Amador ledger., 1900-07-06
OUR PARIS LETTER.
Our Correspondent Gives Some Interest
ing Facts About the Exposition.
From nur RaguIor r-orras,o,da,.
- -O- Ou- i'05 uISt correspondence
PARIS, France, June II, 1900.


that Senator Hale characterized the
Paris Exposition as a "bad perform
ance." This was the opinion of NJ.
Renan, of all expositions; he despised
them and blamed women for them.
Let anyone recall his own Impressions
OF the Chicago Exposition. Nine out
of ten will first think of the Midway
Plaisance attractions; majority of
visitors will recall the tawdry insub-
stantial architecture, the fireworks,
the Ferris wheel, and a wilderness of
showcases differing little from those of
the great stores in many cities of the
United States. Well, tho Paris Ex-
position is not substantially different
from this. Its Midway Plaisance is not
cramped, it is scattered hers and there
in different parts. There is a great
display of architecture that will be torn
down. There is a Ferris wheel and
the Eiffel tower There is the same
bewildering array of show windows
with their seductive display of frocks,
furniture, jewelry, hats, bric-a- brac,
all arranged to tempt the modern Eve
and swell the tide of luxury and ex-
travagance, as NJ. Renan might think,
though he would say it better. If all
this is so why do people go to Exposi-
tions? Because Expositions are tre-
mendously advertised, and because the
human heart and foot is always in pur-
suit OF sensation: always seeking the
will-o-the-wisp novelty. Because the
world loves to be humbugged a great
many times, vowing after each decep.
tion it will not be caught again, but
ever hungry for the next thing. The
Paris Exposition, like all the rest, is
mammoth advertising scheme, and
France has of course the hogs share of
the advertising and Paris will profit
immensely by the show. The part
played by our country here is, in COM
parison, far from conspicuous. We ap-
pear only here and there by an exhibit
marked by an American flag and there
is nearly always adjoining US or across
the aisle from us an exhibit of the same
class by another country, it may be
Italy, Hungary, or Belgium that vies
with us or eclipses us in richness and
taste and extent of display. OF course
this means nothing to those who think,
or know that the United States exhibit
is nothing more than the Layout" of
some firm or firms that strive to find
or increase their business on this side
of the water. But to the average tour.
ist from rural France, Germany, and
Belgium who make the bulk of those
who see the Exposition and who know
as little about the United States as
horse does of astronomy, the impress
sion is that Belgium and Italy have
more taste and better things than the
United States, and that France has
everything. These International Ex-
positions are much like the hospitali-
ties of the Fox and the Stork. How
can our country, considering the three
thousand miles of sea and even more
obstructive miles of railroad under the
peculiar French management compete
with France or other contiguous count
ries? The way to get even with them
will be to have our next Exposition al.
Cape Nome.
[ do not know anything about the
misuse of the appropriation of 81, 4O0,-
600 made by the government for this
as alleged in tho charges
of Senator Jones. There has doubtless
been extravaganza and errors of judg-
ment in building, purchasing, installing
and in the hundreds of incidents in
which the numerous personnel of the
American commission employees and
have had to pay out money.
Not one in five of them can speak
French or make change in centimes,
francs and Louis without getting cheat
ed or at least running the risk
Anyone who has Travelled in Europe
knows that the French are the great
est, most skillful and most mobile rob-
bers on the continent. a contract for
a dinner is followed by an overcharge
for the napkin and the plate. A ride
in cab means invariably an additional
payment to the driver. Shop-keepers
and officials in the railways seeing that
you are American and knowing your
ignorance of the money and carlessness
about little things will not always re-
turn you your full change. You must
watch then all the time. Their nom
chalance when detected IS fine. Their
faces are too red to show blush.
The American commission here is
luxuriously installed. They
have not denied themselves in fine
desks and chairs and carpets, and quite
luxurious Offices. Republican SIM
plicity" is not very severe here. Ii
may be good business" as we say, to
let all the world know that we live well
when we are at home in Paris. On the
other hand it may be that the whole
official entourage is here on
a junket.
EEIMINhi