The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-15

Tho Men in French Uniforms Who Are So
Numerous at the Fair.
To The Independent:
The magnificent buildings Of the Worlds
fair are we'll calculated to call forth ex-
CARNATIONS Of wonder and delight. The
throngs of laborers, exhibitors and visitors
in their hurry and hustle are likely to be-
wilder the bashful onlooker from the rural
districts. The grandees f.om our own
country and the titled nobility from
Europe and the orient arc we'll calculated
to magnify ones own littleness. but it ID in
the presence of the guafd-and he 10 every
where--that one really RaZes uvon the in
oarnation OF greatness. The guard 10 the
feature of the Columbian exposition. He
has been called a uniformed mnnikin. a
walking enoy clopaedia of ignorance. vital
lied egotism and the personitication of
stupidity. but what he is on the Y ound for
the visitor is at a loss to determine. It
certainly oanno be for ornament for he
is ugly in snite of his French
uniform and c,umsy sword; il cannot
be because of his graceful attitudes and
movements for he is as awarkwa d as a
COW; it certainly cannot be because of his
knowledge of the grounds and exhibits for
he knows but little of them and yet he is
found everywhere-at tho gates, on the
corners OF the streets, pacing with lordly
strides the dusty avenues, ut the doors Of
the buildings. in all rnrts of the buildings,
in tho restaurants. Wherever one Rops the
guard is there and IL he obeyed tho lniunc-
tions of many of the irrit ted visitors, hs
would also be found in hades.
II was said Of one of old, much learning
hath made thee mad" but Of the guard,
one might say, Brass buttons md a little
authority hath made them 49, fool"
The only authority thcv have been seen
to exercise on tho ground is to forbid smok-
Ing. bnt now, nlas! that has been taken
from them. for 1.-THE powers'' havs ! romul-
gated an edict that gentlemen and others
may smoke.
We have said that hs was supposed to 10
a bureau of information, but many n, poor
visitor. foot-so.e and weary. have found
him to be more than useless. A day or two
Ego the wiiter desiring to find a certain
can find the photograph gnllery?" With a
wonderful degree Of importance he rsplisd.
Eyes. sir. You will find il at the north end
OF this building. up-stairs." TIe north
end OF the building WIS nbout forty rolls
sore but the gallery must DO found. 30 suf-
fering Mt every step we proceeded to thu,
place designated. Upon renchino ID ~
found another specimen of this supsrauous
or alton. and at q venture asked tho Same
question: Can you tell me vhe.e ths
photograph gallery ISL" 'Certuinlr. sir.
You will find it at the southern end OF this
building in the little house at tho right"
pointing to IL as he spoke. Tho shoe
pinchea more thnn over and the mir had n
distinct sulphutous odor, but there was
nothing to do but ~retrace. but tho sunrd
lost not an iota of his magnificent comros.
ure. Scott makes one of his chnrnc,ors er-
clnim: MY Kingdom for a horspI,
But tho visitor was wont to exolain,.
40. for some Montana expert. with
n vocabulary that would do credits to The
occasion"
Useless as this wonderful c~rention IN "a !.
an expensive luxury. The minimum SAL
nry paio him is $50 rer month while the of.
fcers receive more. As there ara ubont
1.8OO Of the species it can rendily be se.n
that it requires from $40. 900 TO $I4. 900 nor
month TO perpetuate his existence.
When the fair shall have run its six
months not less than $1,0OO,O 900 viii bnvs
been expended III maintaining this army Of
dependents. Some of them will Inv,
learned something Of tho duty they nre cx-
pectsd to perform. whatever TINT nav he.
while some of them may pr otit from nssocin-
ton with refined people and learn to he no
lite and courteous, but ID is certain Tint II
the whole force were now abolished with.
out an hour's notice. the visitors to the fair
would unanimously tender M manage.
ment a vote of thanks, nor would the great
fair suffer from their ~ntrarul.. Whnteve,
tho i~visltoEs ffom Montana SOC, or fail 10
SEQ whom they visit the fair. they will sec
tho guard. A VIsrrop.