St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-08-15
EUROPEAN NOTES.
The Paris EXPEDITION as viewed by a
ST. JOhnsbury Visitor.
Regular Corresnonder


To the CALIFORNIAN
The year 1900 seems to possess
some peculiar magic or allurement
for Americans as prominently the
yearfor visiting Europe. Undoubtedly
the Passion Play and Paris EXPOSE
ton draw many additional tourists,
but aside from that, thousands seem
to regard the closing year of the CEN
fury as one to be used for a trip
abroad, so Europe is thronged with
Americans. One meets them at every
turn. That 10000 are reported to
be in Paris at present is but single
instance. But" said an omnibus
driver with whom l was chatting
chats not any too many. We like
Americans very much. They are
bon garcons, good deal like the
French" l expressed my approval
of his sentiments, especially the first
part. His feeling was indeed but the
expression of the prevalent friendly,
even cordial attitude of the French
toward the people of their sister re-
public.
Paris presents this summer a scene
of ceaseless activity. Streets and
avenues are crowded with hurrying
cabs, omnibuses, automobiles and
vehicles of every description, more
even than the principal streets OF
London. One is fairly amazed,
standing at some square, as the
Place de pOpera, or at the lower
end Of the Champ Elysees, to see the
thousands and thousands of vehicles
passing to and fro necessarily from
early morning until late at night.
The Exposition seems by contrast
to be sparsely attended, and indeed
tickets are selling at a heavy dis
count from the nominal price, so
that the managers are contemplating
some additional attractions to keep
the price from further decline. The
Exposition has been declared disap-
pointing by many visitors, and it is
easy to understand how this may be
if one looks for a Worlds Fair vas
ter in extent or in the exhibit OF
American products than our own
Chicago Fair. But as had not the
privilege of visiting Chicago in 1898,
cannot compare the two. Taken
on its own merits, the Paris Exposi-
ton of this year is certainly won der
full. One soon feels sense OF be-
wilderment at the vast number and
variety of exhibits of every conceiva'
BILE kind, especially in manufactures
and art works. The forestry and
horticultural displays are exceeding
ly meager, but those Of mining, ma
chimes, textile fabrics, agriculture
chemistry and science. jewelry, arts
tic decorations, sculpture, painting
and many others are truly wonder
full. The architecture of the build
ings is extremely beautiful and pleas
ing, and the view from the different
platforms of the Eiffel tower is en-
chanting.
1t is matter for justifiable pride
that aside from France, the United
States exhibits easily surpass boil
in quantity and merit those of any
other country. Some may explain
this away by assigning politica
reasons, but the evident cause il
simply the Astounding energy ant
progress of our own country. l
would be difficult to decide wha
class of exhibits are the finest, TO
probably tastes would influence tn
judgment. But among the fore
most displays stand easily those O
painting and sculpture, silk manufac
turing and machinery. The first in
cludes much of the finest work O
modern artists, and the wealth O
subjects ranging from the humorou
to the pathetic, earthly to the sub
lime, and comedy to tragedy, is in
finite. The prominence OF Frencl
silk manufactures, and especial,
those of Lyons is seen in that depart
ment. One is almost ready to be
lieve the work to be that OF magi
clans and not of human beings, ye
the work goes on before ones yer,
eyes, and the confession is wrunI
from us that man is after all tn
greatest of earthly magicians.
Certainly the Exposition is capabl
OF giving vast amount ofinstructiol
and in its lavishness and beauty, i
thing to be remembered with dc