The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-10-03
WORLDS FAIR NOTES.
Prom cur Special Correspondent.

bhoitcr anu Snaue 10 tne many tn0uS
ands during the heat this summer are
last turning brown and falling one by
one. Some are caught by the way
ward winds and are whirled and tossed
about until seemingly tired Of its play
thing 1t drops it into the cold waters
OF tho lagoon, where again 1t is kept
In motion until heavy with moisture II
sinks from sight The flowers with
their sweet smiles seem to. appeal tc
all who love them for protection. They
have a premonition of their coming
doom, for time creeps on with no slug.
gish pace and the day is not fur away
when they, too, fsll have to render tc
nature its due. Already the vines that
clung so closely to the deformed oak,
hiding the awkward form beneath
thousands Of dehaately shaped leaves,
or have crept in and out of the crew.,
ces Of some building nestled within the
tangled foliage, begin to show the
march of the destroyer. Vine, leaf
and flower are dropping, and an air, OF
sadness seems to be creeping over all.
A few weeks ago all nature was burst
ing forth in its glory and freshness
now 1t is fast fading away and soon the
large white buildings that are so grand
and beautiful will stand out like ghosts
In the clear, frosty air of winter. The
moon shedding it's softened light upon
the waters or lighting up the winding
walks along the banks of the lagoons
will reveal no happy dreamer weaving
golden thoughts. No more will we see
the gilded domes and noble statues
glistening in the sunlight or softly
sinking into the twilight mists save in
our memories. No more can we wor-
ship at its shrine or place upon the al
ter the incense of our praise.
A feeling of sadness has taken pos
session of me, and as mingle with the
thousands that come and go, the
thought has often come to my mind
and have asked and asked again if
this vast multitude realized or fully
comprehended that the grandest crea-
tion of mans genius is so soon to be q
thing of the past; that years will roll
by, and the rising generation will have
passed into the unpenetrable shadow
before its like will be produced again.
AS walk about the buildings or loiter
beneath the trees, or look down the
long stretch of water that forms the
lagoons and basin, or lying upon their
banks listen to the music of the rip
pies as they lisp their song at the base
Of the grand stairways that lead to the
buildings, my thoughts go back to the
day when first saw it in all'its fresh
ness. 1t seemed like a beautiful dream,
but SO full of realities. New impress
sons came with every step and inspira-
ton with each view. Words cannot
express the feelings Or the new life
that came to the soul, to nestle within
Its warm embrace for all time.
~
One of the interesting places to visit
is the Leather Building. On the west
wall can be seen q collection of shoes
from all nations. Owing to their od-
dity and the decoration of some of
them they have become study. In
the Mexican department is cane
made from the skin of fish that lives
In the waters along it's eastern shore.
Among some of the natives the belief
is still current that u person struck
hard blow with one of these canes, q
cancer will commence to grow and
death will follow. The Indians along
the coast use this Manati skin as q
remedy against epilepsy and Bright's
disease. Thus it Is while one uses it
to deal out death another accepts its
virtues to preserve life. In this build
ing can be seen variety OF ways in
which leather and rubber can be adapt
ed to mans wants. Some Of the booths
are made very attractive. The Boston
Rubber Shoe co. have been ingenious
enough to adopt a fine jersey cloth for
the tops Of their rubber shoes, doing
away with the coarse, heavy felt that
has always given our oyershoes such
clumsy appearance. Close to this is
the Woonsocket's, who have some of
the most dainty rubbers that lady
ever put on her foot. They are made
OF very rich material and look as
handsome as house shoe. Russia has
some very fine embossed leather and
fancy skins tanned on one side, leaving
the hair on the other. The French
have wonderful way of dressing their
leather. 1t is as soft and fine in the
texture as kid. In the gallery the
hum of machinery can be heard all
day long, and this is where they illus
trate how the goods are manufactured.
~
In the Manufactures Building, ia
pan has some very rare goods. Their
cloisonni ware is far superior to the
Chinese both in design and finish, and
1t is also richer in coloring. The
figures are smaller and not of the same
character. When piece of ware
Is finished the surface is perfectly
smooth and has a glaze, while in the
Chinese the figures are raised above
the surface, making rough feeling to
the touch. They have some vases in
the Art Building that are valued at
$50, 900 and $4,000 each. This natu-
rally strikes one as being an extrava-
CANT price, but 1t will not be regarded
so when you consider the time and
labor. They first take piece of cop
per and beat 1t by hand into the shape
required. The design is then etched
into the copper, after which fine sill
YER or gold wire Is fastened to the cop
per base. Each figure Is then built up
to q uniform height with the wire un-
I'll all the figures are finished; f; then
different colored enamels are placed in
and around these figures; then it Is
put into the furnace and fred. This
process Is continued until the wire is
covered, when the polishing or glazing
finish Is given. 1t is all done by hand
and takes much time and patience to
complete 1t.
AS you enter the Russian department
from the main avenue, on your right
stands q cabinet made of some dark
wood, while the panels are of q lighter
kind, into which scenes from the life
OF Count l.. Tolstoi have been burnt in
with hot wires, giving jt the effect of
having been painted In light and dark
sepia. This work was dono by Ma
dame Semelchkine. A few steps more
and you stand in front OF glass case,
In which rests an ink stand in enamel
and gold that was presented to Rubin
stein by the public of st. Petersburg
on his 5oth jubilee anniversary. It
cost $1,000. A ~short distance to the
north OF this same avenue Is small