Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-01
A RIDICULOUS EXHIBIT.
Poor Showing OF the United States
ut tho Paris EXPOSITION.
tcopufght 1889 by James Gordon Bennstt.1

tCopWtgM 1889 bu James Gordon Bennstt.1
LONDON, June 30 New York Herald
Cable-Special to THE BEEl- Paris ex-
position, particularly the exhibit made by the
United States, las received scathing criticism
from M. II. DeYoung, editor and proprietor
of the San Francisco Chronicle.
"The exposition as WHOLE" he said to a
Herald reporter, ais, without doubt, the
grandest thing of the kind the world has ever
seen. 1t enables person virtually TO go
around the world in a few days-that is, to
see the inhabitants of nearly every country,
their dress manners houses, style of living,
wares manufactures, production, amuse-
ments, and nearly everything to be seen.
The experience is extended to travel except
the natural scenery and climate. But
there is much criticism. In the first
place, the manifest purpose of the French
government thus far has been to make the
exposition one of the French nation and its
colonies. They absorb the great majority Of
space, enjoy exceptional privileges and ac-
commodations. Other nations have had ex-
nibits admitted merely in order to give the
exposition the character of a world-made
affair. Most of the prizes and diplomas are
being awarded to France and its colonies.
The purpose has evidently been to create the
impression that France is far and away
ahead of other nItons. The United States
exhibit is ridiculous for country of its size,
standing and resources. Tho fault lies with
the government commissioners. Not one of
them appeared at Paris two weeks before
the exposition opened Before that they had
only two or three clerks there and were
hoodwinked aud played right and left by the
Frenchmen The United States has no
building there at all. The Ar
gentine Republic has a significant one and
many nations not tenth of the Importance
of the United States have fine buildings and
creditable exhibits. The United States ex-
hibit is in the main building aud occupies
only about two-thirds the space which Bel
gum has. Our government appropriated O
quarter of million dollars for its exhibit. l
would not like to charge that any of the
money has been dishonesty used, but am
free to say that 1t has been very injudiciously
expended. One of the first things the COM
missioners did was to rent n fine house for
S6O, 900 and settle down in it with their fami-
lies. A great deal of money has been eaten
up In salaries. The commissioners say q
great deal of money was spent in collecting
display of cereals. 1t would not
do country fair very great
credit. A little glass case six feet
long holds the whole of our wine exhibit.
California alone wanted to appropriate $780,
600 for the exhibit of wine and fruit produc-
tions, but though applied for space last jan
uary, was refused. The States boast of hav-
ing more miles of railroad than all the rest
of the world, yet the exhibit in that line en-
braces one refrigerator car, the sawed off
end of freight car and a little locomotive
one can see over, shows home improvement,
but it Is mere toy. France, England,
Belgium and even Switzerland make railway
rolling stock exhibits which are incompara-
bly, better than ours. Mexico and South
Americanscountries throw us far into the
shade with their exhibits. The States ex-
hbit is simply ridiculous.