The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-21

ll0e. iii. Ills second Az. 81
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worth. A lot Of English girls, too, are
coming over. with the idea that positions
with large wages are simply waiting for
them. Many OF these are sure to regret
the step, for there II little doubt but what
Paris will be cvercrowded next summer
by people who want to make, not to
spend, money.
1t Is perhaps well that the French can
be optimistic regarding the fortunes that
are to be spent and therefore gained by
them during the exposition. Hope springs
eternal, and the Frenchman always hopes
to make money. That the expedition will
be well worth the seeing there IL no ques-
ton; It will hardly be the surprise to the
world that the Chicago show was. but 1t
will probably be az interesting or more in
teresting in different way.
But that all Paris Ii to grow rich on
the event Ii very much to be doubted.
and there viii be many sore hearts ana
empty purses after the close OF the spec
tacle. Many small shopkeepers, owners of
restaurants and cafes are doomed to dis
appointment and advice as to certain adj
visable retrenchments Is given to them with
the same result - II wasted on the four
winds Of heaven,
Beneath the United States headquarters.
on the avenue Rapp. large establishment
has opened and has already begun to try
to attract customers, regardless Of the
fact that when the exposition really opens
It will be on the very outskirts Of the
charmed circle.
While taking lunch there the other day
had . talk with the proprietor, an ami
able young man who has been saving up
his money for years In order to make this
foredoomed venture.
How" I asked, "do you expect to
make money when you remember that
you are . considerable distance from any
Of the gates OF the exposition, and that
most persons will want to eat and drink
inside the gates, rather than outsider
He thought moment. Then he said:
well, you see that we are just beneath
the headquarters of your country. Doubt
less hundreds of Americans will come to
visit their Northumberland you know It
is the Americans who will spend the most
money here" He forgets that probably
the exposition itself will be more attrac-
tive to Americans than the headquarters
of their commissariat; he ID pathetically
unconscious that his hard-earned savings
will never come back to him.
Another optimistic fellow on the Rue de
Ia Tour-Maubourg counts on making q
fortune simply because the overhead rail-
way runs past his door, He thinks for
eigners will never have seen such q won
der as an elevated railway, and though
there is no station where people will get
on and on In front of his little cafe, he
thinks he will make money simply be-
cause open-eyed strangers will line the
sidewalk in order to see the funny little
trains go by!
These two cases are two among hum
dreds. or perhaps thousands. The French
in general are thoroughly convinced that
the whole world is coming here on the
very day that the exposition opens, pre-
pared to stay till the very day 1t closes
and to scatter their money to whomso-
ever asks for 1t in the meanwhile. The
fact is that probably far more money
will be lost than made, as Is the result
with nearly every worlds fair on record:
but what Is to be effected by telling the
wild SPECTATORS SO? They will only be-
come the more convinced that you are
trying to rob them Of the chance of a
lifetime. "Experentia docet" will again
be given the laugh, too: for, when the
1911-they have already decided to hold
one!-the same mistaken doctrine that
will dazzle the world will have its thou
sands of adherents
But for the moment this Is all forgot
ten. Everything dates from the EXPOSE
ton. After the exposition" we hear,
Twill come the revolution" when the
exposition is over SAYS another, I'VE
shall all be so rich that the crowds in the
street will be contented. and the republic
will have new lease of life" Still again
1t is said: I'VE will have no modern i'm
provements till after the exposition;
thereafter put trolley cars in the Paris
streets. II you must. But let the city re-
main beautiful and unmarried by I'M
provements' till we have once more Of
fered our hospitality to the world" An
other class cries: Nov that the EXPOSE
ton IL here, how can We ask the world to
visit US IL we do not give them good
hotels and first-class means of transpor-
tation?"
The exposition, the exposition, on all
sides! Many thousands of the Parisians
themselves will leave the city to get rid
OF It, The rest will wait in great curios-
ity to see how far the fates will bless.
how far they will curse the hopes OF
those who have great faith.-Ethelyn
Friend Middleton in Boston Herald.