The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-22
CHIC LETTER FROM PARIS.
Continued from Page ~

which hold themselves far above the sor-
did specimens of celestial humanity that
have given Christian nations their i'm
pr ession of the ancient race
Viewed as an ensemble or In detail, the
Chinese exhibit at Paris manifests ex-
IRENE cleverness on the part of its de-
sigEers in presenting an effort that Is
true to life at the same time that 1t is
most artistically picturesque. 1t was a
difficult undertaking to construct a Chi
rese village that would prove one of the
most thoroughly Interesting features of
the great show, and vie in attractiveness
with the countless novelties exhibited by
the white races. Other countries were
able to send to Paris products of their
latest manufactures in every conceivable
line of industry and invention, but in
these respects China was handicapped
for the China of today has nothing new
tn show, nothing that she could not have
exhibited just as well one, two, or even
ten centuries ago.
While other nations, Japan among
them, forwarded to the universal exhibit
ton samples of their most recent devel-
opments in the way or army and naval
opments in the way of army and naval
| etc, the government of the Dowager EN-
press had nothing of that kind to show,
Or at least nothing that it cared to let
the world know about. Measured strict
! ly from an up-to-date standpoint there
| fore, the Chinese exhibit was overweight
ed from the start This fact, however,
only emphasizes the intelligent care and
ability manifested by it's designers in
making it what it unquestionably is, one
of the most interesting and attractive fea.
lures of the great fair.
At the head of the Chinese section is
II. Charles Vopereau, a Frenchman, who
has spent thirty years of his l:fe in the
celestial 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
yea, and knowledge. He selected the best
models of architecture for the various
buildings he proposed TO construct con-
lscieniously determined to make them
represent China to the life.
The section assigned to China suited the
purpose admirably, for it embraced a bit
OF rolling ground that was deemed fairly
characteristic of Chinese landscape at
the same time containing many towering
trees and shrubs that fitted to perfection
the architecture of the buildings and the
arrangement of the gardens
! The various structures are grouped
about in a fashion that in no wise sug-
lgests the idea of being overcrowded for
space. Four of these buildings are ex-
/ clusively devoted to the exhibits of the
fCtinese 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, en-
bracing objects de vertu in metal, wood
and precious stuffs. Exquisite paintings
representing Chinese landscapes, some of
which We're the handiwork of the great
est artists whom China has ever produc-
ed, are shown. 1t would require volumes
10 tyiH- arfaa
many of the superb pieces, but one may
imagine their character and priceless
value from the lesser collections one sees
in the great museums throughout the
world.
NICE WAX CHINAMEN
An interesting feature of the official ex-
hibit is the wax figures, standing, in the
me st lifelike positions, here and there
about the building. In general appear
ance, in facial traits, in the shapes of
mus taches and boards, in the various
fashions of wearing the queue and, par
tic ularly, in the costumes, these interest
ing mannikins illustrate the many social
grades in China and the infinite proyin-
cal races of which the vast empire is
composed.
To the average visitor it is by no means
an easy thing to distinguish living Chi
nese from one of these imitation men. Ir
PRESTON the living Chinaman whom yor
may see standing about often looks more
like a wax figure than the wax figures
the mselves. About the only way to tel
them apart is the label that is hung from
? the front of the inaninate men. 1t reads
{ in French: please do not touch.''
If you see silk robed Chinaman with
: out this sign, you may assume he is alive
All visitors, however, do not know thi:
rule, and consequently the living at
tendants who stand guard in the build
Iirgs in close juxtaposition with their wa,
Ii Eccuntrymen are daily subjected to funn!
: mistakes.
SHOPS OF PEKING.
s A row of Chinese shops. attended b.
y merchants from Picking, Tien-Tsin AM
Shanghai add another attractive feaiur
to the section, ard further heiehten tn
illusion that the stranger has really beel
: cerried into the heart of the land o
e flowers.
It Far AMI away the most conspicuous el
,e ement in the Chinese exposition is a huge
is pagoda-shaped building modelled after on
ID of the country palaces of the Emperor
Le On the ground floor is a general mart
where all sorts of native curiosities ar
4 exposed An exterior stairway, with it
1t baEisters brilliant with flowers. leads t
in the second floor, where big hall, beauti
,e fully decorated in the Chinese fashio
1t with wall paintings, curtains, mattings
De chairs, etc, IS devoted to the purposes G
IS q theater. Here prestidigitateurS an
r. miracle workers give four exhibition
each day.
Overhead is the restaurant, not Only tn
gem place of the section, but one of tn
err most popular and fashionable spots In a
In the exhibition grounds. The interior dee
De Grafton is sumptuous in the extreme, an
the silver dragon, employed profusely
Of all the decorations. SHOWS that the ouiie
ne ing is a literal reproduction Oh an iihp'
o. rial abode.