NOTES ON THE EXHIBITION

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2575, 8 July 1882, Page 3

NOTES ON THE EXHIBITION

Bt a Last. [Written especially for the Qloeb.J I left off at tke Japanese Court, the wonders of which might fill a column. But •tern fate (in the form of a stern editor) decrees my space is limited. The next thing I did was to lake a chair in the concert room, and listen to tho inspiriting strains of the Austrian Band. Their music is a great treat. There is one march they play lam very fond of, and that is the “ Rifleman March.” It is a taking air, and played in perfect time. They all seem nice, pleasant sort of men. I know them all to say “ Good day to yon,” but I don’t know their names ; but I believe many of them end in “onsoky” or “ offsky.” I was amused while silting there to see a man who had doubtless been looking on the wine when it was red, walk up the step of tho dais in a would-be solemn, sober manner, and, holding out his hand to the leader, say, “ Giveah your hand (hie) old man, I’m mush obliged to you—you playsh beaufool,” and then stagger down, to the immense amusement of the Austrians.

Both the eye and ear are gratified in the concert rooms, as there are some extremely good paintings and engravings on tho walls, notably Miss Thompson’s celebrated pictures “Tho 801 l Call,” “ Quatre Bras,” and “ Balaklava,” all good engravings, and too well known to need comment. There are also two fine engravings from pictures by Auguste Bonheur (whether any relat on of Rosa B mheur, the ‘ groat animal painter, I am unable to say). One is of sleek happy cows standing near a limped stream, chawing the cud of contentment; the other some fine sheep under shady trees. Another engraving that took my fancy was “An Egyptian Feast” It ia an artist’s proof, and a really fine picture, every face tolling its story. There is a capital picture callod “ Tho Contented Gardener,” who is admiring Lis lowers. But I must not stay too long over the pictures, though I could spend hours looking at them. From the Concert Room I wandered into one of the annexes, where there was a sharp looking American busy at work, engraving names on tumblers. This is Profuseor Mill, the well known caligraphist. He engraved my name and address on my watch in a few seconds. He also writes visiting cards in a hand equal to the finest copper plate, 'hnd his engraving on glass is quite a speciality. He has a number of tumblers from a fair sized one down to the tiniest goblet, and ho told me he often e»graves as many os six tumblers for one family, all the little ones standing ia silent admiration, for the tumblers havo their own names on it. He also shows some souvenir cards with a pretty design one side and tho Exhibition on the other. His rapidity and excellence in both engraving and writing must bo seen to bo believed. I then went back to the concert room and interviewed some American organs, imported by Messrs Allan and Co, They-are good instruments, and reasonable in price. There are also Sohodmayer's pianos. The agent, a tall good looking young fellow, expatiated on their merits. They have a splendid tone, and nice touch, and will, I should say, became popular here.

While talking to my piano friend, a longhaired, musical looking party was wandering aimlessly about, trying first one piano then another. Some one called out, “Give us a toon, mister.” He sat down limply, and said with a sad, weird look—

“ I fear my music will not suit you j” but throwing back his long hair, he began to play what he called a soulful lament on the nothingness of everything., It was simply the most unearthly, hideous thing I ever heard, and so everyone else thought, for in a few minutes the room was comparatively empty. The weird musician went on playing, but, thank goodness, at last ho stopped, and looking round, said—“l knew it would be too much for the fleshly unaesthotio multitude. Ido not play for them, yet it is full of tender, sad news, and it yearns,” and then he disappeared. Mrs Popkins, who was standing near, said, “Lor, mum/what a precious noise that there feller was a makiu’. I thought he was a toonin the planner.” I informed her that he had been playing sssthetio music. I next wont to the Swiss Court, and the exhibitor, a tall bearded Swiss, extremely civil, showed me some very pretty carving in wood, pens, paper knives, ink bottles, match boxes, work boxes, brackets, &0., all beautifully carved, and also some Swiss embroidery, both white and colored and reasonable in price; also some very pretty wool shawls in different colors. This Court is the only on? where there is a book kept in which you are requested to write down your name, and which the exhibitor intends taking back to Switzerland, Opposite this is the French Court, whore there are a variety of charming exhibits to be seen, the exhibitor is an extremely pleasant mannered Frenchman. Frenchmen are proverbially polite, but he is courteous in the extreme. I should like to devote a large space to describing this court, as it is one of my favorite resorts, bat fear I cannot.

