Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-19
Exhibitors Complain Of
Scant Courtesy Shown.
'HINes IN A STATE CHAOTIC.
The Exposition viii Not Be Run
ming Smoothly for Some Time.
FRANCES FINE ART ExHlBlr.
Her Display, rs Expected, a CrediS
to Her Genius and Characteris-
tic-American Work Lack
ing in Originality.
A DisCortlnnt Note.

lCopuri0ht 1880 on No,p York Associated P,css.J
PARIS, May lS.-Americans coming to tho
exposition need not make excessive haste.
Although President Carnot tremendously
opened the exposition on the appointed day,
1t is, up to this writing, fragmentary. The
great belts in the machinery palace have not
yet stirred a lathe. Tho movable railway
which was laiu IN flexible routes all through
the grounds was taken up on the eve of the
opening to clear the official path,
1t has not been put down again.
Not one section of the fine art exhibi:
ton is complete. Only two catalogues
are out-the French decennial and the Brit
ish. Neither is satisfactory so far as pres
ent information iustifies an opinion. There
is no good reason why American visitors
should buy any catalogue except the Amer
lean, unless they have special reason for
doing so. Various causes are assigned for
the delay in all the departments. Tho
American commission alleges, so far as it is
concerned, that on one hand the Frencn
authorities have not furnished the labor
Indispensable, either in the preparation of
the show cases or the equipments of the
rooms and on the other that many Americans
who applied for space, and considerable
number who shipped goods have not APP
and injustice and of disregard of reasonable
comfy on the part of the French direction
toward the American commission as related
to representative of the Associated press
by officials, were frankly disclosed an inter-
national episode might be created rot want
ing in the elements of grotesQueness. This
word of warning should be needed by the
correspondents and the specialists of the
professions coming here expecting the equita-
BILE treatment common in our own countryl
There are no complimentary admissions. 1t
is said that this rule applies uneXceptionally
to all persons, native and foreign writer's, no
matter how we'll known in their own coun.
try. Even If their personal credit be above
suspicion they cannot procure any attention
unless they bring duly authenticated crcden-
tials IN writing. If bis written credentials
be complete the applicant must wait several
weeks for an acknowledgment of the fact
tnat his right to special recognition
Is admitted. Then he must have two
photographs taken, one to be put in private
gallery of direction, and the other to consti-
tute with his name and function printed on
it, his ticket of admission. After fair trial
of this circuitous and expensive road to the
| assumed universal courtesy of the exposi-
| tion, the individual desirous of studying its
departments generally resolves to pay his
20 cents admission daily and dispense with
| politeness decorated with red tape.
Fine art is splendid feature of the expo.
sition. The French exhibit as might be ex-
| pected, is brilliant and grandiose. The en-.
| tire exhibition, with the exception of certain
| distinct qualities in the art of Holland, is
| evidence of the homage of the supremacy ui
France.
The American exhibit it must be admitted,
| is entirely creditable to our national pride IL
taken comparatively and only from the ur.
| lists way of examining canvas. But
with a country Of unsurpassed seem
ery with moral history deep
| enough to afford that ideal perspective cs-
sential to art, and with incidents to inspire
| legitimate scenic ambition, the American
| architect may be said to be devoid of ma
tional self-respect. Every other country
| proclaims to the assemblages who gather
| here from all quarters Of the globe that il
| has national story, a national landscape
| and moral elevation.