Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-06-22
SAME OLD SHOW.
Paris Exposition is Like all the
Rest of Them.

UtHeTal IMPRESSIONS htttitpu-1H NJ
ted States Does not shine with Par
tieular Brilliancy Frenchmen Nat
ural Born Thieves.
PARIS, France, June II. 1901 see
in Paris paper this morning that
Senator Hale characterized the Paris
Exposition as abad performance !"
This was the opinion of Nj. Renon, of
all expositions; he despised them and
blamed women for them. Let any
one recall his own impressions OF the
Chicago Exposition. Nine out of ten
will first think .of the Midway Plat
sance attractions: a majority of visi-
tors will recall the tawdry insubstan-
tial architecture, the fireworks, the
Ferris wheel, and wilderness OF
show cases differing lettle from those
of the great stores in many cities of
the United States. Well, the Paris
Exposition is not substantially differ
ent from this. Its Midway Plaisance
| is not cramped it is scattered here 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 extravaganza, as NJ. Renon
might think, though he would say it
better. If all this is SO why do peo-
1 pie go to Eypositiensy Because Elk
| positions are tremendously advertised,
and because the human heart and
foot is always in pursuit OF sensation,
always seeking the will-0- the-wisp
novelty. Because the world loves TO
be humbugged great many times
| yowing after each deception it will
not be caught again, but every hungry
for the next thing. The Paris Expo
sition, like all the rest, is a mammoth
advertising scheme, and France has Of
course the hogs share Of the adyer-
Using and Paris will profit immensely
by the show. The part played by our
country here IL, IN comparison, far
from conspicuous. We appear 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
yies 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 clay out" of some firm or firms
that strive TO find or increase their
business on this side of the water.
But to the average tourist from rural
France, Germany aud Belgium who
make the bulk Of those who see the
Exposition and who know as little
about the United States as a horse
does Of astronomy, the impression is
that Belgium and Italy have more
taste and better things than the Uni
ted 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 the
even more obstructive miles OF rail
road under the peculiar French man
agement compete with France or 9th
er contiguous countries? The way to
get even with them will be to have
our next Exposition DIT Cape Nome.
| do not know anything about the
misuse of the appropriation of ST.
400, 600 made by the government for
this Exposition, as alleged in the
charges of Senator Jones. There has
doubtless been axtravagance and
errors of judgment in building, pur-
chasing, installing, and in the hum
dreds of incidents in which the num-
erous personnel OF the American com
mission employees and servants have
had to pay out money. Not one in
five of them can speak French or make
change in confines, francs and Lous
without getting cheated 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
robbers on the continent. A contract
/ for dinner is followed by an over
charge for the napkin and the plate.
| A ride in cab means invariably an
/ additional payment TO the driver.
/ Shopkeepers and officials in the rail-
ways seeing that you are American
and knowing your ignorance OF the
money and carelessness about little
things will not always return you your
/ full change. You must watch them
all the time. Their nonchalance
when detected is fine. Their faces
are too red to show blush. The
/ American Commission here is some
what luxuriously installed. They
have not denied themselves in fine
desks and chairs and carpets, aud
quite luxurious offices. Republican
simplicity is not very severe here.
1t may be good business" as we say
to let all the world know that we live
well when we are at home ia Paris