The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-05

Charles Vopereau. Frenchman, who has
spent thirty years of his life in the Celes-
tial Empire. Few foreigners know that
great country so well as he, and, when
appointed commissioner general of China.
he set about his work with energy, zeal
and knowledge. He selected the best
models of architecture for the various
buildings he proposed to construct, con-
scientiously determined 10 make them yep
resent China to the life.
The section assigned 20 China suited the
purpose admirably, for it embraced a bit
OF rolling ground that was deemed fairly
characteristic of a Chinese landscape. at
the same time containing many flower
ing trees and shrubs that fitted 40 per-
lection the architecture of the buildings
and the arrangement of the gardens.
The various structures are grouped
about in a fashion that in no wise sus-
gests the idea of being overcrowded Tor
space. Four of these buildings are ex-
clusively devoted to the exhibits of the
Chinese government. Six others are used
to illustrate various phases of the COM
mercial, Industrial and social life of the
empire.
In the official buildings are shown SUI
perb collections of Chinese art WORKS
embracing objects de vertu IN metal wood
and precious stuffs Exquisite paintings
representing Chinese landscapes some OF
which were the handwork of the great
est artists whom China has ever pro-
duced, are shown 1t would require vol
umes TO give even an imperfect descrip-
ton of many of the superb pieces, but
one may imagine their character AMI
priceless value from the lesser collec-
tons one sees in the great museums
throughout the world.
An Interesting feature of the official
exhibit is the wax figures, standing. in
the most lifeike positions here and there
about the building. In general appear
ance. in facial traits. in the shapes of
moustaches and boards, in the various
fashions of wearing the queue, and, par
ticularly. in the costumes, these interest
ing maunikns Illustrate the many social
grades in China. and the infinite provin-
cial races Of which the vast empire IL
composed.
To the average visitor II is by no means
an easy thing to distinguish living Chi
nese from one of these imitation men. In
cotnplexion and in the passivity OF his ex-
preston, the living Chinaman whom you
NAV see standing about often looks more
like wax figure than the wax figures
themselves. About the only way to tell
them apart Is the label that Is hung from
the front OF the inanimate men. 1t reads,
in French: please do not touch"
II Won see a silk robed Chinaman with
out this sign, you may assume he Is alive
All visitors, however, do not know this
ruIe and consequently the living attend
ants who stand guard in the buildings in
close ilxtaposition with their wax coun-
trymen are daily subjected to funny mis-
takes.
Chinese shops.
A row of Chinese shops, attended by
merchants form Pekin, Tien Tsin and
Shanghai. add another attractive feature
n the section. and further highten the H.
fusion that the stranger has really been
carried into the heart of the lana OF now
ers.
Far and away the most conspicuous ele-
ment in the Chinese exposition Is huge,
paRoda shaped building, modelled after one
of the country palaces OF the Emperor
On the ground floor is general mart
where all sort of native curiosities are ex-
posed. An exterior stairway with the
hannisters brilliant with flowers, leads TO
the second floor, where big hail. beau
tlfuIly decorated in the Chinese fashion
with wall paintings, curtains, mattngs.
chairs. etc. is devoted 10 the purposes OF
a theater. Here prestidigilateurs and mira
ole workers give four exhibitions each
day.
overhead is the restaurant not only the
con, Mace Of the section, but one Of the
most popular and fashionable spots In all
the exhibition grounds. The Interior deco
ration is sumptuous in the extreme. and
,he silver dragon. employed profusely In
eli the decorations, shows that the build