The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-07-04
LETTER FROM PARIS.


The following extracts are taken from
letter from Miss Lille A. Williams,
written to relatives in this city.
PARIS, June II, 1900.
In the morning We started out to
find our way to the Exposition. We
took bus down to the Place de la
Concorde and entered by what is
called the Porte Monumental, "A huge
and hideous thing, consisting of
series of recessed arches, covered
with gingerbread work and painted
chiefly in strong blues and green's.
On the top is huge colored statue,
little spires and what not galore.
One cannot buy tickets at the gate
hut must get them from hawkers who
are all along the sidewalk and who
ask what they please. The price of
entrance varies from one ticket to six
according to the time. Once inside,
We walked along the Seine till we
reached the Alexander III bridge, y
permanent structure and very grand.
Tall pillars, surmonnted by gilt groups,
guard either end.
The finest structures are at the ends
of this bridge On one side the Art
Palaces and on the other the Esplan-
ade DIES Invahdes, the buildings de
voted to furniture, china, interior
decorations. jewellery, etc. One
building contains French exhibits
and another and larger, those of other
nations.
As has been frequently said. the
general effect falls far short of Chi
eago, but the individual buildings, at
least those of which speak, are arch
itecturally more beautiful, The staff
is yet brilliantly white, the groups of
statuary are lovely and outside fres
Going is very literally used. The
whole side of building will have
frieze of freseos of heroic size nearly
always on n Pompeian red background.
The grounds and binding are, SO far
as | have seen them, in perfect order.
We devoted ourselves first to the
buildings on the Esplanade. Here. at
least, il is France first and the rest
nowhere Such lovely furniture,
TAPESTRY. china, lewelry and in such
quantities, that IT is hewllderng.
Germany makes the next best show.
The United States has as much space
as most countries, in which Tiffany,
the Gorham Co. aud Rookwood pot
terry, make II good display, but our
people do not understand that for an
occasion like this, great big SNOWY
things are needed to catch the eye
and attract attention to the ehoieer
wares. The Swiss watches and enam-
els were profnse in quantity and very
beautiful.
We next mounted to what they call
the movable h0tt0ir, like the mov-
able platform at Chicago. We we're
told that il was an excellent way to
get the general effect, but we did not
iuh ~ W. III We 'dN OhlN Aht iuthf "a
the buildings, which were plain, if not
shabby. while of the grounds We saw
almost nothing. As the motion of
the thing painfully suggested sea
sickness. | shall in the future stick to
solid earth. Descending, we made
our way to the Petit Palace Of Art, an
architectural gem. Here we saw an
exhibition of French art from the
time of the Romans until the present
A 1000, 600 franc clock is here an oh
ject Of interest TO all visitors.
June lS.
This morning we walked over to the
Russian Church, which il not far
from here. | have always wished to
attend service of the Greek Church
and this fully came up to my expecta-
tons.
The binding was gorgeous with
gold and fresco, many sacred pict
ures, especially in and around the
sanctuary. A very fine carpet cover
ed the floor but there were no seats.
The priests all wore purplish red
robes, with square collars edged with
gold. Some were richly embroidered.
The doors of the sanctuary were
opened at stated times, when we
could see richly decked altar with
seven candles and a cruciix. The peo-
pie crossed themselves and bowed or
kneeled and Frustrated themselves
till their foreheads nearly touched the
floor. Many Of the ladies' in attendance
were richly dressed.
In the afternoon we went over to
the Avenue de Bots de Boulonge and
walked ont to the Bots and into the
park. The driving was wonderful
sight to see. From there we went to
the Bon Marche. The rest of the af-
ternoon we spent in the great art gal
lery of the Exposition.
1t is wonderfully big and beautiful,
and is filled with pictures of all sorts.
Some are beautiful, others fairly nau-
seate one. The latter represent the
most modern art.
A Perfect Cathartie
Is one which does not wrench the system or
leave it weak and exhausted A perfect cath