Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-05-24
A PALACE OF GLASS.
Luminous Building to Be Feature of
Paris Exposition.
beautiful Specimens OF Stained Glnss
Workmanship WIN Enter Into
Its Structure A Rare
Sight.

The prettiest building Of the Paris
exposition of 1900 will be a mansion
made entirely Of glass.
The luminous palace will be erected
near the Eiffel tower, and tits intended
TO make it, inside and out. the finest
thing in glassware ever seen. The
palace was designed by Mons. Ponsin,
the celebrated artist in stained glass.
II is TO be in height 10 feet, and in cir
conference IT'S feet The entire struc-
ture will be Of crystal, and artistic ef-
fects will be produced by combining
richly stained glass with electric light
ing.
In front of the building there will be
a crystal grotto, giving the approach 10
the luminous palace the appearance Of
lake Of ice. After passing through
this fairy4like grotto. the visitor will
come to the glass porch which is to be
reached by q broad flightof glass steps.
The art of the designer has been used
to the best effect in the planning of the
entrance. The stained glass designs are
all to be beautiful specimens of work
manship representing various scenes in
the progress Of the glass industry, from
( the time when glass was first dscov-
cred. The various improvements will
be traced from one era toanother, un-
! til the present day The whole broad
! front of the building is to be given up
to these stained glass scenes, and the
| first thing to catch thevisitor's eye will
be the educational art work that ap-
pears at the entrance.
The crystal walls Of the palace are
to be partly plain glass and partly
stained glass. Where stained glass can
be used so as to show to advantage at
night time, when the building win be
\ electrically illuminated. the beautiful
pictures Of this popular ecclesiastical
form of decorative work, stained glass.
will be chosen in preference to plain
4 glass. Care will be taken, however to
not only make the building rich in
gems of stained glass art, but as a
whole beautifully brilliant to the OBJ
!, server who sees it from a short dis
tancc.
A plain glass building lighted by cleo
tricity would be beautiful sight, but
! not so beautiful as one in which The
>, glare OF the white illumination is soft
ened by the plain crystal alternating
with pictures in stained glass.
So far as is possible the building is 10
be entirely of glass material. 1t has
been said that this will be an impossi-
. bility, but the designer promises that be
will surprise the doubtcrs. The sup
3, porting pillars, he states. will be con-
structed Of tbughened glass, so that no
wood or iron work will be used TO hold
the roof. How he will piece together his
building material is a secret that the
. designer has not divulged, but he hints
that by means of a process of cement
ing the glass that he has been working
on for some time he will be enabled to
dispense with so much foreign material
as to practically have the entire building
constructed Of glass. There will be SO
little other material used in itsconstruc.
, ton as to make it impossible to discover
anything but glass work about the
building.
Exhibits in the interior will beentire-
}. " Of glass There will be fancy glass
work Of the various ages since glass
was discovered. The highly prizeo
. glassware of the world will be on eX
p hibition. The process of glass making
will be illustrated and skilled worimer
will be employed to take orders from
, visitors for any kind Of glass cutting
70 or blowing specimens desired as sou
venirs of the exhibit.
Apart from the interest that such AZ
/, exhibit will have from an educationa
point OF view. the beauty Of the scen'
20 in and out of the building when it il
/. lighted up at night can be readily
+, imagined. The electric lights will illu
inmate the flashing crystal interior an'
J. the maze of glassware will scintillat'
z. and CLEAN and glow in all the hue
of the rainbow as the rays catch th
r cut glass and polished ware on tn
stands.
Z The visitors to this charming build
ing will certainly see a sight not oftei
enjoyed even in this age of brilliant eN
- hibits.-Albany Argus.
EXPRESS Of China Is Marvel.
The empress dowager OF China is de