West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-08-02
OUR PARIS LETTER.
The Russian Temperance Exhibit
in the Social Economic Section
Of the Fair.
Conversing With a Polish Prince aud
Princess.


PARIS, FRANCE July 10. 1000.
Nothing in France is SO typical of France
as the exhibition, for il is a, once superficial
10 the eye and sound to the understanding,
full 81 tnSel sights and unmeaning caie,y
side by side with the lovliest forms Of art
aud the most admirable results of Industry
and of education. Such at least were my
thoughts as same cut of the Pahis de
Congres after spending an hour in the
Social Economic Section. Outside we're
the aimless crowd; the gilded domes and
plaster decorations, the amusementS, the
gossip and laughter. Inside you were in
another atmosphere--an atmosphere Of
knowledge and utility and peace. Here
under some very attractive forms is offered
to you the most diverse Information of
which one example will suffice. The cor
ner devoted 10 the Russian Temperance
Movement is charming in its simplicity,
novelty aud insuuctiveness. All about YOU
are diagrams showing the success OF the
governments propaganda against spirit.
drinking in the Russian empire; and very
pleasant young Russian lady. dressed in
black, with dark eyes and fair hair, not
more--as suppose. than twenty, will
answer in the most delightfully."- broken
French, such questions as YOU may care to
put Blu, the eye and the heart are even
more interestingly drawn by the model
"dehit dc -,ea-pubichouse. il one
can say 50 without paradox, than 10y the
amiablc Russian. 1t is hiled up exactly as
it is seen ia thousands of Russian villages.
The shop, not unlike the section of log
hut, has at one end short counter with
hard boiled eggs, rcd coloured, glass jars
of sweets and preserves. and bottles OF
kvass, nou-alcoholc drink made from
barley with something of the taste of cider
while behind the counter is a sdeboard
containing cups and tea-pots. AT the OPP
posite end of the shop is another counter
with papers and periodicals, aud behind
that, bookcase filed with books The
middle of the shop is occupied by tables
where the tea OF kvass is leisurely con-
sumed, where village politics are debated,
OF where game Of draughts or domnoes is
played by the mouiik customers The rest
of the furniture is simple and characteristic
cally Russian, that is to say rude, with a
dash of orientalism; noble brass samovar
filled with overlooking water behind the
counter at one end; brass ever under
tap and a comb hanging beside it from
piece of string close to the entrance; a
homely-faced, bodybuilding clock fixed to
the wall and the never absent coloured
prints of the Gar and Czarina. Guess now
how much cup, or cups.of tea taken under
these humanizing conditions costs, less than
two cents. The price hangs on the WALL
tiny measure Of tea, kopeek; two pieces
of sugar, I kopeek, a slice Of lemon,
kopeck; teapot of boiling water, kopeck;
and three kopecks are not quite two cents
What vast organization this state propa-
ganda is may be appreciated by the fact
that though five years ago when il was
started the state paid sIoo, 900 in subven-
tons, in 1896, with its influence penetrating
all over Russia, the State subycntion was
1000, 600, and the propaganda does more
than establish these tea-publichouses. II
gives thousands Of concerts aud conferences
and entertainments. The effect is known 70
be enormous, and what with Tolstoi
writings-,he Cars philanthropy and the
propaganda, Russil in few decades ought
to have one Of the most civilized pcasantries
in the world.
Mention Of the Cars philanthropy re.
minds me of another conversation had in
the same building, but now not with
Russian girl, but with Polish Prince and
Princess. was examining the exhibit Of
the "Ailiance Univcrselle des Femmcs Pour
Ia Paix," admiring the photographs of
many devoted woman workers, not a few OF
them American, when happened to ask an
elderly gentleman, who seemed 10 have
something to do with the exhibit, what was
the name Of the lady president whose hand
some photograph was lookingaL chat"
he said without the least affection, sis the
Princess MISUNDERSTANDING wife. II you
will allow me will introduce you" And
"sure enough" as they say in Ireland,
there was the princess at a little distance,
conversing with some friends and proud, no
doubt, Of the labor Of love and peace she
and her husband had accomplished. The
prince then became my informant for the
nonce and pointed out what was interesting
in the collection. The Alliance, he said.
had, when it was founded after the Hague
Conference, been called the League Of
Women for International Disarmament"
but the title was misunderstood and so had
to be changed Few people could grasp
the fact that 1t was not isolated or total
disarmament that was aimed at, bur only
the simultaneous reduction or abolition Of
standing armies. lie took special pains to
show me the pictures and pciions Of notable
American workers IN the cause.-The Belva
lockwood for one, the lady whom Cali
fornia so the Prince said) voted TO be
President Of the United States. Mrs May
Wright Sewall, for another Mrs. Ormsby
Evans. Mrs. Cornelius Stevenson, Of
Pennsylvania; Mrs. Elder Anna White,
Mrs. lIalliitBevis, Of Mass Mrs. Emeliue
-. Wells, Of Utah, and Mrs. Fannie W
Gresham, Of Texas. There were photo
graphs Of other American ladies, and Of the
lady workers Of other countries Of Finland,
of Koumania, Of Egypt even Roumania
vas represented hy Mile vacarcsca, Sylvia
Carmen lthe Queen # Roumauis'1 great
friend, nov as the Prince told INC, working
quietly 10 her Paris apartment al music and
literature and art Does she often think 81
Prince Ferdinand. wonder, eho wished 10
marry her bui was compelled by reasons II
State 90 marry into the Q5een Of England's