The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-16
THE PAN-AM ERICAN.
Southern Palms Border Radiant
Flower Beds-Mr. Boykin's Unique

Florida, Louisiana, Texas and other
Southern states are now growing out of
doors in the exposition grounds. The
grass is the setting and these splendid
palms and other tropical products form
an ideal frame for the gorgeous floral
displays scattered with lavish hand and
exquisite taste all over the Exposition
City. The flowers at the exposition de-
serve an especial article. They seem to
have bloomed out in a single night. To-
day the air was heavy with the perfume
OF hyacinths, buttercups, Lilies of the
Valley and other early spring flowers
There were mammoth beds radiant in
tulips of many hues. This profusion of
fiowers-and l understand there are half
million now blooming-the statuary, the
fountains, the gaIdily painted palaces,
combine to make an ensemble which sug-
gests the hand of a magician. Wonder
full progress has been made in putting
on the finishing touches since the first of
May. and by the goth everything will be
in good shape.
The exhibit of the War Department in
the government building is very inter-
esting one. In one corner of it is a re-
production of the shores of the Mississip-
pi river. Here it is shown how rocks and
logs and wood are strapped together and
buried in the sand to make the levees
near New Orleans as strong as possible,
and repel the Entertainments of that
mighty Father of Waters" Another
feature of this exhibit is a group of
dredgeboats used for clearing the channel
of this unruly stream.
Mr.. ]. c. Boykin, a native of Georgia,
has charge of the exhibit of the Bureau
of Education. He has installed the finest
exhibit have ever seen at any exposition.
A unique and original feature of it,
which was designed by Mr. Boykin, is a
photographic representation of school
work in the United States. He has had
| dark room built. and the monographs
give representations in many branches
of education. He secured these in the best
SCHOOLS in Washington, and the effect is
very entertaining and sometimes very
laughable. To highten the effect of the
reproduction of daily recitations. he has
photographs of the teachers and pupils
taken. These photographs have been put
on slides. and with the use of a stere-
opticon are thrown on a large screen in
this dark room This will certainly prove
to be one of the greatest attractions in
the government building.
Miss Alice Fletcher, who was for many
years connected with the Indian Bureau
in Washington city, is here and has in
stalled in the government building one of
the most interesting Indian exhibits in the
history of expositions. 1t is arranged in
systematic order, beginning with the
earliest data obtainable about the Ameri-
can aborigines. One case contains many
relics of the time antecedent to the dis
dovery of America. These are worthy of
serious study. They show in a most strik-
ing way the peculiar trend of the Indian
mind. Many of these are artistic and
highly interesting. Indian relics and spec
linens are grouped in separte cases from
this primitive beginning to the present
day. Finally there Is displayed enclosed
by wooden grill-work, carved by an In
dian, the interior of modern dwelling
In this miniature apartment is beauti-
| fully carved and inlaid furniture, col
| lection of paintings, an Illuminated frieze,
an artistic dado made of dyed grasses, and
| fire place that is a poem in itself. This
! FIRE place was designed by an Indian girl
| Angel de Cora, a graduate of the Indian
| school at Hampton. Va, now an art stu
| dent in Boston. She uses a very light and
very dark wood. Just under the mantel
thunder bird is inlaid in dark wood
This thunder bird is our eagle so called
by the Aborigines, because his eyrie is
among the clouds, the home of thunder
1t is placed over the fireplace because it
| Is also the bird of the sun, the original
| source of all heat and fire. An artistic
| border is carved from the sacred fire
sticks arranged in convential form, be-
cause the Indians produced fire by rubbing
| these sticks together. over the mantle
is hand-painted panel representing a
fiery sunset on a Western prairie. To the
| left is a group of Indian tents through
which glows the light of the evening fires
| In the center an Indian brave wooes a
maiden of his tribe, thus giving promise
of the establishment of another hearth
| stone. This attractive exhibit will be I'M
| der the charge of an Indian author
Francis La Flesche, whose recent book,
The Middle Five" is receiving compli-
ments from the press of this country and
Europe. Mr.. La Flesche is from Omaha.
The book is dedicated to THE Universal
Boy" and gives picture of the Indian
boys life and character. Miss Fletcher
is well known authority on Indian af-
fairs, and has done this work with her
customary enthusiasm and thoroughness.
In the Philippine exhibit is collection
of musical instruments which / neglected
to include In my last letter. Among these
Is harp of nara wood and ebony, sew
en- guitars, a violincello, a mandolin and
series of reed instruments which sug-
gest the modern organ. There is a col
lection of cannon and rapid fire guns on
an elevated platform in the center of the
Philippine exhibit, which excite much in
terest. The rapid-fire gun is borne on a
most primitive wooden gun-carriage.
There are two antiquated cannons made
Of bamboo, with a gas pipe through the
center, the bamboo being held together by
bands of Manila hemp. One gun is made
of iron tubing enclosed in wood and bound
with rattan or wire. 1t was taken from
the Philippine arsenal at Talavera, Luz
ION Island, by Gen. Lawton's troops in
1899. This interesting collection of an
tique guns mortars and rapid-fire guns
were presented by Gen. Otis to the
Smithsonian Institute.
Some of the botanical specimens from
the Philippines are presented in better
shape than any we have In this country.
Photographs of local scenes are very pic
turesque and very well done, especially
those around Manila. The picture of the
"Caromata" looks very much like the
old barouche once extensively used in
this country. Some of the avenues in the
Island of Luzon are bordered with stately
palm trees and make a very handsome
photograph There are one hundred sam
pies OF native woods obtained at Manila.
Among these are Maria, Ebano, Yacal
Belts, Palma-B and Pelo- Maria.
These are Of fine grain. are beautifully
colored and must be of considerable value
There is a native loom on which Phil
ipino woman is weaving kind of cloth
called Cinamay. The Pima cloth made
from cocoanut fibre is beautiful. There
are great ropes of Manila hemp and a