New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-05
AP4NS EXHIBITION.
although Women Do Some of Best
Work Their Names Meier Appear.

L
The part that japanese women play in the fifth
great national exhibition open in Osaka. is
interesting one from many points OF view. To
quote e lately returned japanese merchant: Yes
most Of our finest works-ihe ernbroideries the
paintings. the wonderful screens which are a com
bination OF various delicate handicra<ts-are done
BY women, but have distinctive wornan's de-
parunent. and none OF the work is entered under
the makers name IL she happens TO be a
No, there Is no law against it. except the
law Of custom We have no new women IN
japan yoG know The women themselves would
rather have their work appear under the general
family name the name Of the firm they work
Tor.
I think will mary years before we have
q separate Voman's department or woman's build
ing. As YOU had at some Of your big fairs. But
there is one innovation in this exhibition in the
woman line The women caretakers. the booth
keepers. outnumber The three Why7
Well, because the experiment OF a few in former
exhibitions proved that women take better OF
the exhibits keep them cleaner and IN better dis
play. than do Also they are more orna-
mental themselves. and make the shows at
1ractive. That is what we think women are for
10 ne attractive ornamental; not to compete with
men
The present exhibition Is the fifth in series
which began in Toxic in 1877, and have been held
a. odd intervals since The Osaka display is by
far the finest Of the five. being practically in
5ernatonaI affair, and large space is given
hfbits from China India. Corea and Western
tries Osaka is rated as Japan's wealthiest city
and IS known around the globe for its important
Industrial and commercial connections All Japanese
provinces, OF course contribute the 1903 show,
which nomnaliy opened in February last but Ike
SO many similar affairs in the husting West
ern world is only just getting into exhibition
shape
This Is wistaria tine IN the Land OF the Rising
Sun and the festivities held in celebration Of the
beautiful purple blossom showers are feature OF
The exhibition Is well as Of the neighboring coun-
Try One Of the finest wistaria gardens in Japan is
Et Nara, the ancient capital. As the occasion OF
fetes, the time o. wistaria blooming is however
not so popular that Of the cherry blossoms.
When the cherry gardens are aglow with all their
glory OF pink and white companies OF young
japanese girls attired draperes daintily
silks. dsport themselves under the coudlike bios
soming branches. Dances by day and night are
he'd under the canopies OF bloom. and for the
young il is the gala time Of the year.
Bur the beauty Of the wistaTia seems 70 appeal
70 refined aesthetic sense, and nistaria
festivities different order from those of
the cherry trees blooming The throngs that visit
the gardens of older. cultured folk; there is
dne music and sometimes artistic electrical
display there are conversations the age of
The wonderful old vines. comparisons between the
blooming OF this year and notable one some fifty
years gone. perhaps. and learned talk OF the com
posite shown
This year however. and Osaka. Wistaria time
Is marked by Z few popular features There
are electrical displays three evenings in the week,
including Sundays: the finest gardens are open TO
visitors. the famous japanese dances are per
formed under the royal canopies Of purple The
geisha dances indeed. are one Of the especially
attractive features OF the whole exhibition. which
on account Of its layout being somewhat similar
70 that the Paris Exposition. is locally
spoken % little Paris"
Many Of the dances. which are this year given In
unusual nagnidcence. performed in the Yen
bU1c q specially arranged stage. where the
scenes noseessly almost irnperceptibly. shift
I'd 10 suit the character Of the music that accom-
lanies The wonderful dancing There. too is OBJ
served the cha-no-yu, ceremony Of drinking
powdered green tea. peculiar Japan or this
LAY a hundred OF them the stage at once all
r2fhed ia exquisite draperies, every movement in
me with soft, witching melodies.
II was originally intended TO close the present
inhibition August !. but the delay in the placing
z exhibits and the unusual interest shown in the
sltefp:lse fthe number Of visitors so far being
ave decided the management 10 extend the time,
possibly until October.
Among other attractions there will be a grand
sseEnbly Of 10000 Buddhist priests arrayed in all
heir gorgeous vestments. the Tennoji Temple
. chant hymns in ton OF the 1,390th
rrliversary Of the death Of Prince Shotoku. This
al be only the second dime that such ceremony
as been held IN Japan. the first having been
Celebrated Nara, twelve centuries ago In con-
ect1on with this ceremony bell Of enormous size
li be cast IN the temple grounds IN honor Of
rince ShOtoku- IL will be made Of the mirrors.
words. kettles and various other implements and
eapOns offered from time 70 time by devOut Bud
fists VIII be two feet thick, twenty-six feet
iah and weigh about ninety
There prizes offered for various excellencies
the exhibits. both domestic and foreign. but
hey have not yet been awarded They consist Of )
edss and certificates and In previous exhibitions
ave fallen oftener than not to the work done by I