The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-21

AAsIN IA PARIS. Sent s.--[Copv-
ATx NArighted, 1880 - NJ. Al
~ phan J, whose wonderful
success in managing the Paris exposition
last year made his name abo,it rs familiar
to Americans as that of Washington or
Sam Small, is nice fatherly old man. with
plump and comfortable figure, and . face
which reminds one OF Barnum, Billy Flor
ence, Bob Ingersoll and lot of other
pleasant people, though he doesn't resem.
bic any of them particularly. He lives and
moves and has his being in the center OF
that vast hive OF municipal industry, the
Hotel de Vile, and there conducts affairs
more important than any exposition. as
the director general OF the public works of
the municipality of Paris. And when you
have threaded the labyrinth of halls and
passages, run the gauntlet Of the funkeys
who stand in waiting at the doors. and
reached the inmost office of all you find its
occupant as affable and courteous as his
beaming face would indicate.
OF course when 1. an American, called
upon NJ. Alphand it was 10 speak of the
exposition past at Paris, the exposition to
come at Chicago soon found, however,
that he had no accurate information of the
plans of Mr. Gage and his corps of assist
ants. He said he had been called upon by
a number of American gentlemen with
reference to the fair, but that was before
the site had even been decided upon, and
since that time no plans or information of
any sort had been laid before him.
Naturally can not speak of the COM
ing exposition except in the most general
terms without knowledge of the plans," he
said. "That there will be any difficulty in
getting everything in readiness by 1893 /
do not believe. The actual work upon the
Paris exposition only occupied two years
of course the plans were all ready before
hand-and everything was specifically
ready upon the opening day."
do ;ou regard the decision to open the
grounds on Sunday a wise one?"
As to Paris. it was not only wise. it was
absolutely necessary. The people would
have torn the buildings to pieces If the
gates had been shut on Sunday. In Amer
lea understand you have a quite different
public sentiment to deal with. They have
decided to open on Sunday. you say?
Well, the decision is undoubtedly wise
from q financial point Of view; at this dis
lance cannot Judge it from any other.
ltcIe III ldllS was our Ucat Jay.
We used to have half million people at
the exposition on pleasant Sundays, and
of course. just the kind of people whom an
exposition ought TO interest"
'.Wili the French exhibit at Chicago be
less full and interesting than If the fair
were to be held in New York ?" I asked.
1T would be difficult to say. How long
does it take to get to Chicago from New
York ?"
Exactly day: a thousand miles,"
land the freight arrangements 2''
Twill undoubtedly facilitate sending
goods through at very cheap rates and
without delay"
'ln that case" resumed M. Alphand,
IL do not think that the distance will stop
any one from going there or from exhibit
ing. There is another matter which il
much more serious. You Americans are
planning to put a he avier tariff upon all
our goods. Why shouts French merchants
and manufacturers 60 to the expense of
exhibiting at Chicago goods which can not
be sold in American"
But perhaps the Mckinley bill will not
be passed." I suggested
II hope it doesn't" NJ. Alphand speaks
no English, bat his tone and gesture as he
said this would have been perfectly IntelIi-
gible to the most densely ignorant of lin
gusts.
1.-THE French government will undoubt-