The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1900-06-30
PARIS LETTER.
tFrom Our Regular Correspondent.

TIC ans Exposition as u Daa per
Torrance. This was the opinion of
M, Renon, OF all expositions; he des-
pissed them and blamed women for
them, Let anyone recall his own
impressions of the Chicago Ex-
position. Nine out of ten will first
think of the Midway Plaisance at
fractions; a majority of visitors will
recall the tawdry insubstantial ar
chitecture, the fireworks, the Ferris
u hesl aud wildsEnessaLshaWseases
differing little from those OF the great
stores in many cities of the United
States. Well, the Paris Exposition
is not substantially different from
this. It's Midway Plaisance is not
eramped, it is scattered here and there
in different parts. There is a great
display of ar architecture that will be
torn down There is Ferris wheel
and the Eiffel tower. There is the
same bewidcring array of show Win
dows with their seductive diplay
of trocks, furniture, jewelry, hats,
ic-a-brac, all arranged to tempt the
modern Eve and swell the tideoflux-
ury and extravaganza, as M. Renon
might say, though he would say it
better. If all thisis SO why do people
go to Expositions? Because they
are tremendously advertised, and
because the human heart and foot is
always in pursuit ofsensa ion always
seeking the will-o-the- wisp novelty.
Because the world loves to be hum
plugged Il great many times, VOW
ing after each deception it will not be
caught again, but ever hungry for
the next thing. The Paris Expo
sition, like all the rest, is mammoth
advertising scheme, and France has
of course the hogs share ofthe adver-
Using and Paris will profit immense
" by the show. The part played
by our country hereis, in comparison
far from conspicuous. We appear
only here and there by an exhibit
marked by an American flag and
there is nearly always adjoining us
or across the aisle from us an exhibit
|af tbs sarneclassby another country.
it may be Italy, Hungary, or Belgium
that vies with us or eclipses us in
richness and taste and extent of dis
play. Of course this means nothing
to those who think, or know that the
United States exhibit is nothing more
than the Layout" OF some firm or
firms that strive to find or increase
their business on this side of the
water But to the average tourist
from rural France, Germany, and
Belgium who make the bulk of those
who see the Exposition and who
know as little about the United
States as a horse does of astronomy,
the impression is that Belgium and
Italy have more taste and better
things than the United States, and
that France has everything. These
international Epositions are much
like the Inequalities of the Fox and
the Stork. How can our country,
considering three thousand miles of
sea%and the eve more obstructive
miles of railroad under the peculiar
French management compete with
France brother contiguous countries.
The way to get even with them will
be to have our next Exposition at
Cape Nome
| do not know anything about the
misuse of the appropriation of ST.
400, 900 made by the government for
tor this Exposition, as alleged in
the charges of Senator Jones. There
has doubtless been extravaganza and
errors of judgment in building, pur-
chasing, installing, and in the hun
dreds of incidents in which the
numerous personnel of the American
commission employees and servants
have had to pay out money. Not
one in five of them can speak French |
or make change in centimes, francs
and Louis without getting cheated
or at least running the risk.
Anyone who has Travelled in
Europe knows that the French |
are the greatest, most skillful and
most mobilerobbers on the continent.
A dinneris followed by an overcharge |
for the napkin and the plate. A ride
in a cab means invariably an adj
ditional payment to the driver
Shopkeepers and officials in the rail-
ways seeing that you are American
and knowing your ignorance Of the
money and carelessness about little !
things will not always return you
your full change You must watch