The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-26
JAPANAT THEFAIR
handiwork and Products of the
Oriental Empire.
KnLFUL WORK oF JAPs IN IRON.

An Eagle Which Consumed Five Years IL
Carving and Is Valued at SIC, 00O--Pa-
thence Zig Stock In Trade In the
Chicago.
WORLDS FAIR. July e. Especial. -
Japan has contributed spiendidly 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 sc
much gratifed at the reception which
they met there and with the market 10.
their goods which was Immediately opened
up in the western world, that without urg,-
ing On the part OF the representatives ci
this exposition they were eager 20 repeat
here their effort at the Centennial, only
charging II q dozen field and enriehing il
with a class Of lne 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 a liberal appropriation, and tbs
manufacturers associations of Yokohama,
Nagasaki 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 tic
see Oriental work that is really f-e.
t. s. ~ II.
seen in this country has been Of a rathel
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 thai 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
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
national headquarters a building which
might be presented to the city at the close
of the exposition, and which should serve
as permanent memorial of the great oc
casion. Hence the Hooden palace, char.
acteristical1y 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, a few months |
hence 1t VIII become a part of Jackson |
park. It viii 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 |
tionel building, but in the big Manufact- ,
ures building they have erected hand
some pavilion wherein the principal part
of the japanese display will be founi. |
This pavilion faces Columbia avenue, adj |
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, oyerhanging 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 abounds, and