The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-07-26
PARIS LETTER A..



France as the exhibition, for it is at
once superficial to the eye and sound
TO the understanding, full of tnsel
sights and unmeanlng galety side by
side with the lovliest forms of art and
the most admirable results of industry
and of education. Such at least were
my thoughts as l came out of the
Palais de Congress after spending an
hour in the Social Economic section.
Outside were the aimless crowd, the
qilded domes and plaster decorations,
the amusements, the gossip and laugh.
ter. Inside you were in another at
mosphere--an atmosphere of know
ledge and utility and peace. Here
under some very attractive forms is
offered to you the most diverse in
formation of which one example will
suffice. The corner devoted to the
Russian Temperance movement is
charming in its simplicity, novelty, and
instructiveness. All about you are
diagrams showing the success of the
governments propaganda against
spirit-drinking in a 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 ques-
tons as you may care to put. But
the eye and the heart are even more
interestingly drawn by the model
"deblt de the"-tea-publichouse, if
one can say SO without paradox, than
by the amiable Russian. 1t is fitted up
exactly as it is seen in thousands Of
Russian villages. The shop, not un-
like the section of log hut, has at
one end short counter with hard
Lolled eggs, red colored, glass jars OF
sweets and preserves, and bottles of
kvaas, a non-alcoholic drink made
from barley with something of the
taste of cider; while behind the count
er is a sideboard containing cups and
tea.pots. AT the opposite end of the
shop is another counter with papers
and periodicals, and behind that, a
bookcase filed with books. The
middle of the shop is occupied by
tables where the tea or kvass is leis-
urely consumed, where village poll
tics are debated, or where game Of
draughts or dominoes is played by the
moulk customers. The rest of the
furniture is simple and characteristic
ally Russian, that is to say rude, with
dash Of orientalism; a noble brass
samovar filled with overlooking water
behind the counter at one end; brass
ever under a tap and a comb hanging
beside it from piece of string close
to the entrance; homely faced,
loudly ticking clock fixed to the wall
and the never-absent coloured prints
Of the Car and the Czarina. Guess
now how much cup, or cups, OF tea
taken under these humanlzing con-
ditions costs, less than two cents. The
price hangs on the WALL tiny meas
ure of tea, kopeck, two pieces OF
sugar, I kopeck, slice of lemon, I
kopeck; teapot OF boiling water, I
kopeck; and three kopecks are not
quite two cents. What vast organ
ization this state propaganda is may
be appreciated by the fact that though
FIVE years ago when it was started the
state paid $Ioo, 900 in subventlons, in
1899, with its influence penetrating
all over Russia, the State subvention
was $I,ooo,ooo and the propaganda
does more than establish these tea
publichouses. 1t gives thousands OF
concerts and conferences and enter
talnments. The effect is known to be
enormous, and what with Tolstoi's
writings, the Cars philantrophy, and
the propaganda, Russia IN a few de
cldes ought to have one of the most
civilized peasantries In the world.
Mention of the Cars philanthropy
reminds me of another conversation
had in the same building, but.now no
with Russian girl, but with Polisf
Prince and Princess. | was examin
ing the exhibit of the "Alllance Uni
verselle des Femmes Pour la Prix,
admiring the photographs of many de
voted woman workers, not few o
them American, when happened to
ask an elderly gentlemen, who seemed
to have something to do with The ex
hlbit, what Was the name of the lady
president whose handsome photograph
was looking at. "That", he sale
without the least ahectation, sis th'
Princess Wiszniewska, my wife.
you will allow me will introduce yol
"And sure enough as they say ii