Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-19

or cheap dwellings, or deaf mutes. or wo-
mems rights. or peace, If you desire to keep
within Your depth. These great subjects
are oceans in which a child may swim or an
elephant may drown. Or, if you want to
put on style, join the ornithologists. or the
economists or the dermatologistS. More
than 200 of these congresses will be held
during the exhibition. Few of them are ex-
elusive. To some the initiation member
ship fee is as cheap as 60 cents. while none
exceed So.
A Cooperative Palace.
The Congress Palace itself has one curl
Gus distinction. 1t was planned, built. deco
rated and furnished entirely on co-opera-
tive principles. Not a nail was driven by
the order of capital. Workingmen's syndi-
cates-of masons, carpenters, plasterers,
and so on-hid for the contracts and CO.
operated in their completion. 1t is true
that, in their inexperience, they forgot all
about the exterior decoration of the palace,
so that there were only bare white walls
when it rose perfect from the waters of the
Seine The little slip, however, was soon
remeded They found a lot of plaster
wreaths and festoons that were not work
ing, and engaged an artist to design some
categorical reliefs. They clapped them to
the different facades erected pyramidal
f1agstands on the roofs four corners, and
the trick was done.
Snobisme apart, there are reasons why
Americans may find relief and comfort in
and around the Palais des Congress. Snob-
isme in the modern Paris jargon, refers to
that hunger and thirst after correctness
in learning literature, art and living,
which, in it's eagerneSs to get there,
adopts and proclaims principles even be-
fore perfectly understanding them. 1t is
hard to imagine a Photographic snob, but
there are certainly hygienic snobs. The
Britisher who after an hours acquaintance
brags to you about his manning bawth may
be suspected of Snobisme. While 1t goes
pI,er of hHyvN-
notism, women's work, anti-slavery. social
science and the history OF religions will
find in the Palais des Congress precious IA
cilities for the blowing of their little horns.
there will still be room left for honest folk
with sincere hobbies.
All Sorts of Conveniences.
Even the ordinary visitor. without the
shadow of a special subject. may find it
advantageous to hang round neighbor-
hood so unusually frequented by his fell
low citizens and endowed with all sorts Of
conveniences. The Paris International As
scmbly (Ecole Internationale de PExposi-
toni. president, NJ. Leon Bourgeois; vice
presidents, the Rt Hon. James Brice, MP,
and Sir Archibald Geike. F. r. s., and sec
retaries. Prof Patrick Geddes and T. R.
MARI a British institution with an Amer-
can connection, mere mas ltS SeHu-oilcidi
seat.
Eat Paris during the great worlds fair
(Which promises to be IN occasion not only
of pleasurable sightseeing, but also by its
international congresses, of international
communing in search of TRUTH the closing
year of the nineteenth century may wit
ness the first select Witenagemote Of the
science of the world" as Sir Michael Fos-
ter SO elegantly puts it. The object of the
International assembly is to bring select
Witenagemote membership within the reach
OF the humblest.
incidentally 1t furnishes all kinds Of in
formation. 1t promotes learned excursions
to the worthier sights of Paris and en-
virons. 1t provides lectures. 1t organizes
Intelligent visits to particular sections.
Has a New York ONCE.
Its American vice presidents. the United
States Commissioner Of Education William
T. Harris, LID. and Professor Robert
Simpson Woodward Of Columbia University.
with the American secretary, Robert Frs
kline Ely. who has been SO active In the
cooperative movement have organized an
Office in New York. Timid people, without
heads for organizing travel. unaccompanied
DANES and damsels DESTROYS Of a semi-of-
fetal chaperonage. young college men whose
parents or protectors would have for them
a kind OF corporate guide. philosopher
and friend, and the whole army of hobby
riders may find precious resources in the
assembly. OF course. the Sc
world must not degenerate into an inter-
national kindergarten but between that
and the high-fenced, jealous learned society
of tho past there Is all the
progress Of triumphant democracy.
The Congress Palace stretches along the
Seine, on the north bank. opposite the
Street Of Nations Its low. stone-paved