The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-06-15
EXPOSITION LETTER.
Written for the Citizen.)
PARIS. MAY %. 1900.

y
on the Atlantic and have had
time only for a glance at the ex.
position. This glance has i'm.
pressed me with nothing so much
as its utter unpreparedness. Ma
sorry, carpentry, painting, dig
ging, carting, sweeping, busting,
sprinkling everywhere, with only
here and there an exhibit com.
plete and ready for business.
The shops, restaurants and mid.
way plaisance- like shows are of
course ready, and are doing a
more or less thriving business,
and the same old features of
Frenchmen, Dutchmen, English
men and Yankees disappearing
in Oriental garb 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 monstrous aggregation, etc,
etc., 1t will, when completed,
surpass all previous expositions
iu bigness and richness and will
be an admirable epitOme of the
past century's transcendent
progress. Why should it not ex-
eel all others? The world, at
least in material things, is NOV.
ing fast, and what was evolution
made for if each succeeding ex.
position shall not Guido its pred.
ecessOrSg
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 OH all the wealth of the
world. The amount of money
we spend in Paris one way or an.
other is regrettable. Hundreds
of rich American families live
here in winter and in the south
of France during the summer.
SO far as know the only advan-
tage gained is better household
service. Servants in France are
doubtless more efficient, intelli.
gent and cheaper than in the
United States. But in every
other comfort of living we sur.
pass the French. At least this ,
is my impression after a fourth
visit to Paris and a residence off
and on of several months.
The reports that have been so
extensively circulated 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 houses) much higher
than usual. They are, Think, a
little cheaper than at the exposi-
ton of 1878. Any one accord.
ing to his taste, purse and endur.
ance, can get board from one dol.
lar up. | am lodged at No As
Rue de Clichy, about two miles
from the exposition, in a pension
with steam heat, elevator and
electric lights, at a cost of Is
francs $500 per day. The same
accommodations would cost as
much i'll most American cities.
Before l selected this place | in.
CURED the rates and looked at
rooms i'll many other localities.
Some We're higher, some lower,
and l speak from personal obser
walton when | say that there is
abundant room here and at reas.
enable rates.
10 say that the Americans
here directly in charge of Amer.
lean exhibits are angry is to draw
it mild. In spite of the utmost
efforts 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
where there should be twenty.
Meanwhile the French authorities
are urging the Americans to open
their displays. The Americans
say; "No, not until these build.
ings are completed and cleaned.
we Will not subject our fine
wares and delicate food stuffs to
deterioration from dust and mud
and lime" After much PRAYER
and imprecation the American
commissioners finally resorted to
law with the result of great &C.
celeratlon on the part of the
french. The buildings, it is ex-
pected, will now be completed
III two weeks.
There is a sinister report that
the American National building
Is insecure, unsafe, and that if
Sonsa's band should play there,
1t will be with peril to the assem-.
blage.
The American National build.
ing is eclipsed by that of Italy,