Amador ledger., 1900-08-24
China and Japan's Buildings
at Paris.
A pAGoDA ERECTED BY The JAPANESE COUNTRY
The Decorations of the Buildings Of
China and Japan Are Won.
derful in Effect.
From our regular correspondent

those OF some of the other countries,
are certainly among the most typical
and homogeneous. China and Japan,
although differing widely in customs,
habits and civilization, have one point
in common: both are powerful coun-
tries with distinct individualities, ex-
tending even to facial types, to archi-
lecture, to costumes, and even to
handwriting. Their representation at
the Exposition, in architectural fea-
lures, in decorations and in surround
iugs-each having garden planted
with native fowers-gives an idea of
life in the East.
Japan is installed near the Troca-
dero, among the buildings of British
India and Egypt. 1t is a delightful
corner of the Orient, everything, as
have said, being characteristic, even to
the fences which surround the enclos-
ure; in the garden are tiny trees with
twisted branches; exotic growths of
various kinds; mulberry trees, cam
phor trees, mahogany trees: the prin-
cipal touch of local color, however, is
given by the Japanese themselves who
work and move among the curious OBJ
jects with an easy air of familiarity;
small of stature and bright of face,
they seem to fit perfectly in their en-
vironment,
There are four houses in the garden;
most prominent is a pagoda built in
the old style of Japanese architecture;
thick and heavy in construction, it re-
sembles the Chinese type moro than
the modern hahitstion which has been
placed in close proximity, as if to en-
phastze the progress made by the jap
anese in this line, as in so many others,
in recent years. The outlines of this
edifce are delightfully."- simple; there
are no superAuous objects; everything
has a raison d'etre, and everything is
in place. A tea house and a bazar
complete the group of buildings.
The pagoda, built by French work.
men under the direction of Japanese,
is a copy of the temple of Houdo, near
Nara, and Is most interesting speci-
men of Japanest art. The general
coloring is red and bronze; it contains
an historical exhibit of objects of JAP
anese workmanship:--bronzes sword
sheaths, screens, wall decorations, etc.
The tea house has been converted
into restaurant, and one can obtain
variety of drinks, including the ma
tive sake, a sort of wine made from
rice. The building has two stories,
and is made of wood, in an open and
airy design. The bazsr consists of a
series OF little shops, ranged side by
side; many objects are for sale, but few
can be said to be strictly Japanese;
they are largely of class to be found
in any OF the little kiosks scattered
throughout the Exposition grounds,
and in hundreds of places in the United
States. There are many factories, 1
am told, in America, where these JAP
anese objects of art are turned out.
The managers OF the Japanese ex-
hibit had the original and happy idea
of inaugurating their buildings at
night, the gardens being illuminated
by lanterns disposed in unique designs;
the result was charming, emphasizing
the Oriental character of the scene
and was much more effective than the
daylight inaugurations of the exhibits
of other countries.
China Is also located in the grounds
of the Trocadero, next to Siberia; a
situation which was doubtless dictated
less through respect to geographical
considerations than by desire to in
stall between the two buildings the
panorama of the Siberian railway.
Visitors to the latter take their places
in parlor cars, and see through the
windows moving panorama of seen
cry, representing-the country through
] which the road passes. The illusion of
travelling is almost perfect: one might
well think himself en- route from Mos
COW to Pekin.
The Chinese also have garden, and
even little lake and a stream, which
afford opportunities for charming dec
orations in the way of bridges, prone
nades, etc. One of the most striking
edifices in this exhibit is copy of the
great gate OF Pekin--one of the nine
which enter the Chinese capital. Mas
sive and at the same time brilliant in
color, it is one of the best models of
the art of the country.
The most conspicuous building is d
reproduction OF a palace, four storied
and balconied. The first floor is re-
served for an exhibit of furniture,
ancient and modern; upstairs is a res
taurant with Chinese walters; there is
also theatre in the building.
Near the gate of Pekin is copy of
one of the six pavilions which consti-
tutes the residence of the Emperor in
the capital of the Celestial Empire; it
is two storied structure, with large
balconies, so arranged that one can
always find shade; the decorations are
beautiful, the colors and contours har-
monizing perfectly; and the whole is q
pure specimen of Chinese style.
There are also, in this little Chinese