St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-07-11
PARIS LETTER.


1eSlCIudJ Wd Ouuuoyj
day of the Graut Prix or the great
horse race at Iongchamps, about
four miles from be city. Why is it
that in all CatDlic countries, Sun
day is selected fG sports and amuse-
ments? In Span, bull fights; IN
Italy, picnics md excursions; IN
France, automobile, bicycle and
horse races. l did not 60 to the
Grand Prix. ! saw it twenty-five
years ago, with the then President
of France, Marshall McMahon, on
the grand sta1d with the Shah of
Persia and tn, ex.King of Spain
Amodeus as gusts of honor. Once
is often enough % see a Grand Prix
or to 60 stunning. 1t may be
necessary to know and understand
some things but t is not necessary
to wallow in then. | remember Just
how it looked; with its immense
throng of people i, carriages, drags,
four-in-hands and cabs; thousands
on foot; CANDLES and demi-mon-
defines, the fast setfrom France, Eng
land and America. The demi.monde
is always conspicuous in fine car
riages or on tally lo.coaches, wear
ing for the first time the Partisan
gowns and hats of the season,
which will in an incredibly short
time be initiated IN every nook of
our own country yes, much sooner
than in any other country on the
planet, Tis pity, It's true. Renan
was perhaps right in his hatred of
expositions and in blaming women
for them.
There are many kinds dispositions.
Yesterday, President Loubet and his
guest of honor King Oscar (Berna-
dotte) of Sweden went to the races
in separate ,drags, each drawn by
four horses and eachleft horse ridden
by a jockey orpostillion. The drags
were accompanied by platoons Of
dragons. Republican simplicity
has not penetrated France. The
manners, the forms, the state eti-
quette are all of the empire or pre-
vious monarchy, which has passed
only in name. Names are more
easily changed than conditions root
ed in centuries. But France is no
doubt more prosperous and freer
from war and from the Catholic
church than during the days of the
last empire.
The exposition buildings during
the week, when there is an average
of 10000 visitors, are quite well
cn1 and %, C.-odaws, when +ho-A
are nearly half-million, it is uncom-
fortably crowded. But now 5000
cabmen have struck, and thousands
who depend on cabs will not be able
to reach the grounds. The omni-
buses, cabs, street cars and Seine
river boats were, even before the
strike, VIGOROUSLY inadequate.
After waiting for twenty minutes on
several occasions to get cab or a
seat in an omnibus, have changed
my lodgings aud now have a room
within half a square of one of the en-
frances, and am independent of all
kinds of transportation.
In spite of military reverses, the
South African Republic day before
yesterday inaugurated its building
in the Trocadero Gardens. The ex-
position is composed of three parts;
the official pavilion, the Boer house,
and a mining plant. The official
pavilion is OF the Dutch or Flemish
style of architecture, with columns
in white and gold and bright interior
decorations. At the entrance is seen
a bust Of President Kruger, upon
which large tri.coor boquet has
been placed with card bearing the
words Homage of band of pa
triotic Partisan worlingmen." The
pavilion contains a number of OBJ
jects Of sinister suggestion and men,
DRY. One is a big clumsy cannon,
now very rusty, which Boer foun-
dry man made in 1880 and which
contributed to the Eoer victory at
Majuba Hill. Then there is library
with text books, etc, showing the
public school system plan of the
johannesburg mines, photographs Of
the country and a model of the old
time Boer wagon. The house is an
exact reproduction Of native build
ings with its four rooms; two bed
rooms, kitchen and a kind of par
lor or sitting room. The floors are