The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-04-25
HOTEL DU LOUVRE, Paris,
April Sd, 1873.

hi5dors.
HOTEL DU LOUVRE, Paris,
April Sd, 1873. :
As probably some Of my readers will Wis
1t Paris this summer, I shall commence this
letter by warning them against making ar
raRgements for board or apartments too far
jim advance. Within the last fortnight, ow-
ing to the sudden influx of foreigners, which
was checked by the cold, snowy, disagreea-
bic weather that set in last week, landlords
have raised their prices in anticipation Of
a big rush but I am of opinion that, while
the Exhibition viii be a grand success in
every respect, the visitors from abroad will
neither, owing to hard times, be as plentiful
as expected, nor so reckless in their expen-
ditures. 1t costs as much now to live in
Paris, as in New York, Philadelphia, Bos-
ton or any Of our large cities; but after the
opening Of the Exhibition, 1t Is more than
probable that living will be reduced, as
many landlords viii have many empty
rooms upon their hands, on account of their
present extravagant demands. An Ameri-
can, a stranger in Paris, should, before max
ing permanent arrangements, consult some
/ of his more experienced cOuntrymen, whose
chief resorts are ithe New York Herald"
Bureau, in the Avenue de ? Opera, the pub
lication Office of the American Advertiser" i"
No. ), Rue Scribe, and the offices Of the U.
s. Commissioners at the Exposition
Grounds. OF course here, as elsewhere, he
must look out for ''black sheep" and use
due discretion as to whom he conides in;
but not to any greater extent than in the
ordinary transactions Of everyday life at
home
The first two American vessels which
left the United States with articles for the
Exhibition, the supply" and the "Consti-
tuition have arrived at Havre, safe and
sound, and their cargoes are expected to ar
rive here in a few days The first Ameri-
can on the grounds with his exhibit was a
starch manufacturer q could not learn his
name), who had shipped his complete ex-
hibit at his own expense BY the French line
of steamers and he was followed by Messrs
Mallory, Wheeler & Co., Of New Haven,
Conn, who have their fine exhibit Of hard
ware, locks SC, almost complete. The
floor in the United States Division is al
ready marked out and numbered, and ev-
erything is in readiness for the reception
and arrangement of exhibits and when I
visited the grounds yesterday, they were
Just completing the brick and concrete foun-
dation for the steam engine, which is to
furnish the motive power in the American
section.
One of the finest exhibits will be that
from the Agricultural Department in
Washington, to which referred briefly in
my last letter, and the preparations for
which are now being made. In the mid
die of the Agricultural Gallery there has
been a space marked out, IS feet square, in
the middle Of which is the figure Of five
pointed star, at each of the points of which
viii be erected a fve-sided or .pentagonaI
column, surmounted by an ornamental urn.
In the center of the star will be a pyra-
mid or terrace, made Of glass, surmounted
by an eagle and within the glass case will
beexhibited choice specimens Of the Agricul-
tural products of the United States. Reach
ing from the center to the FIVE columns,
which mark the points Of the star, viii he
glass show cases placed on counters and fill
ed like the central case with specimens of
grain, cotton, tobacco, &C., and in the urns
on top of the columns viii be specimens of
growing plants, such as corn, tobacco, cot
ton, rice, &c. Altogether it VIII be a most
tasteful exhibit, and will compare favora-
bly, with anything in that line from any
other nation.
A few days ago, whom should meet in
the Champ de Mars but my old
friend, Mr. Wa Kai, from Yeddo, Japan,
whose acquaintance first had the pleas
ure Of making at Vienna in 1878, and to
renew at our Centennial Exhibition in
Philadelphia, where he represented the
Coshio Gaishia Company 4 believe that is
the way he spells it,, one of the largest
manufactures of China and lacquered ware
in Japan. He Is preparing a magnificent
display here, which will surpass in costli-
ness and grandeur anything the company
has shown at previous Exhibitions, but
among which Americans viii recognize the
two enormous vases which were the points
lie resistance Of the japanese exhibit at our
Centennial. Mr.. Wa Kai and yosr cores
pOndcnt had quite a walk together across
the bridge, and into the grounds on the ,
other side Of the Seine, where workman are
now busily engaged in the construction of
grottoes, miniature cascades, the laying out i
Of beds, placing statues and planting Of
trees, shrubs and flowers. These grounds,
while not so extensive as those at Phila-
delphia, will surpass them in beauty, and
will be provided with cafes, confsdries, and
innumerable, which viii be un-
der the immediate supervision of the
French Commissioners.
As usual, England is ahead in point Of
and forwardness ofherexhibit,
and next comes Russia, whose exhibit is on a
gigantic and magnificent scale, surprising
in volume more than ten times what she
sent to Philadelphia. The war cloud inter
vening between these two nations does not
seem, in the least, tow darken their. friendly
rivalry at the Exhibition. We are more
than any other nation, but
few weeks Of hard work, now whel most Of
the exhibits have arrived safely at Havre,
will soon bring us round, and it is to be
hoped that we will have everything in read J
mess to make at least a respectable show
Dn the 1st Of May, when the Exhibition
opens. It is unfortunate that we are bOr- .
iered on one side by the English section,
which is more than four times the size Of
ours, and with which we can scarcely hope /
10 compete, owing to the muuifcence Of the I
British Government and the wealthy q
private individuals, who have contributed 3
money lavishiy to make their exhibit at
Paris complete success in every respect.
I commenced this letter with a few lines