The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-07

DtAk 70 mas not been the reDullGlnC OF
Paris alone which has made NJ AIphand
the Idol OF the Partisan populace. 4
Roman ruler found favor with the multi
tade by giving them bread and circuses,
ana south American potentates make
themselves solid" by establishing brass
oands; so French governments have been
IN the habit of silencing criticism or
Winmng friends by fetes and expositions.
Nobody Is dearer in Paris than he who
can amuse by brilliant fete. VI. Alph-
ana was the prince Of fete and exposition
makers
The success of the expositions of 1857
ana l61S were largely credited 10 him. In
ooth cases he not only made the shows
themselves delightful, bat he SO arranged
ortlons Of the improvement which they
required as to give the city permanent
advantage. Thus in 1867 he transformed
steep piece of waste ground near the
exposition into series of fine terraces.
and III 1873 he erected there palace and
1ald out o garden which have remained
one OF the most popular resorts of the
cIty-the Trocadero.
His crowning piece of exposition max
ing, as well as the browning work of his
NE, was the exposition of iSS9. NJ.
AIphaHd was 20 years old in 1887 The
French law requires that its servants re-
tire at that age. The director went TO the
minister and announced his age, At the
same time begging that he he allowed to
remain III office. 81 know" he said to the
minister, that if you conform to the rule
you Will compel me 10 retire; that is, you
Will Kill, | am accustomed to work In
activity would be death to me. Beside. |
want TO manage the exposition. The
minister broke the rule and VI. Alphand
made the exposition TO the delight not
only OF France. but of the world.
The Champ-de Mars, which was chosen
Tor the fair or 1889, was barren and I'M
slightly tract of land. There was opposi-
ton TO the great fete being held there, but
NJ. Alphand conquered everybody by his
faith in his plans. and indeed succeeded in
inspiring everybody with his own enthusi-
asrn. As in 1867 and 1873, he desired that
permanent decorations and improvements
should remain in the city. lis succeeded
SO well that today the formerly unsightly
space is known as the Champs Elysees of
the left bank.
Parisians who are never tired of talking
OF the great fair, delight in recalling the
picture of this interchangeable old man who,
during all the months of preparation, was
TO be seen early every morning running
hither and thither in the timber piles fore
seeing everything, suggesting everything
inspiring everything.
Everybody remembers the result of his
work. The exposition was an extrava-
EaAZd VI Oh udrlDE, OF fancy.
The audacity with which the buildings
were garlanded with light, Mosques and
booths were constructed of colored glass,
noYers and fountains and statues were
strcAa everywhere, and the skill with
which, amidst all this profusion, harmony
was preserved were the amaZement of the
world
1t was NJ. Alphand who created all this,
and he did il while attending to the mann
moth nFpanJzatinn of no ftbiia Crlrz
every department of which he put into
condition for brilliant parade during the
exposition and prepared as well to dis
charge easily the large increase of work
which the presence of so many visitors in
the city for so long time made necessary.
This faculty for directing great num-
Der of things at once characterized all his
work. lie knew just when and how the
the streets were being swept, and at the
same time he was giving directions about
the laying out of flower beds. He looked
after the details of architecture, and he
ordered the construction of sewers. Few
men take such variety of work without
lncurring the contempt and dislike of
their subordinateS. Nj. Alphand could do
1t because of his superior knowledge taste
and experience. Architects, engineers,
landscape gardeners listened to him be-
cause they recognized that he was thor
oughly versed in their professions, and
that his suggestions were remarkable for
their taste and practical value.
His tact in handling men was rare. Not
only those in his service yielded willingly
TO him, the municipal council itself sub
mitted TO NJ. Alphand. Members declared
that there was no way of denying q man
who, even when matters looked eompro-
missing, would come before them with ire
sistable good humor, with incontestable
figures, and with a knowledge of detail
which seemed superhuman. They always
ended by voting what he wanted.
His appearance no doubt contributed TO
his power. He was tall and broad shout
dered, With piercing eyes and a kindly
face, almost benignant indeed of late years
because of his white beard.
The knowledge of the disinterestedness
of his service made all who came in con-
tact with hum more obedient to his wishes.
No one believed that M. Alphand encour-
aged ''jobs" or enriched himself from the
public purse In spite of the fact that in
his service he had directed three great ex-
positions with the enormous outlays they
required and in spite of the fact that hun
dreds of millions of francs passed under
his control each year, he lived simply in a
quiet villa on the outskirts of the city.
No one ever limited that he made more
money from his Office than the $1,000 he
received yearly as salary.
Nor did he ever seek power other than
that of his Office. 1t is said that he might
have entered the French parliament at any
time, and that he was approached more
than once to enter the ministry. His in
variable reply was, Il prefer to direct the
works of the city of Paris.
lie had his honors, however. After the
exposition of 1889 he was given the grand
cross of the Legion of Honor-the only en-
gineer to whom it was ever given. And
after the death of Baron Haussmann he
was made a member of the Academy of
Fine Arts This latter honor lac was very
eager for, and in hopes of getting it he had
written three works on subjects connected
with his profession. The greatest public
recognition he ever received was the mag
nificent funeral the city OF Paris gave him.
His remains were laid in state under the
dome which he had constructed in the
Champ-de-M Mars. Over him were hung
the decorations used over the remains of
Victor Hugo The dais used had been in ser
vice two days before al the funeral Of Dom
Pedro, ex-emperor of Brazil. Representa-
tives of the president OF the republic, Of
the government, of the academy, and of
numerous learned and scientific bodies,
the municipal council ana representatives.
of all departments Of the cty's admins
tration, besides hosts Of influential per-
sons from all classes Of society were pres
ent. The floral tributes were magnificent.
Military honors added 70 the eci2t OF the
service The cortege marched through
the chief bouleyards which VI. Alphand
had constructed. All Paris turned out to
do him honor.
And who will take NJ Alphand's place?
Nohody. probably. He was an absolute
monarch. and he was jealous 10 childish
degree of any interference with his power.
Those who worked under him were ex-
pected 70 obey explicitly. He would not
divide power or even attempt TO TT men
To work independently in the departments.
His kingdom falls to pieces without him.
lie has established no dynasty.
1t is as well that he did not. One-man
mower does not exist without abuses. They
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