Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-06
Does the Paris Exposition surpass
the Worlds Fairq
MRS. A. C. HARROW'S EXPERIENCE.
An Interesting Address Delivered in a
Bright, chatty Manner Before the
Members of the FortniehtIy Club at
a Recent Meeting.

Is Lne FdrlS EXPOSITION as great
and magnificent as the Worlds Fair at
Chicago?" is question that many peo-
pie have asked and have failed to re-
ceive a satisfactory answer. Among
the Ottumwa people who saw the
French effort is Mrs. A. G. Harrow, OF
this city. Recently, in bright, chatty
manner she told the members of the
Fortnightly club of what she saw leav-
ing them for the most part to draw
their own conclusions, which they
could very readily do after listening
to her address on the subject, which fol-
lows:
A Glimpse Of the Paris Exposition.
Many have asked how the Paris ex-
position compared with the Columbian
at Chicago. 1t cannot be answered in
word-those who claim that the
Paris fair does not compare fayorably
; with the Chicago exposition have in
mind, think, some special feature.
The impression left in the
minds of most of those who
were fortunate in E, visiting this
great fair, was that the buildings,
tho beautiful. were crowded, even clut-
tered, together, and taken as whole
the exterior was not so spacious nor
so splendid as our Columbian EXPOSE
ton. "The White City was not DIM
med and never will be-" We find, too,
that fifty-one nations were represent
ed at Paris, as against only twenty
eight at Chicago. So that the present
fair is more truly an International Ex-
position.
Our country is extremely gratified
hot Oh \, Co.. Z
more awards than any other country
outside of France. For instance, we
received 2,475 awards, Germany next,
1926; Great Britain, 1,727; and Russia,
1,493. The friendly relations existing
between France and the latter coun-
try, Russia, gave her a great advan-
tage over all other competitors.
1t is said that the careful work OF
Commissioner General Peck has re-
suited In placing this country in an en-
viable position in the eyes of the
world. And speaking of commission
er5 calls to my mind a funny thing
came across in the newspapers recent
ly. At banquet given to the commits
sioners, Peck, in an after dinner
speech, langhingly said that in the
history of his country there were only
two men who had refused to accept
the salaries that were due them. One
was Washington, and the other was
Commissioner Stern, Of Stern Broth
ers, New York, who absolutely would
not accept the $4,000 that was due
eech commissioner for his services
But as was to give you a glimpse of
the Paris Exposition let us make a Wis
it to this wonderful place. We leave
the hotel on bright, sunny morning
a. 8 o'clock, drive up the Champs
Elysee thronged with carriages. Pass
thru Place de la Concorde, this tragic
spot where Louis XVI and Marie An.
toinette were decapitated, and where
in the same year over 1000 persons
met their death at the guillotine. Long
before We are there the ticket vendors
climb upon the steps of our vehicle In
sisting that we purchase their tickets
OF admittance. But we wave them
aside and will get ours at the gate for
: less than franc. Shall we enter at
the grand entrance Port Monumen.
tale, where there are fifty-eight turn
stiles. enabling 900 persons to pass
thru per minute, and where perched on
the top of the great archway over the
gate is the gigantic statute of Paris
ian woman dressed in the latest fash
lon with opera cloak and hat? She
rises to the height of $50 feet from the
ground, greeting all nations. But no,
let us enter by the Champs Elysee
gate; stroll down the great avenue,
studying the architecture of the two
E@EM DT GAHAAN.