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| VENEZUELA'S BUILDING - West of the main
pavilion of the Fisheries, on a grand avenue, and in line with
Brazil, Turkey, Sweden and Hayti, stood the triple pavilion of the
Republic of Venezuela. Like Brazil, Venezuela had a civil war, yet
no sooner was President Crispo secure in office, and President
Palacio overthrown, than a committee of distinguished citizens raised
the necessary funds and placed their affairs in charge of Mr. J. M.
Larral_e and Dr. M. U. Toledo, two citizens of Venezuela living in
the United States. Suitable exhibits were collected and shipped, and
the building was opened as soon as the others, for all were
desperately late, owing to the inclemency of the weather. The
engraving shows the statue of General Bolivar which surmounted the
east pavilion; on the western one, behind the foliage, was a
companion effigy showing Christopher Columbus. The flag carried by
Pizarro during his siege on the rocks, and in his conquest of Peru,
was on exhibition, and was a curio that held thousands of scholars
spell-bound with memories of the adventurer's remarkable life.
Prehistoric relics of still greater value (were their mysterious
origin known), specimens of birds and animals, minerals, spices,
preserves, fine needlework, products of the native looms, coffee, and
vegetables, with many paintings, made up the contents of the
interior. The dimensions were thirty-six by seventy-eight feet, and
the cost $20,000. All the South American buildings were very
attractive. |
