The Portland daily press., 1900-07-21
Motley Crowds at the
Great Exposition.
Things Which Amuse POrtl and
Visitors at the French Fair.


Paris, June 10
There is one thing we have found abso
lutely unattainaole in Paris, and that
is Sunday as understood by the average
New England woman. Here their YER
sion OF the fourth commandment appears
to be: Six days shalt thou seek pleasure,
and on the seventh pursue it frantically
by day and night. Nearly all great
'fetes" occur Sundays, and in order to
permit all classes to participate, the
"Grand Prix, the most famous of
French races, is always appointed for that
day. We were consoled for not going, by
being assured it was impossible to see
anything, unless in the most favored
position. Much has been told US concern
ing the d1scourtesy of the French towards
Americans, as we'll as English. Our ex-
perience has been totally the reverse, as
the following incident proves. We were
standing in the Bots, watching the in
Vulnerable throng of carriages on. their
way to the races, filed with men, women
and little children, resp lendent in ''pur-
pie and fine linen. We were obliged to
turn away our heads, dizzy and blinded
by the incessant passing, when some one
near us exclaimed, "They are making
way for the President Chairs were not
to be had the multitude filing thous-
ands We tiptoed, craned our necks, all
to no purpose. Then it was that French
politeness rose to the occasion. in the
person of a French woman and her escort.
Rising from their chairs, they not only
insisted upon our standing on them, but
assisted us to do so. The mounted guards
passed, then in an open victoria, hand
some, gray bearded and portly, President
Loubet, his wife beside him imposing in
black lace over white silk, with hat and
parasol to match, both bowling right and
left, grave and stately. With profuse
thanks we left our chance acquaintance,
reiterating with conviction: 1.-The most
polite nation on earth is the French"
After days of incessant sight seeing in
the Exposition and about Paris, the de-
Ightful change and rest of an afternoon
at ST. Cloud may be imagined. 1t was
compulsory. that from the seven days of
the week we should select some Saturday to
one, for the year round on Saturday af-
ternoons from two until six. ''tout lie
monde" if it pleases, can see a sight most
thoroughly French This is the day the
Partisan workman weds the blanchissense
Of his heart. For dozens of couples the
priest ties the nuptial knot in Paris, then
in cabs-or picnic wagons, if funds are
limited, off for ST. Cloud to spend the
honeymoon, which is condensed into the
afternoon, all the time that can be spared
from business. We have made the trim
by land and water, and give the prefer
ence decisiyely to the latter. Choose such
day as fell to our lot: overhead, tleecy
clouds floating in blue ether; leave all
care and trouble behind; for a few CEN
times board a Seine boat, glide by river
banks shaded by double rows of trees.
while in the near background the wooded
hills make charming landscapes. The
cry "Sevres, Sevres, brought us to
terra hrma, but not to the rush and
hurry of 1900. We were in a time long
passed as we walked slowly along the
shaded paths of the old forest, the sun
light Pickering through the trees, casting
faint shadows about us. Up, up the ter
raced garden, and before us in all its
marvel Of bridges and buildings, Paris,
the beautiful. tsThere they GOMEZ ex-
e, and looking down we saw the
bride, radiant in white satin, whose
lifted train disclosed snowy, 1ace-trimmed
skirts, the bridal veil profusely adorned
with orange blossoms, all as dainty as