The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-06-22
EXPOSITION LETTER.
PARIS. MAY 2Sth. 1900.

after seven days tossing on the At
lantic and have had time only for a
glance at the Exposition. This glance
has impressed me with nothing so
much as its utter unpreparedness.
Masonry, carpentry, painting, digging,
carting, sweeping, busting, sprinkling
everywhere, with only here and there
an exhibit complete and ready for bus
ness. The shops, restaurants and mid
way 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 masquerad-
ing in Oriental yarb and selling use
less 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 mons
trous aggregation etc, etc. 1t will,
when completed, surpass all previous
expositions in bigness and richness
and will be an admirable epi-
tome Of the past century's transcen-
dent progress. Why should it not ex-
eel all others? The world, at least in
material things, is moving fast, and
what was evolution made for, if each
succeeding exposition shall not outdo
its predecessor
Moreover Paris, and 1 regret to say
it, seems to be but poor fourth in the
export trade of the world. with Eng
land, our own country and Germany
ahead of her. But she gets back at
US every ten years or so by making
great exposition and, with the pres
tige of her only Paris levying tribute
on all the wealth of the world. The
amount of money we spend in Paris in
one way or another is regretable. Hun
lreds of rich American families live
here liz winter and in the south Of
France during the summer. So tar as
l know the only advantage gained is
in better household service. Servants
in France are doubtless more efficient,
intelligent and cheaper than in the
United States. But in every other
comfort of living we surpass the
French AT least this is my impress
sion after fourth visit to Paris and
a residence off and on ofseveral months.
The reports that have been so ex-
tensively spread about the crowded
condition of the city, and the high cost
of living, are misleading. l do not
find the prices at hotels or Pensions
(boarding honscs) much higher than
usual. They are think little lower
than at the Exposition of 1878. Any
one according to his taste, purse and
endurance, can get board and lodging
from one dollar up. am lodged at
No. IS Rue dc Clichy, about two
miles from the Exposition, in Pen
sion with Steamboat, elevator and cleo
trio lights, at cost of Is francs (s3.)
per day. The same accommodations
would cost as much in most American
cities. Before l selected this place |
inquired the rates and looked at rooms
in other localities Some were higher,
some lower, and speak from personal
observation when say there is abun-
dant room here and at reasonable
rates.
To say that the Americans here di-
rectly in charge of American Exhibits
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
every where, and only two or three
French workmen where there should
be twenty. Meanwhile the French
authorities are urging the Americans
to open up their displays. The Amer
leans say "No, not until these build
inffs are completed and cleaned. We
will not subject our fine wares and del
icate food stuffs to deterioration from
dust and mud and lime" After much
prayer and imprecation the American
Commissioners C generallyresorted to law
with the result of great acceleration on
the part of the French. The build
incs, it is expected, will now be con-
pleted in two weeks.
There is a sinister report that the
American National building is inse-
cure, ursafe, and that if Sousas band
should play there, it will be with peril
to the asscmblage.
The American National Building is
eclipsed by that of Italy, Roumania
and by Other countries that have not
one tithe of the wealth. 1t was vanity
and folly to build a National Building
here anyhow. 1t does no good, teaches
nothing, brings nothing. 1t cannot
fill the wandering American with pride
when he secs it, for he's always over
flowing with that stuff and ready to
tell YOU that while we have no vol
cano like Vesuvius, we have a Niaga
ra Falls that can put it out in five
minutes.
Just at present the American corr
propaganda seems to afford our French
| friends some amusement. A kitchen