Washington sentinel., 1900-09-29
''>,.E II SENTINEL
PARIS 1900 AND cans
h a v e
HE ENT ~ ' b e G n

much IN evidence at the EXposi-
ton ever since it opened. On
week days it sometimes seems as
ifthey must outnumber the French
Sunday, however, is pre-emlnently
French day, and fewer Americans
are seen then than at any other
time Let there be
some ceremonial, great public
junction, diplomatic ball or dinner,
or dedication OF a monument, and
the colonists are always willing TO
represent their ~ country. The
rest OF the time they would be
French. But even the transient
American resident in Paris falls
quickly into Paris ways. He may
even succeed after time in de-
ceiving the professional guides
who infest the boulevards, and
these gentry are keen enough
never to overlook a stranger.
Good morning, sir. Nice day,
is the salutation which startles the
new arrival before he has taken
many steps in his 6rst stroll out OF
the hotel. He is pestered with
their unsolicited attention day and
night, until he too learns to look
less like an American. "Oh yes,
| can always tell them at first, ex,
planned one. "But the Americans
get too smart for us. Englishmen
always look like Englishmen. 1t
would be impos iible to mistake
them for Americans From this
same student OF cosmopolitan
peculiarities come the following
terse suggestions to Americans
who would endeavor to look like
Frenchmen: Grow a short pointed
beard or imperial, wear a haring
satin tie, baggY trousers tight at
the ankles, and silk hat with a
sa:k coat-the silk hat with tue
short coat is the most important.
l do not remember to have seen a
Frenchman wearing a straw hat
with evening dress, but his rule
or lack OF rule--iOr the EhabSdH
certainly violates all English and
American conventionalities in day
light.
English women one sees at the
Exposition also differ from the
American or French types. 1t is
a common saying that the French
hate the English so much they will
not insult an English woman who
may go out unattended, and if
American women would escape
these annoyances they should
wear golf capes. The American
girl tells me that when Mrs.
John Bull goes away on Cont
mental trip, she puts on gOlt cape
and her worst clothes for the wear
and tear OF travel; that the Pari-
sian style has "chic," but is too
loud" that the English tourist
costume is "taekV," whatever that
may mean; and that her own is just
the happy medium, But by the
time she has bought a few Paris
dresses she modi6es" opinions
somewhat. Even then, however,
one notices a commendable toning
down Of extravagances in style.
Observation convinces me that
most Americans who have come
10 tne gay capital tor the fast time
this year are inclined to regard the
Moulin Rouge as Paris, and side
shows as the Exposition. They
are keen for those things which
Grant Allen would not have dig
ni6ed by enumerating even among
his "vulgar wonders" and they
slight others which constitute the
real charm and greatness OF Paris
and OF the Exposition. This is due
not alone to ignorance, but in part
to an excusable holiday impulse
toward amusement instead OF sight
seeing. The Chicago man who
thinks the opera is mot a patch on
the Auditorium" put in an appear
ance early. So did the GOthamite
who wonders at ballets that are in
ferior to some he has seen in
Broadway Or London. He will
commit to mem orY the names Of
females he finds on the play bills,
and talk about them tamiliarly
when he returns so different from
NYawk. yer know They gawk
at the paid dancers IN the Student"
balls, and imagine they are seeing
"the real thing" They see one
Paris, the artificial Paris that IS
made for their official benefit, and
they pay big price for the doubt
full privilege. But they do not see
the real Paris. All are not OF this
stripe, but it predominsted. And
as the bee and the butterfly know
each its own flower the best, per.
haps he has a better time in his
own way than he would in any
other. And he necessarily &C
quires much knowledge OF a GER
tain sort in his aInlless pursuit OF
novelty and pleasure. With an
other OF his kind, 1 saw him con-
templatIng a gaudIlv dressed black
African who stood on guard in
front of a dance hall IN the Rue
dAlger at the Exposition. Ii was
evident that he intended to profit
by this lesson IN ethnology.
Now that's one Of the things
it's worth coming to an Exposition
for" ne was saying. Owe busy
men CANE travel all over the world
to see these types. Isn't it easy to
recognize them, thought That
negro's face and form distinguish
him as one Of the North African
races, totally different from our
common Southern blacks, who
f--r. I~kL.- Il