Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-11-29

Johnsbury Vt) Caledonian, while the
Paris exposition was still in pro
gress, was brilliantly launched four
years ago when the car Of Rus
STA, with his amiable spouse, assisted
in laying the foundation stone of the
most beautiful bridge, which today
spans the Seine, "the bridge Alexan
der Ill" Those Russian fetes in
France, commencing with! the landing
of the royal guests at Cherbourg and
ending with their departure for Ger
many after the review of Chalons,
none who witnessed will ever forget.
Paris was wild with hysterical joy
over the visit of the emperor, from
whom France was expecting such po-
litical advantage, and she honOred
him with professions by day and il
Nominations by night.
Completed, this exposition surpasses
anything this century has seen. For
a mile on both sides of the Seine, on
the Champs de Mars" on the grounds
fronting the "Trocadero," and from
the Bridge Alexander Ill" to the
Hotel des Invalides," have sprung up
since that October day in 1896, the
buildings which shelter the treasures
OF the world. From windows
we look out on forest of
spires and a bewildering diversity of
fairy-like architecture, and in the
center towering over all to the height
of thousand feet is the Eiffel tower,
while the "Trocadero palace" crown
ing the heights of Passy on the north
side of the Seine, commands the
whole exposition grounds. The build
ings alone cover ia acres exclusive
of the buildings and grounds at the
'Vincennes Annex" nearly 800 acres
more. There are nearly SO entrances
to the grounds and several railways,
lines of steamers, and 40 lines of
buses and tram cars deposit their
passengers close to the entrance
gates. In this exposition the states
contributing do not mass their ex-
hibits separately, but the various arts
and manufactures are grouped to-
Sether, and visitors can thus more
easily compare the progress different
nations have made. The number of
groups is Is and these are subdivided
into classes, 121 in all.
To give you some idea of the time
required and the mileage necessary to
examine carefully this great museum
on the Seine, please keep in mind
that the huge buildings on the right
and left of the palace of electricity on
the Champs de Mars are each over
1000 feet long by 40 feet wide and
contain IS rows of exhibits. We have
made 16 visits to the grounds and
buildings, leaving the hotel at 10 a.
m, giving one hour each day to our
lunch, one day at the Russian, another
day at the Rumanian, another day at
the Servian, another at the Siamese,
another at the Swiss restaurant and
on each day introducing us to the
different menus, different styles of
cooking, with walters in their national
costumes to serve us, and with their
own country's music to amuse us
With the exception of this hours rest
We have made it our business to learn
and to see all we could during these
days. At every turn we have been de-
lighted and almost bewildered by the
embarrassment of riches" around us,
and after all these days there are
acres of floors left for us to explore
and miles of exhibits we have not
seen. The annex of Vincennes we
have not visited, and here are 800
acres dedicated to exhibits of bal
looms, motor-Cars,, agricultural ma
chinery, locomotives, cottages for
Workmen, etc.
If any friend who had only limit
me for program for the first day, |
should advise him to make study
of the grounds and buildings, paying
no attention whatever to a study of
the exhibits within. 1t will add great
iy to the pleasures of memory to carry
away correct Impressions of the loca-
ton Of the buildings and to under
stand the general plan which has been
pursued by the engineers and archi-
tects who have worked out so sue
cessfully the home for this marvellous
Industrial exposition. AS first i'm
prcssions are apt to be lasting, let
the first thought, then, be to fix In
mind the outside features, for the
days within the buildings will be
much more pleasantly and profitabIy
spent if you know where you are when
you are making your rounds. Let
me suggest that first days walk II
is the walk l didn't make, but should
have made in the light of present
experience.
Crossing the garden of the Tuile
ries and the Place de la Concorde, we
will enter the grounds of the expo
sition by the grand. called officially
the Monumental entrance on the north
side of the Seine. Placed almost in &
triangle are three arches crowned by
cupola 120 feet in hight, and or
either side of the archway are grace
full minarets of the same hight Or
the center of the front arch is the
PROV OF the vessel, which you see or
the arms of the city Of Paris. 81
swims, but never Sinks" so the
motto says. The Gallo cock i.
perched on the Prov. High above
stands a statue of Paris wolcomin.
her guests. This colossal figure. q
feet high, has no nythologfcal mys
terry about its costume, but is that q
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Parisienne O
the 18th century. In this space unde
the dome there is room for 1000 pec