Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-03-09

The feature Of the Paris exposition,
not only to people of the United States
but to folks from all the rest Of the
world who happen to be there, will be
the American exhibit.
This is saying a good deal when you
remember the circumstances. Just
across the way from Paris lie the great
Industries of England, the million
stacked workshops of Germany are at
her northern elbow and the other great
nations are near neighbors, while here
are we clear across the ocean.
But the American manufactures, who
is learning how to find his market at
the ends of the earth, cares nothing
for a few thousand miles of distance.
In the big French show he sees a
chance to convince all Europe that he
can make his particular line of goods
cheaper and better than they can be
made anywhere else on the globe. SO
he picks out his finest samples, packs
big cases full of attractive trade curios
and hustles across the sea just as read
lily as if the exposition booths were
around the corner from his factory Of
fee.
When the flags go up on the new
Alexandrine bridge and the many en-
trance gates of the exposition are open
ed on April Is, there will be no less
than 1000 American exhibits to be
seen within the grounds. Save for
France alone, this will be the largest
showing by any country. Germany
comes second
And all this, you must remember, In
spite of the fact that at the close Of
the Spanish-American war, when the
French had proved themselves such
strong Spanish sympathizers, there
was talk Of Uncle Sans boycotting
the exposition altogether. But we for
get an injury quickly; at least, we
overlook it when business demands.
Much of the success of the American
exhibit is due to the enthusiastic work
Of our exposition commissioner, Mr..
Ferdinand w. Peck. Through his untir-
ing efforts of months ago the space
allotted to the United States was large
ly increased. Since then he has done
good work in interesting exhibitors.
The liberality with which the federal
and state governments have made ap-
preparations has also aided. Perhaps
the exposition buildings of other coun-
tries may excel ours in some respects,
but every loyal American will agree
that the fine structure over which the
big eagle spreads his wings along the
banks of the Seine does credit to his
country, even when comparisons are
made. 1t is certainly beautiful build
ing.
Besides the main structure, which is
shown in the accompanying illustra-
ton, there are four annex buildings,
work on which has recently been fin
ished. They will be devoted to agricul
ture. liberal arts, marine and forestry.
And what things shall we see in
these buildings of ours? Oh, many,
many things of American make Of
which you, living right here where
they are produced, never dreamed. OF
the number of exhibitors who have
already taken space LILO represent
the purely commercial branches, while
the remaining exhibits are divided
among such classifcations as agricul-
ture, mines, literature, which includes
the American periodicals, science and
the fine arts; religious, charitable and
other associations, and education,
which will include the exhibits of the
schools, colleges, etc.
Prosaic as such a description may
seem the actual exhibits will be far
from uninteresting. They will include
almost everything in the range of hu,
man endeavor so artistically arranged
as to attract the immediate attention
OF even such a blase individual as the
average Frenchman. When he has
walked through the American exhibit
he will have seen everything that d
human being could possibly require In
his passage from the cradle to the
grave.
There will be the food to feed him
the beverage ~ satisfy his thirst. n