The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-06-13
OUR PARIS EXPOSITION LETTER

PARIS MAY %, 1900.
have been in Paris but two uuv
after seven days tossing ON tn
Atlantic and have had time only 10
u glance at the Exposition. Thi
glance has impressed me with not. in
80 much rs lis utter unprI pareu nrs,
Masonry, carpentry, painting, digging
carting, sweeping, dusting, sprinklinl
everywhere, with only here and tbe,,
an exhibit complete and ready TO
business. The shops, restaurants an,
midway plaisance-liko shows are o
course ready and are doing u more O.
iess thrlVihg business, and " sam,
0id features OF Frenchmen, Dutchmen
hngllshmen and Yankees masquerad
Ing Oriental garb, and selling useless
oriental gimcracks for twice th,
amount they can be had for In any cjty
Oh the United States, are very promi.
nent.
The Exposition is doubtless, as the
late Mr.. Birnum would say, mon
strous aggregation ect, tct. 1t will
when completed surpass all prcyieus
ext usitions In bigness and richness and
will be an admirable epilome OF the
past century's transcendent progress,
| Why should IT not excel all others {?
Inc world at least In material things
ls moving fast, and what WAS evolution
made Tor, If each succeeding exposition
shall not oLtdo its predecessor
Moreover Paris, and | regret to SAY
it., seems to be but poor fourth, in the
export trade of the world, VITA Eng.
land, our own country and Germany
ahead oi her. But she gets back at us
every ten years or SO by making a
great exposition, and with the pr estiye
OF her only Paris levying tribute on all
the wealth OF the world. The amount
OF money we spond in Paris ia one way
and another lis regrettablc. Hundreds
OF rich American families live here in
winter and IN the south OF France
during the summer. SO far Us 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 ion after fourth visit to
Paris and residence OIL and ON of
several 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. do not find
the prices at hotels or pensions (board-
Ing hOuses) much higher than usual.
They are think little lower than 1T
the Exposition OF 1873. Anyone &C.
cordlng to his taste, purse and endur-
ance can get board and lodging from
one dollar up. am lodging at No. 10
Rue de Clichy, about Two miles from
the Exposition, in a pension with
steam heat, elevator and electric
lights, at a cost OF 10 francs 1881 per
day. The same Accommodations would
cost as much in most American cities.
Before selected this place inquired
the rates aud looked at rooms ip many
other localities. Some were higher.
some lower, and | speak from personal
observation when say there is abund.
ant room here and at reasonable rates.
TO say that the Americans directly
IN charge Of American 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 whore there should
be twenty. Meanwhile the French
authorities are urging the Americans
to open up their displays. The Ameri-
cans say mo, not until these buildings
are completed and cleaned. We will
not subject our fine wares and delicate
food stuifs to deterioration from dust
and mud and lime" After much prayer
and imprecation the American com.
missioners finally resorted to law with
the result of great acccleration on the
part of the French. The buildings, it
is expected, will now be completed in
two weeks.
There is sinister report that the
American national building Is insecure
"a, Il
should play there, 1T will be with peril
to the assemblagc.
The American nasiOnal building is
eclipscd by that OF Italy, Roumania
and by other countries that have not
one 1.-THE our wealth. 1t was vanity
and folly to build national building
anyhow. 1t does no good, teaches
nothing, brings nothing 1t cannot
fill the wandering American with pride
when he sees it, for he is always over
flowing with that stun and ready TO
tell you that while we have no volcano
like Vesuvius, we have Niagara
Falls that can put 1t out in i've minutes
Just at present the American corn
propaganda seems to afford our French
friends some amusement. A kitchen
has been established to prepare corn
bread, corn fritters, ect., as u free lunch
and thus recommend the use Of corn
and increase the demand for it. At
the exhibits OF all the countries there
is guard or soldier standing or walk
Ing in the uniform OF his country The
nations have not forgotten to select
soldiers OF good appearance for this
service. Mr.. Hugo krause, OF Mil
waukee, veritabie Hercules, six feet
five inches tall in his uniform, ruddy
handsome, Is on quad at the American
corn bread kitchen, and II any for
eigner is skeptical as to the ,lloct OF
corn as diet he is pointed to this
corn fed American, and Mr.. krause
can tell them In good French what
corn has done for him.