the superabundance OF articles OF
virtue that have been crowded out to
cluster about the walls are two very fine
enamel paintings. The Sea Goddess and
Pagauf Festival. The effect is wonder
fully soft and pleasing and the coloring
very skillfully blended. Mammoth an.
tique bronzes, cleaning marbles and
choice bits of the scenery and sky of TIA
", snatched from nature by the brush OF
the, artist, to divert ones thoughts
to the dancing and sunlit seas
OF the Mediterranean. II Italian lovers
20 a.aersnading and a.wooing with man
dolins like those on exhibition iurt at
one of the south entrances, they ought
to be successful, for nothing but magic
tinkle-tanks could come from these fra
grant polished little instruments, inlaid
with tortoise and pearl, covered with
painted pansies and gorgeous chrysan-
themums and breathing poesy in their
very silence. They are for nothing, but
boudoir or summer night with q
silver moon, ripping water and case
ment lattice. 1t is cruel to, think OF
any one being go unfeeling as to twang
scales and exercises upon them or
tnump out an accompaniment to songs
oftne Ia ra-ra-boom-de-ai orderl
Inc space assigned Italy is partly
under one of the galleries and therefore
10 quite dark in places. IL thev onlv