The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-06-04
PARIS LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent

PARIS, May 10Th, 1878.
| have spent but two days on the Elk
position Grounds, my time having been
taken up mainly in securing lodgings, AID
with the many things that green Ameri-
can has to contend, on entering, for the
first tune, a new country; which no matter
what may have been bis preparations he
will find sufficiently confusing to give him
SOME annoyance, and cost him some
money. For the present, l shall write of
things as they appear to me, after a
very imperfect examination, and try to
reflect the impressions they make upon
me This, | am persuaded, will be safer
role than if were to attempt, after four
days residence, to write as one perfectly
familiar with this great exposition, great
city, great people, and, of course fail.
The exposition impresses me, at first
sight, as being even more distinctivey
French, than was ours American; more of
national fair, and less of worlds fair
than we had at Philadelphia. 1t will be
remembered that, at our centennial, we
took the trouble to translate circulars,
notices, signs directions in the street cars,
etc, into the French, German, Italian and
Spanish languages. Nothing of the
kind is done here; although there are
perhaps in Paris, fifty times as many
people ignorant of the Franch language as
there were in Philadelphia, who did not
know English. The French are the least
polyglot OF all civilized people; their vanity
will not allow them to admit the existence
OF any other language. But the spread of
that language which phiIologists, OF what
ever nationality, have prophesied, will one
day be universal, is felt powerfully in
Paris. If shop keeper has salesman,
or errand boy, that can speak ever SO
little English, he is sure to write on his
wlndow,in gilt letters, English Speaker.
The exhibits of other nationalities have
the same general features that character
lied them at Philadelphia. and IN some
instances, the precise articles This is
particularly noticeable in the department
OF fine arts, where those who we're al
Philadelphia in lS76,will see some familiar
pictures, The French art section, | am
told by one who is familiar with the sub
ject, presents rather series of revived
memories than of new sensations. Very
few actual novelties are showing, but the
gems OF the last decade have been col
lected from the different salons, and dis
trlbuted in the galleries Of the exposition
with dazzling effect. The gallery of the
Luxembourg has been robbed of its --latest
acquisitions, and no effort has been spared
to make the French section eclipse every
other. The American art section, like
nearly all the sections of the exhibi
ton art or otherwise, is in u state Of
lncompieteness, nor can it be regarded a.
talr representation of our national art
OWING probably to the shortness of tune
allotted TO our artists for preparation, bu
lew OF our prominent painters are repre-
sented, The visitor sees nothing uatura
or distinctive in this section, and al
American nothing that reminds him C
nome or country. Our artists seem h
nave borrowed all their inspiration from
foreign scenery, aud foreign subjects, an,
not to have found anything wortl
reproducing at home, Our section i
fortunate IN possessing two sucl
hne works as the ''Furleral of
Mummy, by Mr.. Bridgemau; aud "Th
Death Of Vandean Chief" by Mr.. Wylie
But one cannot help asking why could nc
the artist have wreaked his genius on tn
Funeral Of an Indian chief, O subject quit
as rich in picturesque and dramatic ell,
ment. Aud what is there more tragic
the death of royalist Of La Vendee, tina
IN that OF the man who yields his life
i mlti or tanaticism for any other. cause
WIN we never excel 10 the production
anything but plows, and prima donnas?
~. WI! write more in detail about Il
~ /. p , when have had time to ri
opposed to come here this ~ year AT P%DSt