Year: 1876




OF all the exhibits on the Centennial


grounds those of China and Japan en-


brace some of the most curious and


novel. There are many things i'm gov


eminent building and in all other


buildings of greater interest and more


instructive to the majority of visitors;


but when it comes to mere curiosity


and admiration of odd ingenuity, the


Chinese and japanese get the palm.


The displays of these two nationalities


in the main building are closely asso-
ciated in the public mind, but the re-
semblance is more apparent than real,
and the mingling interests in the two
departments is no more than general
attraction towards all things strange
and curious. 1t has already been de-
monstrated that the majority of people
only go to the exposition TO be amused,
and, taking that ingenious view of the
fair, they, do not bother themselves
about distinctions. but coolly place all
the s.barbarians" on the same plane.
But the more discriminating visitor
scarcely needs to be told that there are
in fact not as many points of resem-
blance as of difference between the Jap
anese and Chinese. The superiority OF
the former race was never made more
clear than in the present contrast of
their capacities, and their points of di-
vergence are very, curious. The pro-
pinquity of the departments offers the
best of opportunity for comparative dis
play, and although people for the most
part take the whole thing as an enter
tainment, there is still a class-and
constantly increasing one-which de-
lights in comparing and critically esti-
mating those wonderful demonstrations
Of Eastern humanity.


These departments are on the main
avenue in the eastern end of the main
building. The screens for which the
Japanese have been famous time out of
mind, form a leading feature of their
display. These articles serve the doub-
le purpose of use and ornament, and it
is easy to understand from looking at
them how important part they bear
in the peculiar in-and-out-of-house life
of the Japanese. Articles of furniture
hold direct relation to the domestic
needs and habits of people, and these
screens which we here regard mainly
as curiosities, are with the Japanese,
household necessities as much almost
as chairs or tables. They are made up
on one general plan, generally in three
divisions connected by hinges of metal
or webbing, and Of uniform size. The
frames are of bamboo and other light
woods, and the coverings Of silk, cot
ton or paper. The goods here shown,
being designed to show the best gr-de
of manufacture, the groundwork being
rich silk of neutral tints, and the orna-
mentation of the most surprising and
lavish character. This ornamentation
is of a threefold sort-painting, en-
broidery, and an unique process Of
piercing" or quilting" which is not
to be seen in the decorating art OF any
ots,er people. Occasionally all three
styles may be seen in a single work, but
usually when in conjunction only the
first two or the first and last are MOTTO
ed. Embroidery and quilting are not
seen together. The really finest works
are the embroideries proper, for while
the paintings are curious, the japanese
do not as yet excel in this art. In en-
broidering,, however, they equal the
world, and the work on these screens
viii be found as good as the best in the
Royal School of Art Needle work or
elsewhere in the Exposition The col
ors, contrasts, and whole management
Of the effects are extraordinarily fine.
The delineation of small birds is ok
quisite, and a group of pigeons, for spir-
it and naturalness, exeites universal
admiration. OF course, female beauty
comes in largely for display, and il the
Japanese woman is the creature these
quaint artists have made her she is not
altogether unlovely. Neither is she as
odd i'm her style of dress, or i'm her man.
ner Of fixing her hair, as used 10 be sup
posed, the styles of the Japs in these
directions not violently outraging pres
ent received modes.


An allied subject is the curious ex-
hibit of wall decorations with the same
appliances used in the ornamenting of
screens. These articles Iterm pictures
in difference to American ideas ON the
subjet, but they are really very little
like the pictures of Europe and the
New World. They are reduced copies
of the screens, changed in shape and
framed in primitive manner.


The wall decorations give us clear
ideas of the people, customs, industries,
scenery and natural characteristics of
Japan. and their rudeness instead of
offering any difficulty to apprehension.
but adds to the charm of the works.
The process TO which have been Fore
ed to give the unsatisfactory name of
s'quilting" is one of the very queerist
things that has been submitted to for
eign eyes. 1t consists of the building
up Of figures by patient tailor-work;
layer after layer of silken, wooden or
other materials being sewed or glued
upon each other. Not only is clothing
formed in this way, but every variety
of natural object. Faces are generally
painted, and the addition of real clothes
has the oldest, yet most comfortable
effect conceivable.


The humor of these Japanese is seen
especially displayed in these decora
tions. Some Of the groups are truly
comical in idea and composition, and
the fun is of gentle, good sort-show-
ing the evident kindly disposition of
the people. Another class of subjects
shows that Beard and other modern ar
lists were not wholly original i'm their
personifications of human peculiarities
IN creatures of a lower order. Some
capital humorous illustrations of this
kind are shown in these quilted and
painted pictures. Onein particular is
extrayagantly funny; it is a procession
of grasshoppers and other insects, head
ed by soldiers, and carrying IN the CEN
tire of their force a panlanquin in
which reposes some mighty Daimia.