The first object that meets your eye is the “ Eepentant Magdalene,” a copy of Oorrggio’s famous picture, by on Italian artist. It is a good picture, the details being carried out to perfection. I heard some critical individuals saying that aha has too many fingers, and that her toes are too long; but it did not strike me so. Then there are some charming little landscapes in panel frames, but what I admired most were the art castings, soma artistic caskets, one with the Twelve Apostles, the original of this is the Vatican. Also, a three-legged table with tho Battle of Tray. Another casket, very handsome, tho original of which is in the Brunswick Museum, and a very curious exhibit called Baptismal Buckets with figures of saints on them. Then the bronze ornaments are what wo seldom tea in Christchurch. There are two spirited groups of a horse and his rider just dismounted, the horse is grand and perfect, and two splendid full length figures of Reubens and Bambrandt, and one I should like to boy, a magnificent bull, and many other artistic groups. This Court has tho finest show of beleek ware. I was shown soma beautiful ice bowls, beleek and bronzs, tho Guest I have seen at oil, and there are some mast enticing teapots. The French jewellery is very goad of its kind. I have not mentioned a tithe of the pralty things to bo seen here. On coming out I met my friend Mrs Pupkins, and she said—

“So here we are again Mister P. has bin a buying a statoo at the litalian, and I was that ashamed when I fust seed it, as it hadn’t a rsg on, but then when I comes to look at it I thinks it real beautiful, and so I sais, ‘ Honey swore quill meal and pence.’ I daresay you knows Latin, mum.” I told her I knew sufficient to understand her classic allusion.

Opposite the French Court is another court, also French, and in it are to be scan those wonderful swimming dolls, that imitate tha motions o£ swimming perfectly, and some other ingenious mechanical toys, also very pretty artificial flowers. In this winter season, when there are no flowers to be had, they look very well in vases and epeciman glasses with green leave?; the viole ts are very i fc'-ural. As I walked along the avenue I marvelled to see the amount of Now Zealand exhibits. First I oamo to some snlendid stoves, exhibited by Mr Crompton. Tcey will bear comparison with any in the building. While I was standing examining them, a slight, wall made, oldish gentleman, in a grey suit, with g cy hair and a mobile face, with bright keen dark eyes, came up and began talking to a friend whom I also knew. I stood there about ten minutes, and in that short time heard more genuine wit and humor from the grey gentleman than I should hear in a month -from a prosaic Englishman. Everyone will know whom I mean, for to him and hia confrere wo owe a debt of gratitude for a great deal of intellectual pUaiuro and pleasant amusement comhir ed. I for one heartily wish these gentlemen a monetary success as far bs our Exhibition is concerned, and hope that their next venture in tha tame line will bo a “ bonnie fortune.” These notes of mine are compiled from many visits to the Exhibition, and the pleasure I have had whilo wandering through its

many courts, and having pleasant talks with the gonial 'exhibitors, will ever remain a happy memory with me. In my next sketch I will continue tho New Zealand Courts, but we will, with the reader's permission, pay a visit to the armless lady, Mrs L. Thompson, and tho learned pig Bismarck. I went in, and again the -mysterious word “ Press" gained me admission. There sat the armless lady busy at work with her toes. She is a blight, cheery, clever little woman, with largo intelligent grey eyes. Bha baa a quick energetic way of speaking, and is, I should

Isiy, a capital woman of business. Her performance is really wonderful, as she does everything with her toes. She writes a good hand (or rather foot). She crochets, does needlework, feeds herself, and I was much amused to see her blow her nose with her toes, and when talking to you she gesticulates with her feet as we do with her hands. She was taught to nse her feet from childhood, and of course never having had arm:, she does not miss them. - She tolls me she likes Christchurch and its people. Opposite is the learned pig, “ Bismarck,” a perfect wonder, he is so well trained. He picks out any card that is named, and will tell the time by a watch ; he is shown the watch, at which he gazas intently, and then picks up the card with the hour atjd the one with the minute. Many people suppose that he docs this by signs, but hi* exhibitor assured ms that he make* no sign at all, and that the pig really knows tho time. It seem* hardly credible, but I heard that Bismarck had a committee of doctors to examine him in Sydney, and they came to the conclusion that a pig with the same amount of brains, and such a large brown eye and general characteristics of a human being could not be found once in ten thousand. He plays a good game of euchre, and seems to enjoy it. He not only answers his master’s questions, but if one of tho audience ask him for a card will pick it up. He is of an affectionate nature, and quite gentle. His food is bread and water, and he will not eat stale bread, it must be now. He is very particular about that. 1 was in tho other night when the band played *' God Sava the Queen," and Bismarck began to grunt and squeal and got so impatisnt. Mrs Thomp eon said she is sure he knows the time, and that his supper ought t.i be reedy then.' It is wonderful to see what training will do for an animal. Pigs are regarded as stupid animals, but, after seeing Bis., I will never call one stupid again, (To he continued .)