Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-20
Mr.. MANNING HOME.
United States Commissioner to
Paris Exposition Returns.
ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FAMILY.

Hon. Calvin Manning Talks Of the Big
Exposition and the American Exhib-
its There-The Corn kitchen-Had
Pleasant Return Voyage.
Hon. Calvin Manning, United States
commissioner to the Paris exposition,
returned home on Burlington No. 1
early this morning, and during the en-
tire day has been kept busy greeting
his home friends who are glad to well i
come him back to Ottumwa. Mr.Man-
ning's family, who accompanied him I
to Paris and on his trip abroad, also
returned. They made the return voy-
age on the steamer st. Louis, of the
American line and had very pleasant
trip. They were fortunate in missing |
the severe storm which swept the At |
lantic about the time they were cross |
ing, and instead of the horrors of a
storm at sea, they crossed when the
ocean was at the greatest calm. An
other pleasant feature of the return
voyage was that Sousa's band was
aboard the st. Louis. When the boat
entered the harbor at New York, the
banner presented to the band in Eu-
rope was unfurled and the band play
ed all the national airs. the entire pro-
ceeding making very touching scene. 4
I'VE were glad that we were per-
mitted to co. said Mr. Manning, "but
we were doubly glad to get
home. The fair proper closes
some time between October Is
or November /. The United
States commissioners have either all
returned home or else gone to places
of interest in other portions of Europe,
and will return to America soon. We
left Paris about July 1, at which time
the hot weather begins. We have Wis
tied numerous places of interest in
the old world, and have enjoyed the
trip immensely.
The Exposition and Attendance.
In speaking af the exposition Mr..
Manning said: "In the first place it's
completion was delayed sixty days and
the result was that when many Amer
! leans and visitors from other countries
went there they found things in a tur-
moil. The French people are slow and
do not push things as they do here in
America
Another thing that was detrimental
to the exposition was that it was To-
Gated in the center of Paris. 1t was
crowded and the location of the
grounds did not have that perspective
effect that was seen at the worlds
fair in Chicago After all, to those
who remained and saw the Paris ex-
position after 1T was completed, it
was an exposition of great merit. Am
orleans especially have cause to be
proud of the exhibits from this coun-
| try. There were American exhibits
in thirty-five different sections, which
represented $3.50 individual exhibit
ors. Their work has not been for
naught, either, as it is an assured fact
that this country will come out second
to France in the receipt of grand
prizes, medals and honorary mention.
There was no room for the exhibit
of Americas heaviest machinery,
which had to be taken to Vincennes,
seven miles away. The exhibit that
attracted the greatest attention on the
part of the Americans was the pub
| fishers building. Among the chief at
| fractions there was the great Goss
printing press on which was printed
| the Paris edition Of the Daily New
York Times. The great map of the city
| of New York and the models of the
monster sky-scrapers of Americas me-
| tropolis, were things that the foreign
/ ers were not used to and consequently
were among the principal features of
the exhibit from this country.
/ PERSONALLY / took the greatest in
terest in the corn kitchen. AS the
| name implies it was a place where
| the several varieties of food products
| from corn We're prepared, all of which
were served free to the people. In
France the people live on bread and
wine and know nothing whatever
1 about the excellent qualities of the sew
eral dishes that can be made from
American corn. The corn was ground
into meal in this country and then
shipped to France.
The American Pavilion.
'The American pavilion at the Paris
exposition has been greatly criticised
by the American press, and erroneous
ly, too, / think. The pavilion was a
handsome building, designed and
erected for reception building and
| not as a place for exhibits. 1t is
equipped with United States post
office, reception, reading and writing
rooms. 1t is building for public COM
fort and is used as a meeting place for
Americans.
| 1--WE had there what was termed the
American colony which was made UP
of commissioners and their families,
officers and directors of the American
sections of the exposition, and Ameri-
cans visiting in Paris and those who
reside there. Ambassador General
Porter and General Gowdy did every
| thing they could to make it pleasant
for us. Americans can be proud of
her officials abroad. All of them are
accomplished men of high rank and
standing both with their foreign asso-
ciates as we'll as with those whom
they meet from this country.
America Will be Satisfied.
Mr.. Manning said he had every
cause to believe that when the final
showing is made that America will