The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-22
A FLAT FAILURE.
The American Pavilion at Paris
Is SO Regarded.

New York, June pa dispatch to the
Tribune from Paris says:
President Loubet, accompanied by NJ.
Millerand, minister of commerce, and
NJ. Picard, commissary general of the
exposition, made his official visit this
morning to the United States national
pavilion The time appointed for the
visit was $50 o'clock. It was exactly
$3.50 o'clock by the Paris railway station
time, according to which Partisan
watches are usually set, but which is
five minutes in advance of the time in
Dictated by the clocks in the interior of
the stations, according to which trains
start, that the presidential party ap-
peared at the threshold of the American
national building. The president was re-
ceived by Ambassador Porter. General
Porter walked beside President Loubet,
who seemed pleased with the plaster
statue by BOrghum representing a
stampede of three American bronchoes
which has recently been placed in the
center of the large octagonal hall of the
pavilion The president also noted the
plaster busts of Lincoln, Grant, Cleve-
land and Mckinley. He looked at the
portrait Of Mckinley by Pratto and he
glanced at a portrait of a Sioux chief
tain, portrait of Prince Ching, uncle
of the emperor of China" and one of a
llama Chigh priesO.
There are also some strange canvases
by Harrison, Vail, Rowland Neman
and other American painters, but all
badly hung. The United States post
office box was duly inspected and also
/ the registers where the Americans write
1 their names and addresses. The presi-
/ dent looked up at the pasteboard shields
/ hung on the three tiers of balconies rep
/ reSenting the Union.
Ambassador Porter then took the
/ president to see the elevator which,
however, did not happen to be in work
ing order General Porter looked at
/ President LOubet, who looked at Minis
/ ter Millerand who in turn glanced at
/ sphinx like Picard. All smiled and the
| presidential party, after cordially shak-
ing hands with the United States am
| bassador, walked off to visit other ma
| tional pavilions.
The presidential visit at the American
building did not last more than five
minutes, the reason being, unfortunate
~, that there was nothing of particular
I interest to see there. Just as President
Loubet left the building Commissioner
/ General Peck arrived to welcome the
president Ambassador Porter remark
ed, The president has gone
This is the siXty-seventh day since the
exposition opened and patriotic Ameri-
cans have so far refrained from caustic
criticism of their national pavilion in
hopes that something would be placed
IN 1t to put it on an even footing with
other countries, but after today's presi-
dental visit it is impossible to conceal
tAS ldct tHdl III the OPINION OF SO out Of
lU0 Americans who have seen it the
United States national pavilion, as far
IS ITS contents are concerned, is IN
worthy of our country and causes un-
pleasant impressions when compared
with the German pavilion, with its 2 IT
collection of Frederick the Great: with
the British pavilion. containing canvas
es by Van Dyke. Reynolds, Gainsbor-
ough ana Burne-Jones, with the pavil-
ions of Italy, Spain. Russia. Hungary.
Austria, and Bosnia, admirably display
ing theIr respective native industries
me American pavilion is not only far
inferior to the national pavilfons Of first
class countries. but discreditable even
When compared to the pavilion of mic
roScoplc states like Monaco or the Re
PUBIC of san Marino Under the Amer
lean pavilion is a third class American
restaurant with French walters and a
soda water fountain, but where one
caLnot OBTAIN American wines nor por-
terhouse steaks nor terrapin nor bIIcl,
wheat cakes.