The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1897-04-08

tensive, merely consisting of maps and
pictures, but it will show the great
progress made in the railway world of
Mexico. The Mexicans themselves are
now joining with the American and
English capitalists and are building
railways.
"Mexico is very friendly disposed to-
wards the United States, but the prefer
to do their trading elsewhere. Another
Thing Mexico was really not very
anxious to make an exhibit; she is not
bidding for American emigrants. Ger
mans, Scandinavians, Italians and Eng
lish are welcome and are preferred in
about the order have given.
"lhe exhibit we shall make will rep
resent that which is peculiar to the
country, such as the native pottery,
the fbres, the cotton and woolen goods,
blankets and SO on; in fact, the indus
tries which have been developed in
Mexico by the Mexicans; the local ma
tive work. In Mexico, as Japan, near
ly all the manufacturing is done in
private houses.
"There will be very good exhibit
of the minerals of Mexico, and they are
varied Mexico has never yet taken
her place among the producing
countries, but she certainly will. There
will be a very complete display of
Mexican onyx, and most interesting
exhibit of the ores of the precious
metals.
"Another striking feature will be the
beer exhibit from the Toluca Brewery.
The beer may be considered rather bit
ter by connoisseurs of lager beer, but it
is an excellent production and is fast
superseding pulque. 1t represents an
entirely new, industry. Tennesseeans
used to the famous productions of the
William Gerst Company would not
like Toluca beer, but it is wonderful
production for Mexico.
"Then [ shall have full series of lit
tie pottery figures, exactly depicting
the various types, manufactured at
Guadalajara, veritable works of art
There will also be the rag figures and
the straw the pictures made by the
Pueblo Indians, and wonderful dis
play of "costura" or drawn work.
"Models Of the native fruits, wild and
cultured, will be shown, and they are
works of art, wonderfully made, in ad-
dition there will be a sumber of excel
lent oil paintings by Mexican artists,
depicting historic scenes and a collec-
ton of about 200 different species of
cactus. tE.r ..uF s..rr -o.r +.
"The display of antiquities will be
in line with any anthropological re-
search and will contain relics from the
time of Cortez. In this collection I
will introduce reproductions of the an
cient armor Of Aztecs arranged in tro-
phies, and some of the Aztec furniture
also skillfully reproduced. r...
| "At first I did not like the space allot-
ted for my exhibit; but now am charm
ed with it. 1t is we'll lighted and we'll
ventilated, and as tits located between
the Woman's building and the Govern
ment building and could not be in better
position.
'T must say something here about
the associations Mexican agent, Mr..
W. D. Powell. He has worked indie
fatigably and has succeeded admirably.
Mexico Day is May 5, not June 5, as
previously announced, but May 5, the
anniversary Of the Mexican victory
over the French. On that day Gov.
Villada, of the State of Mexico, will be
present Heis most progressive man i;
one of the most influential and highly
cultured menin Mexico, and man
whose opinion is greatly valued. Z .
/ Personally am charmed with the
4 Tennessee Centennial. Iconsider that
| Nashville has done more than any 9TH
other city of its size has ever done be-
fore, and shall rejoice to see its con-
summation in an unqualified success. I"
i The Woman's Department is one of
L.
the most important features of the ex-
position always is, but at Nashville
\ it will be especially fascinating. Mrs.
Van Leer Kirkman, the President of
the Board, and Miss Ada Scott Rice,
the Secretary, have worked assiduously
for many months and their efforts have
been aided by hard working committees.
L. Glericus, an italian artist resident
: lin Memphis, is now at work on the
decorations in the rotunda of the Wo-
/ man s building, and they are inexpress-
) ably beautiful. An annex at the west
| end of the building will be the lace
room and will contain some rare treas
A lures. ...-o .... .es-
t The scaffolding in the dome Of the
Agricultural building has been removed
and the pictures in cotton and corn ant
: grass stand out in bold relief. Ferdi-
n nand W. Peck, Chairman Of the Illinois
q State Commissions, and Maj Durand,
7 of the Chicago Freight Bureau, stood
e and looked at them the other day il
mute astonishment and at once &C
e knowledged that "there was nothini
e equal to those at the Columbian Expo
49,; - Tbo rIass .nsad In tba donna,