St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-10-25
The French Capital.
Editorial Correspondence


Partisan merchant asked when
reached the French metropolis. l
was surprised at the question and
asked for an explanation. The
answer is simple. The mercurial
temperament of the French people
accounts for the little knowledge Of
the case. When the trial at Rennes
was in progress there was much feel
ing; when the news of his sentence
reached Paris there was some excite
ment, but no need of the police and
regiments who were ready for any
outbreak. Now, month later, his
name is hardly mentioned in Paris
and the incident is as nearly forgotten
as the anarchy riots in Haymarket
Square, Chicago, or the great Home
stead strike. Of course the military
party encourage this silence, as they
are tremendously afraid Of another
outbreak should the common people
of France ever grasp the situation
and realize their power. AS one
American resident of Paris said, if
Mr.. Dooley's article on Dreyfus could
be circulated through France it
would almost cause another French
revolution and France would at last
be free from the tyrannical rule of the
army officers. "After me the deluge,"
were the last words of the king a
century ago, and the deluge came in
the French revolution. Every stu
dent of modern French history is
asking this question today, "Will
history repeat itself?" And consider
ing the fact that France has had 80
governments in the 26 years since
the last Emperor is not this a peril
nent question, and may not one
expect cataclysm in the near future?
l was fortunate to have as a
travelling companion in Paris, Mr..
Martin of New York, a large import
er of foreign goods, whose knowledge
OF German was par excellence, and
who spoke French more or less
oftener less. In the hotels and cafes
we got along very nicely, but on the
boulevards it was different. If We
asked a question in words of one
syllable, expecting a short answer,
we always received ward of French.
Our invariable reply to all their in.
formation was "Oui, Monsieur,
merci," and we would call it quits.
But in three days we saw good
deal of the great city, even though
every day was rainy.
OF course all interest is now center
ed in the exposition which the
managers say will be open next May.
The buildings will be much more
ornate than those at Chicago, but
unfortunately they are so crowded
together that the only view you will
get that will be satisfactory will be
from a distance or from such a
height, for instance, as the E ffel
Tower. The Parisians make no
secret Of the fact that the exposition
will pay and that everybody in
Paris will make money next year
They point with pride to the fact
that every exposition that has ever
been held in Paris has been a 6nan.
cial success; the hotels advertise
that their rates will be raised so pei
cent after next January, and the pro-
prietors will not reserve rooms fol
you during the exposition except al
these advanced rates. l suppose the
steamship companies will also adj
vance their rates and | do not SET
how they can carry the crowds
which will be attracted to Paris next
year. The United States will be wei
represented at the exposition and
more space has been granted them
than was originally planned. There
will be great rivalry between
American and French wines, silks
and dress goods; between American
and English manufactures between
American and German machinery
and knit goods, but am just proud
enough to predict that the United
States will show the continental
merchants and manufacturers some
great surprises. And other nations
will surprise America, for Russia will
exhibit the train de luxe" which
will be run on the Trans Siberian
railway and which is richer in finish
and more complete in its equipments
than any Pullman train which has
yet been made. Work is being push
ed on the buildings seven days in the
week, but / do not see how they car
be COMPLETED in seven no,tbs