Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-18
THE TORICAL TALKER.
Fleeing Americans In Paris-Tony Pastors
Epigram-A Busy PIace-Mrs. Blaine In
Comedy-sIr. Thaw's Charities-A Bal.

Fleeing Americans In Paris-Tony Pastors
Epigram-A Busy PInce-Mrs. Blaine In
Comedy-Mr. Thaw's Charities-A Bal.
lad to n Signature.
A GOOD many Pittsburgers and others who
have been to Paris this summer have expressed
to me unmeasured dissatisfaction with the
great Exposition now being held there. Said
one Pittsburger. who has just returned from
Paris: "Paris. / am coming to think. is q delu-
sion, and its Exposition q snare to Americans.
1t seems to me that all the Parisians are
banded together for the express purpose of
fleeing Americans. / suppose they are not
above robbing visitors of other nationalities in
cidentally, but their victims by choice and de-
sign are Americans. Most of the latter fall an
easy prey to the designing Gauls. They grum-
BILE at the outrageous prices charged for every
thing, from hotel bills to hack hire, but they
pay all the same. Everywhere l went about
Paris met Americans, not singly, nor by twos
and threes, but by hundreds. The Exposition
literally swarmed with my fellow countrymen
and women.
"As for the Exposition itself, must confess
/ was disappointed in almost everything but
the Eiffel tower. The American exhibit is
ridiculous; it would have moved me to tears If
it had not compelled me to laughter"
thority on much beside variety performances,
but he seems to have hit the truth wittily when
he asserted, as he is said to have done. that
the American exhibit in the Paris Exposition
consists of some typewriters and folding beds
illuminated by incandescent lights.
OF. 50
"How does it come that Blankville contains
over a thousand inhabitantsf What do they all
do?"
"what do they doi oh, they mind other peo-
ple's business-and it keeps them busy, l tell
YOU" was the unklnd reply.
SO
NEWS about Mrs. James G. Blaine, Jr, is
doled out to the public rather grudgingly. Pro-
badly her managers realize that they overdid
the press work at the start, and are determined
to atone for it by steady reticence now.
1t has leaked out, however. that the young
debutante is to challenge the approval of the
American world in comedy instead of emotional
drama, She is to try to win laughter instead
of tears. This decision seems wise.
WHO can begin to tell the number Of the late
Mr.. Thaw's charitiesf The extent and variety
of his largesses were extraordinary. Stories
of his benevolence might be told by the score
and yet but faint idea of Mr. Thaw's gener
osity would be given. There was a bench in
the ante-room without his office which was
filled with applicants for charity every day and
the greater part of the day when he was at
heme. He saw everyone that called to seek
his help, and gave freely where he thought DIS
tress was real. Probably mahy conscienceless
frauds imposed upon him.
The School of Design will miss his hand and
heart. With Mr.. Charles Clark he has been the
mainstay of that excellent institution. At one
time heard of his sending party Of art stu
dents to Europe at his expense, that they
might obtain the advantages their wealthier
sisters commanded; at another time it was he
who bought at a high figure, set by himself,
picture of girl who was in need of money,
although he had no use for the painting.
Truly, Pittsburg has lost a great friend in
Mr.. Thaw,