Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-14
AMERICANS IN PARIS
What Our Government is Doing for
Their Comfort
10 OTHER COUNTRY DOES rs MUCH
The Big Pavilion is Really for the
Use of the People.
No OTHER COUNTRY DOES as MUCH
EOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS


derng how soon they would set the smok-
Ing room carpet down the plaintive high
notes of an American business man in ex-
post llation came waited on the religious
silence of the white-walled rotunda.
And you call this American post Of
fice?" he saying. Then why can't l
buy a money order?''
l.. =. Moore of Philadelphia the svr1pa-
thetic postmaster in charge explained gent
ly that it was really an American branch
post office. the first and only one ever es-
tabished abroad. but tina; not beng set
down as such in the books. the postiuasters
of the United States would have no authori-
ty to draw money orders on it. As for is
suing money orders. such a one sided act
would have its difficulties also: but he could
rent him a lockbox. One side of the
tunda of the American pavilion is taken
up by this c2quettish little American post
office. Its lociboXeS have smart. Ancri-
can look. Renting ct only twenty five cents
a month, they are within the reac.i of all.
and the kicker. compromising of
them. walked off. mumbling to himself the
letters of his combination.
Now, that man is example, unused
Postmaster Moore. Here our government
is the only one that has had the enterprise
to set up post Office for the acco,nmods-
ton of its citizens Americans can address
their mail to The United States Pavilion,
Exposition of 1907 in perfect assurance
that it will be kept till called for. We have
lockboXes. call-bcXeS. general delivery. a
registered letter department and mail bags
that the French government PERMITS to
come through unopened. Yet the man
kicks because l canhot issue him a money
order
Would BE InEratitude.
If the kicker and his kick are to lie typi-
cal the European nations Will have set be-
fore them an object lesson of the ingrati-
md of n
Coolidge, the architect, remarked:
There is no chance for an American to go
wrong al the exposition of 1000" TIE
American who loses himself in spite of all
the precautions that have been taken for
his safety and convenience will have to be
a pretty ingenious blunia-er
Now, look at this admirable pavilion"
said this architect. referring modestly to
ITS admirable uses. not its admirable de-
sign and decoration. What use do you
think the English have made of their ma
uonal pavilion? They have filed 1t with
oil paintlnss-a picture show. with never
writing desk or an inquiry window, The
American pavilion is given I'D entirely to
the uses of visiting Americans This large
room in which We sit is the mems smoking
and conversation room. The one lust like
II across the rotunda is the women's par
Tor. They are just the thing for appoint
mentS. You have seen the post office.
There are. besides. two American elevators
whose speed will make Europeans hold
iISit Nil'-I lltN venture III Inenl- TN the
second floor are three parlors. furnished by
the states of New York. California and
Massachusetts Except for desk and
register book in each of them for the spe
cial registration of their citizens these
state parlors are open equally to all Ameri
cans.
But how did New York. California and
Massachusetts happen to be granted such
privileges" | asked.
There is no mystery said the archi-
tect- They paid for the furnishing of the
rooms That is all. I have not heard that
there was any scramble for the privilege.
There no exhibits in these three state
parlors though California has gone to the
length of setting up still another state
room. or apartment, down on the Place de
rOpera If you go there they may open a
cold bottle of California fiZz for you
Rooms for the Conn issioners.
The third floor of the pavilion is given up
TO the reception rooms and private offices
of the commissioners-in-chief and the
eighteen national commissioners.
While Mr.. Coolidge did not tell me this,
1 take it ON myself to praise the self-abne-
CATION of the American commissioners in
the matter of the national pavilion, scarce
ly reServing. they do, more than the
right now and then to give private dinners
and receptions in it. This they will do;
and their guests will have pleasant time
during the few hours that the public Is ex-
cluded. From the basement floor an Amer
lean restaurant concession will supply
them with refreshments. With this excep-
ton the pavilion is entirely for the public
in strong contrast with the aristocratic
pretensions of the British commission.
They have put in a picture show, 1t is true;
but they arrogate right TO use the Brit
ish national pavilion for their own social
purposes and those of their embassy For
the inaugural ceremonies of the exhibition
Col. Jeykell refused to give out a single in
yitation to the Paris British chamber of
commerce. Other countries, other methods!
American Chamber of Commerce.
On the fourth floor of our national pa
vi!ion. in strong contrast to this British
slap at trade" that now well-grown in
FAINT institution. the American chamber of
commerce Of Paris. sits enthroned with
pomp and circumstance. AS the chamber is
made. up of well-to-do business men. giving
their time and trouble for nothing. it is no
puffery to praise it. Exhibitors anxious to
make European connections. visiting bust
ness men curious about continental meth
DDS are invited to its rooms in the Ameri-
can pavilion As we stepped out of the
swift American elevator We met Henry
Peartree. Its president, sporting with evil
dent satisfaction the red ribbon of the
Legion OF Honor. just given to him by the
French government in recognition of the
chambers usefulness to France
What use can the chamber be to Ameri-
cans2' | asked him
THE American chamber of commerce of
Paris" answered Mr. Peartree. lis con-
stituted body known to the French author
tiles Ii is not an Individual. Should you
/ wish to expostulate with the minister of
commerce, for example. about d particular
tariff rating, being only individuals.
might not easily be received. The chamber
of commerce is permanent body. recog-
niZed as a proper channel of communica-
ton American business men have been
fined in Paris for ignorant breaches OF regu-
lations We have had the fines remitted
American exporters have been overcharged
by the customs. We have procured them a
more favorable rating. We give information
about customs. freights. packing goods.
conducting agencies. auditing accounts, ex-
tending credit. and so on.
And are you going TO have an tnforma-
ton bureau In the American pavilion? l
asked.
To Increase Our Trade.
"Exactly- II will be a pity il American
goods do not find a great European outlet
through this exhibition. There are Ger
many and Belgium. ready TO pick up every
thing going l could you hundred
cases in which their manufacturers initiate
American products, from moving machines
and reviewers to alarm clocks and patent
sweepers. All the other countries have their
chambers of commerce in Paris. the Euro
pean center. 1t is high time for Americans
to learn the value OF European connec-