Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-06-21
SAINT YarlTS Beacon.
EXPOSITION LETTER.

| have been in Paris but two days
after q seven days tossing on the
Atlantic and have had time only
for glance ct the Exposition.
This glance has impressed me with
nothing so much as its utter un-
preparedness. Masonry, carpentry,
painting, digging, carting. sweep
ing, busting, sprinkling everywhere,
with only here and there an exhibit
complete and ready for business.
The shops, restaurants and midway
plaisance-like shows are of course
ready and are doing more or less
thriving business, and the same old
features of Frenchmen, Dutchmen,
Englishmen and Yankees masque-
rading in Oriental garb and selling
useless oriental GIN cracks for twice
the amount they can be had for in
any city of the United States, are
very prominent.
The Exposition is doubtless, as
the late Mr.. Barnum would say, "a
monstrous aggregation" etc. 1t
will, when completed, surpass all
previous expositions in bigness and
richness and will be an admirable
epitome of the past century's trans
cendent progress. Why should 1t
not excel all others The world,
at least in material things, is NOV
ing fast, and what was evolution
made for, if each succeeding expo.
sition shall not out do its predeces-
sor?
Moreover Paris, and regret to
say it, seems to be but a poor fourth
in the export trade of the world,
with England, our own country and
Germany ahead Of her, But she
gets back at us every ten years or
so by making a great exposition
and, with the prestige Of her only
Paris levying tribute on all the
wealth Of the world. The amount
Of money we spend in Paris in one
way and another is regrotable.
Hundreds Of rich American families
live here in winter and in the south
Of France during the summer. So
far as know the only advantage
gained is in better household ser
vice. Servants in France are doub-
less more efficient, intelligent and
cheaper than in the United States.
But in every other comfort Of liy.
ing we surpass the French. At
least this is my impression after a
fourth visit to Paris and residence
Off and on Of several months.
The reports that have been so OK
tensively spread about the crowded
condition of the city, and the high
cost of living, are misleading. ]
do not find the prices at hotels or
Pensions (boarding houso) much
higher than usual, They are |
think a little lower than at the Ex-
position of 1878. Anyone accord
ing to his taste, purse and endur-
ance, can get board and lodging
from one dollar up. am lodged
at No As Rae de Clichy, about two
miles from the Exposition, IN .
Pension with steam heat, elevator
and electric lights, at cost Of 10
francs (s3.00) per day. The same
accommodations would cost as much
in most American cities. Before
selected this place inquired the
rates and looked at rooms in many
other localities. Some we're higher,
some lower, and speak from per-
sonal observation when | say there
Is abundant room here and at rea-
sonable rates.
To say that the Americans here
directly in charge of American Ex-
hibits are angry is to draw it mild.
In spite of the utmost effort they
cannot get the French authorities
to complete the buildings for their
exhibits. There are lime, dust,
mortar and rubbish everywhere, and
only two or three French workmen
whore there should be twenty.
Meanwhile the French authorities
are urging the Americans to open
up their displays. The Americans
say "No, not until these buildings
are completed and cleaned. We
will not subject our fine wares and