Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-20
IMPRESSIONS
Of France and the French nv
An Augusta Man.
The Journal Enjoys a Chat With Hon.
}. N. Haynes.
The Esposilion-Superiorlty OF Our Exhibits
French FeeIing-The Peasaniry.

busy with public affairs ana large
business interests as to prevent him
from travelling extensively in all parts
of the world, ana his cultured mind
has stored up his experiences and i'm
pressions in remarkable manner
Always courteous and obliging he was
quite ready to talk with the Journal
man. though protesting that he had
nothing 10 say of his recent trip which
| would be new or of special interest to
the public.
| Yes he began in answer to Dues
lions. II had very delightful trip.
spending four weeks in Paris at the
exposition. and then making Two
weeks tour OF the chateau lands, a
most delightful section of France. ]
visited the cities of Orleans. Blois.
| Tours, Anglers and Nantes. in Brittany.
| all on the river Loire; thence north
| ward to Dol, Kennes. Coutences,
| Avranches, ana Cherbourg where |
took the steamer for home Among
the famous old chateauX which | visit
ed We're those Of Blois. Amboise.
thc"AunCr2uX, Chevernay. Bcauregard
aIu Chamhord, all historically cele-
hratcd and of much interest.
That is a beautiful part Of France,
with great vineyards and highly Gull
tivated fields.
Tho exposition itself, | enjoyed very
much. No, it is not the equal Of the
Chicago exposition OF 1898. That ques-
ton is the first asked and it is easily
answered. The chief reason is because
Paris has not the room for such an cx-
position. 1t lies in the heart Of the
city, beginning at the Place de la Con-
corde and extending several miles on
both banks of the Seine Ii Nincennes.
The buildings along the banks of the
river are fine, picturesque ana impress
sive. The gr1ndest and most beautiful
spot is at the new bridge III Alexander
III, near where the old PaIais de
TIndustric stood in which were held
the famous Scion exhibitions The new
bridge is a remarkable work Of art,
and where the old Palais stood are TWO
new ones. beautiful structures built in
classic style ana devoted to exhibitions
Of sculpture, painting and the arts in
general. There is Il gallery devoted to
the works Of each nation The Amer
lean exhibition is a good one. on Of
the best.
AT the other end Of the bridge is an
esplanade which was cut through to
the lnvalides where is the tomb of
Napolean. This is a beautiful avenue
This section If the exposition
is grand. ana could not be i'm
proved upon. Beyond the bridge lies
the street Of nations where are located
the buildings Of the various govern
ments of the world. The United States
building has prominent place ana ex-
ternally is imposing and pleasing, but
on the interior it il uninteresting. chill
ing. barren and unfinished The
American exhibits are not here. |
heard il remarked by French people
that the portrait Of President McKin-
ley bore q resemblance to Napoleon I.
The view from the bridge Of Alex
ander is superb including as it does thu
esplanade the street of nations and
the section representing ola Paris Be
hind the buildings along the shores of
the Seine the streets through tn"
grounds are narrow and gloomy and
oVershadOwel by elevated electric rail
ways. There are two moving side
walks through the grounds. running
side by side and moving in the SANE
direction, bur one goes fast and the
other slowly, express and local as 1t
We're.
The American exhibits are good. eX-
tremcly good and unsurpassed hy any
at the exhibition. They made me
proudcr than ever UT my country,
Particularly in all the mechanic arts
is American superiority shown. 1t
must prove 2 great advertisement for
he American manufacturers. l was
indeed gratifcd by the surprising eX-
celIcnce Of III" American exhibit. It
was interesting to note the great
strides mad, since the Paris exposition
Of 1873 which | visited. This great inn
provcment was noticeable in the cX-
hibits Of all nations"
Are there large crowds of Ameri-
cans at the expasition?"
YES. there are many Americans, but
not az many as I expected to find. n
fact, | understand that the exposition
attendance is not what it VAS expected
to be. There is NJ trouble in getting
good Accommodate in Paris. | sup
pose the war in s nth Africa has kept
| the attention of the English occupied
at home But worlds fairs are not 50
popular as in former times. They do
rot mean 50 much, for now people
travel much more and see the foreign
exhibits in their natural setting. which
| is much more satisfactory. outside lf
the fine arts and textile manufactures,
one can enjoy 4 better exhibition in
this country than the Paris exposition
affords"
| What is the feeling toward Amer
lean VisitOrs?'
Very cordial. The French are al
ways courteous and seem to have the
most friendly feelings toward us. There
IL certainly a much better feeling in
Paris toward Americans than toward
Englishmen. and l was frequently It'd
To explain that was an American, nOJ
an Enslishman. if | wanted the best
treatment or a special favor. No,
do not think that there is any trace of
feeling on account OF our popular sem
timent for Dreyfus. | hardly heard
the Dreyfus case mentioned. 1t is GER
tain. however. that they do not like
America quite 50 wellas before the war
with Spain. ] think this is true all
over continental Europe What they
dreaded most in that war was that the
United States would discover its own
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