Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-06-20
PARIS LETTER.

HORSE RACE-THE EXPOSITION NOT YET
READY FOR VISITORS OR DESCRIPTION
ExoRBTTANT CHARGES AND HYPERBOLICAL
EXPECTATIONS OF PARIsIANs-THE BACK
wARDNEss OF THE Z. S. AGRICULTURAL
EXHIBIT, THE AMERICAN EXHIBIT THAT
ATTRACTS MOST ATTENTION.
From our regular correspondent.
Americans will remember the agitation
of the Sunday exhibition question during
our Centennial, in Philadelphia. Here
the question has never been discussed.
1t is not likely, when President Mcmahon,
and government officials, attend horse
race, as they did last Sunday, at the Bois
de Boulogne, that the municipal authOTi-
ties will attempt to interfere with the
more innocent recreation of the populace.
It is doubtful if any class of visitors or
exhibitors here, those from England and
the United States perhaps excepted, are
at all surprised or shocked at this Sab
bath breaking. But though the shop
keeper keeps open his shop, and masons
and carpenters are at work on buildings,
though an American has to look at the
almanac to reassure himself that it is the
first day of the week, there seems still to
remain tradition in the French heart
that this day is not quite like the others
of the seven. 1t is the favorite day for
holiday. On Sunday, at very early hour,
thousands of holiday makers flock to-
wards the Exhibition from all parts of
Paris. Every railway, omnibus, steam
boat; every tramway (the name given to
street cars here) is taken by storm, and at
all the stations dense crowd is constant
ly forming. Hundreds of cabs, loaded
with whole families, may be seen, all go
ing in the same direction. At the gates
long files gather and slowly pass through,
those behind waiting for their turn, with
the Philosophic patience of French mob,
except when it is charged with revolu-
ton. The Sunday visitors make the most
of their time; as soon as they are past the
barrier, they spread in all directions, not
nook being left unexplored. They ex-
anime every detail of the show with
searching interest, enter every building,
and station themselves before every ex-
hibit. They have evidently come to see
all that can be seen in eight or nine hours,
and they do not 'FAritter'' away their time
after the manner of the idle, languid,
blase, week day visitor. Towards twelve
a general need of refreshments is felt, for
Frenchmen have had nothing but roll
and cup of coffee since the day before.
The cheap restaurants (most of the res
taurants inside the grounds are very ex-
orbitant in their charges) are soon filled
to oYerfiowing, but the majority of the
visitors seem to be of opinion that even
the cheapest restaurants are too high in
their charges, for they have brought a
luncheon with them, which they eat
standing. Sitting room is certainly one
of the great necessities of this exhibition
and shade is another absent disideratum
so the extempore breakfasters have tc
make their meal, as best they may, with
out the benches and sylvan surroundings
which made the improvised picnics in
Fairmont park such an agreeable feature
of the Centennial Exposition.
Every week the details of the Exposi-
ton furnish great interest, and though at
first glance, the improvement of the
ceptible, on closer examination one sees an
approach towards completion at a hun
dred different points. Certain parts OF
of the grounds which were, last week, in
a very disagreeable condition, have since
been rolled; parterres and lawns which
were being laid out are now completed
and it is probable that, by the middle Of
/ H. S,-
condition to receive its guests. But, be.
| fore the guests come in very large mum.
bers, prices will have to be very much re.
duced. The houses in Paris that have
upon them the sign "ChaDebre Azuer'
| (rooms to 1et) are almost innumerable
but when one inquiries the price he viii
| find that, for very small room on thu
fourth or fifth story, a dollar per day il
asked, and, with charges for service ant
other extras, bill of seven or eigh
francs is run up for room with single
bed. Where there are two beds, tht
room may perhaps be had for ten o.
| twelve francs. This does not, of course
include board which will cost, accordin,
to mans taste and appetite, from ten t,
twenty francs per day. Living ma,
doubtless be had for less, before the exhi
bition is over. The high prices asked nov
represent the hyperbolical expectation
of the Partisan hOusekeeper. They Loo
for all the world this summer, but all tn
world will not come. England and Amer
lean, which furnish a large proportion O
the battallions of tourists, have heard @
the exorbitant prices, and they hav
gumption enough to shun Paris, or to re
main but a few days, before they visi
other parts of the continent. After hav
ing kept their rooms empty for fey
weeks, the landlords will be taught. b
the only school in which fools will Iearr
6 that to rent room for long time, at
reasonable price, is more profitable tha
to have it vacant, with an exorbitar
price pasted on the door.
l must defer a description of those spt
cialities of the Exposition, in whic
Americans are particularly intereste,
until they have been arranged in bette
shape for examination. The America
agricultural exhibit is much behind hanc
the gentleman who has charge of this d
partment has had much:to contend wit
many specimens having arrived late, al
some without label or other means
Identification.
The American exhibit that attract mo
attention, and perhaps more attentft
: than any display of its size in the Exp
sition, is the type writer of E. RemingtC
& Sons, Ilion, N. Y. Two young WON,
are writing with the miniature piano-H
machines, constantly surrounded by
dense crowd of Frenchmen trying to To-
over one another's shoulders, (which t
average small statutes of a Frenchm
makes it difficult for him to do. One oft