The herald., 1893-07-16

fail to see is the Libbey glass factory, To-
Gated in the Midway Plaisance, near
the entrance to the park grounds. The
factory WAS erected and is owned and
operated by the famous Libbey Glass
company of Toledo, o.. of which Mr.. +.
d. Libbey is president. The company
is represented in California by Messrs.
III. F. Vollmer & Co. of Los Angeles.
The factory here is one of the few ex-
hibits that was in readiness when the
fair opened, Mr.. Libbey's characteristic
enterprise and promptness being equal
to the overcoming of all obstacles that
delayed the completion on time of go
many enterprises. Ever since the open
ing OF the fair these glass works have
been running in fine shape and attract
ing thousands of visitors daily to watch
the interesting process of glass manu-
facture. But of all the beautiful goods
turned out by skilled workmen the OBJ
ject attracting most attention is the
wonderful glass dress, made for Princess
Eulalia, now on exhibition. 1t is doubt
full if any one thing in the great exposi-
tion draws go many visitors to it, and
elicits so many ecomiums, Jas does this
novel dress. The circumstances leading
to its manufacture are briefly these:
Miss George Cayvan of the Lyceum
theater company originated the idea of
making dress from spun and woven
glass, and when the project was submit
ted to President Libbey he at once saw
the feasibility of the scheme and set
about to carry it out. The result was
the production of very handsome gar
'ment. and the Libbey Glass company
gave Miss Cayvan the exclusive stage
rights to this for six months.
One day while the infanta with her
suite were making a tour, headed by
Commander Davia, they all filed through
Mr.. Libbey's turnstile and found them
selves watching the molten glass glo.
bules which were deftly taking form ard
shape. The princess had seen the pro-
cess before, and che began to seek for
novelty.
Soon she saw the spun glass dress,
and she was at once enthralled. She
took up the material, stroked it with
her finger tips, remarked its fine silken
texture and its flexible character. and
Immediately decided that she must have
the dress, or at least one just like it..
But the original costume had been
promised to Miss Csyvan, and 30 the
infanta was content to order one Just
like it.
"It is wonderful thing" she said.
And then she exclaimed: II must have
one of them"
President Libbey at once declared that
her royal highness should be accommo-
dated, and his offer was accepted by the
infanta. Then she turned away to in
epect the cut-glass ware, for the rare
perfection of which she afterward made
the firm, by special appointment, glass
cutter to her royal highness, When the
needful IL yards of material had been
woven the fabric was sent to Nine. VIC |
torine, the New York modiste, where
the princess had arranged to have the
dress made.
The wonderful garment was cut demi-
train. The waist ia decollette and de-
void eff ornaments, save a ruching about
is similar to that produced by satin
sheen and thickness. 1t is not trans
parent, nor is there any danger of the
princess being cut by the edge around
The neck and arms. The glass thread is
spun to the finest fexibility of raw silk,
and when woven it becomes soft fabric
sufficiently flexible for ordinary use and
also light enough to be comfortable to
,he wearer.
But persons visiting the Libbey Glass
Works to see the princess' glittering
1rese should recollect that there are
,ther equally curious things to see. Tho
of glass in all its stages is
shown, and one realizes after inspecting
,he processes that he does not need to 60
ACROSS the water to find true art work in
glass. He can find it both at the ex-
libit Of the Libbey company on the
plaisance and at its Ohio home.
The display of cut glaes is also very
ine and it will be revelation to people
who are fond of this sort of elegant ware.
In the way of souvenirs the booths of
the company are especially rich, and
they are presented at prices which make
Them within the reach OF all. 1t is safe
10 predict that when the exposition is
over the Libbey Glass company will have
become known as the foremost institu-
lion of its kind in America and as the
pioneer in many lines of art glass work.
No visitor from California should fail
10 spend few hours "a whole day is
none too long) in this extensive and per-
ectly equipped establishment. The ex-
perience afforded is at once novel, in
teresting and educational. Nor should |
any visitor fail to procure one of the
pretty glass souvenirs wrought by modern
skill and exposed to view.
RALPH E. HoYT.