Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-04-11
PANS. France, Mar. q, 1867.

Before leaving America | had seen
a beautiful engraving Of the palace and
surroundings Of the Universal EXPOSE
ton and expected at least to see one
thing complete on the Champs de Mars.
But in this have been disappointed.
have not seen building and its appur-
teuances Of the scores that are being
made around the principal edince that
was finished.
Not q compartment of the main build
ing that have seen is yet completed.
Huge piles Of boxes thrown together in
beautiful confusion are the most promi.
nent objects seen. Pits for receiving
pipes and machinery are being dug,
walks are being constructed, floors laid,
pal nting done, machinery cleaned, and
in deed all kinds of business, from all
parts of the world, are being executed
night and day by those who have the
matter in charge. But all the labor
that can be expended, even if the force
were increased ten fold, will not be
sn fficient to complete the works and ar
range the articles for exhibition before
May 1st, and livery much doubt whether
the work will be finished before July or
August.
IL, perhaps, will i'll become me to find
fault with any of the arrangements of
uch an august body as the Imperial
Co commission, but l must say that |
never saw so much confusion and so
little system apparent. Perhaps this
could not be wholly avoided even if
managed by the best executive talents
in the world, bot am quite sure that it
could be greatly improved.
had occasion yesterday, to look for
some contributions sent from Vermont
and desired one of the officials Ga French
| NAM to inform me where could learn
whether they had been received or not.
He directed me to the Custom House. !
went and was told that they had
nothing to do with contributions from
the United States. inquired of them
where ] could gain the desired informa-
ton. They could not tell. returned
to where had seen portion of the
boxes containing the contributions and
made numerous inquiries ofevery official
| In that vicinity ard looked in vain for
an Office of the receiving agent but
| could find none. Nor could find the
official wanted after three hours search.
/ went to the British department and
found their receiving agent and engineer,
but they were unable to tell me who the
receiver for the American department
was,Cr where he was. returned to the
Am ericsn department and resumed my
labors. told my Interpreter to inquire
of every man he met for the American
agent for receiving contributions. We
| at last succeeded In finding the man. He
was German, and unable to speak or
understand word of English. He had
small book in which he had noted the
articles that had been received.
| gave tbC EiOupi SIhSo anu uuLuDti
of the boxes that / wanted TO find. He
looked at his book and said they had
not come. Informed him that par
had come for had seen THIN, upon
which he looked sgain and said a. ogi
and started off TO the main building tC
hunt them up. Arriving at the United
States department, he looked for The
boxes in vain and then concluded thai
they had not come to the grounds but
were at the railway station, and kindly
informed me that he would look fol
them. / then told him that had see 4
them in the other department for The
United States, and asked him to go with
me and see them, upon which we startet
of.
When We found the boxes that hsC
arrived he was greatly delighted aBc
looked at bis book again aud declsret
that they had been received and that they
came on the chip Mercury" When
asked him where the remaining boxe,
"StC nc was nSaAb III u Auhuualf DAT
could give me no Information.
] have given the foregoing as 3 sam
pie Of the way things are managed here
and while ] would not wish 10 flo,
fault, can but think that it would hav
been better If an American, or at leas
one that could speak the English Ian
guage, had been selected TO do the bust
ness for the American depsrtm, nts O
the exhibition. 1t may be that this MAJ
possesses superior business talent. bu
Il could not see it," The exhibition vii
DOUBTLESS be q great thing when II i
! completely inapgurated and all the ar
ticles are displayed, bat that will not b
a. present, sud the American who COM.
here before july or August or s-ptsmbe
| viii BE- greatly disappointed.
=