West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-07-05
kNGWO0D PRESTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. THURSDAY JULY 1900
OUR PARIS LETTER.
The National Headquarters Of the
Various Countries at the Great
Exposition.
Always Scandal when there Is Govern.
ment Money 60 Spend.
From our spccia> Correspondent.

! from our Spccia\ Correspondents
PARIS FRANCE, June *, 1900.
There are ON the left bank of the Seine
aud facing directly the river. row Of de.
taehed buildings each one of which is n
national building and occupied as A sor, of
national headquarters by the nation that
Quit It, over each waved the nations aar
and in each walks two or three soldiers in
'ns uniform OF their country. These build.
'nsS OF foreign powers OF rs the French saw
II "Pavillons des puissances Etranreres" are
situated in the following order: Italy,
turkey United States, Austria. BOSNIA.
Hungary, Great Britain, Belgium. Norway.
Hermany, Spain, Monaco, Sweden, Greece,
SerV'a and MEXICO. Behind these, as il
were on a back alley, are Denmark. Por,u.
gal, Peru, Persia, Luxembourg, Finland IN
section OF RuSsio) Bulgaria aud Roumania.
have wondered why the L. s. Pavilion
was built. Ii appears TO be an empty niece
oil extravaganza having in it and without il
nothing that is characteristic or home.likc.
/, contains in one corner postoilice. but
TINS Is little used, and affords no facilities
that are not found in the French postofiee.
The building is quite eclpsed in size ana in
taste OF furnishings by some Of its pet,y
neighbors, as for example by that little
gambling hell of the Mediterranean, the
Principally of Monaco. Most of the build.
ings are crowded with the works of art and
other exhibits peculiar to their co intry, and
the space rented To exhibitors will doubtless
much more than pay for the building.
The United States building has but one
central group on pedestal about eigh, feet
high 1t is three life size Indian ponies of
plaster in terrible tangle of legs. heads,
neoks, and tails. asked an attendant
what Il meant lie said il represented
horses siampcdcd and on the brink of
preeipee, those behind pushing those in
front and those in front trying to pull them
selves back. The explanation was qaitc
necessary to the motive of the artist and the
three ponies. But why should this Omaha
sculptor with models of good Nebraska pillow
horses ever before his eyes strive to- express
himself ia something horrible and theatric
lmpressing the superficial foreiga observer,
represented by nine in ten of all who will
see IT, that the typical American horse is a
seraggy Indian pony with a chronic habit of
siampcdng over precipces.
The exhibits that interested me most in all
these buildings were those Of Norway and of
Spain. In the former, the place of honor is
given to a bust of the explorer Nansen;
very large model of his ship, Fran" two
OF the dogs that accompanied the expedition:
the reindeer skin bag in which he slept
when so near the north pole; his dog sled,
a small boat and some Of the prepared food
left over from the trip and sill in good state
Of preservation.
! In this pavilion we see also Gfe.size 6g
ures in wax representing the people of the
county in various costumes and i'm various
industries, stuffed seals, walruscs, and the
| preserved head Of whale down whose ca.
Pacious throat Jonah with proper presenta-
! ton might have travelled
Spain has remarkably fine Gobelins
worked with historic scenes entirely covering
the sides Of the ample rooms Of her pavilion;
but the mos, interesting relic is the coat.
or tunic Of Boabdil the last King Of the
/ Moors, with two Of his swords and two drks.
These are shown in glass case in the cen.
ire Of an otherwise empty room, and pro.
claim with haughtiness that is pathetic in
/ view Of recent history the vanished greatness
OF country that once aud forever saved
Europe and Christendom, from Mohamme-
danism. Proud Spain Poor Spain The
iunic which is Of crimson figured velvet Is
timc-worn, but after four hundred years an.
pears 20 hold together as well as Washing.
tons clothes in our National Museum. The
swords are finely wrought straight.bladed
weapons with but little guard to their hil,s.
The scabbards are-of metal, heavy, richly
ornamenied, and Of fine workmanship.
Il seems to be impossible with the United
states government to make an appropriation
without promoting junket. Let il be the
funeral Of = member Of Congress or an In
teuational Exhibition motto is, have
good time, put money in your pocket.
Uncle Sam is rich. There is scandal in the
air here, and an has not been told for those
who know most arc connected with the TX
position IN a subordinate capacity and arc
afraid to speak out. I do not think any
transportation Of funds will be traced
directly TO Commissioner General Peck. but
there has been msmanagemcnt, glazing
| neglect Of duty. indifference to interests Of
country and 10 United States exhibitors.
iayoriusm, and probable sale Of space and
privileges. the proceeds Of which have not
gone into the United States Treasury The
Commissioner who has bis family with him.
is much absorbed in social functions. The
United States guards, whose duty tits TO
I guard The T.. S. exhibits are detailed for
| parade Of these functions, were so detailed
on fcie day when nearly half million Of
Y people were in the exhibition enclosure. thus
imperiling the safety Of many valuable and
! exposed exhibits. There are complaints
7 heard everywhere and the feeling IS de.
/ cidcdiy mutinous. The Cen.
cral has besides appointing members Of his
family. been compelled Co appoint many
relatives Of people Of influence in Washing
tom. some of these have big salaries and do
nothing iis The same Old story-civn
service ignofcd-favoritsm- ncpotsm. There
viii be an investigation add then We will 90
aod DO it again--in Cuba, IN the Philippines.
at homc,whcrevef there is an appropriation.