Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-06-21
EXPOSITION LETTER.


1t is not agreeable to write about the
incomplete condition OF the Universal
Exposition of Paris, but its incomplete
ness is the most impressive fact aboutit.
It Is what everybody is talking about.
Il isimpossible to write about the OK
hibits while they are still in the boxes.
| take it that the subject in which your
readers will be most interested is the
comparison Of tile American exhibits
with those of other countries. 1 have
tried TO make such comparison but have
so far been unable to do so because only
here and there has an exhibit in any
class been unpacked and set up. There
is much dissatisfaction and rccrimina-
tion, but, in a nutshell, the plan of the
exhibition was too big an undertaking
for the time and the people I've talked
with large number of exhibitors and
they agree that they cannot under ex-
listing conditions be ready for six or
eight weeks. When completed 1t will
no doubt surpass all other exhibitions.
One of the few completed exhibits Is one
in the United States section showing the
total value of the mineral productions
Of our country as compared with that Of
Great Britain, Germany, France, Hun
gary and Austria, Spain, Italy and Can
ada The United States stands first as
represented by column fuzzy third
higher than that Of Great Briiain her
nearest competitor The other countries
follow in the order above given The
comparison is from statistics of 1893
since which time we have doubtless rel
atively more than maintained our lead.
The Standard Oil Company has a
handsome exhibit shelves covered with
fine glass decantors showing oil in va
rious stages OF preparation and OF many
qualities was surprised to see In the
object lesson showing the petroleum
production Of different countries OF the
world the Uaited States barrel, while
much larger than all others. was slightly
smaller than Russia.
There Is an acre or two Of immense
glass show cases in which the tailors and
modstes Of Paris have competed with
one another in the richness and elegance
Of their costumed wax women, but these
are things for ladies TO see, envy, crit.
else and adore TO man With family,
they are suggestive OF bills and bank
rupicy
II Is to be hoped there are but few
things under oar flag at this exposition as
quixoticas the so.called corn propagan
da A kitchen has been established In
the third story In an American annex for
the preparation aud free distribution Of
varieties OF corn bread ! understand
that it Is under the management ola Mr.
/ Snow, who is corn enthusiast, and who
hopes by this kitchen aud rs free lunch
counter TO propagate q corn bread appe
tito or taste amongst Europeans, aud
thus increase the expectation Of this
great American cereal. But rs might
have been expected, only corn bread,
homo sick Americans flock around the
somewhat untidy free lunch counter II
utterly fails 10 reach the foreigner He
does not like our corn 10 that way. lie
takes It 10 beef, bacon. butter, sausage.
cheese, poultry, mules and horses, aud
this Is the way In which VIC can most
probably furnish Il. u men and mis-
sionarles would only take advantage Of
natural trends and be done with silly
propagandas what mighty economy Of
trcasure and happiness would result.
II gives toe pleasure 10 write Of one
side show which is not q fake and about
which there Is nothing immoral or mere
tricious II Is the Swiss Village. II is
the counter charm and antithcsis Of the
Paris exposition. You pay your franc
or half,franc, forget which, for AS the
representative Of your paper ! get In
frce--you enter gate and turn a corner
and you are instantly translated from
big roaring Paris with her painfully
dazzling exposition into the heart Of
Switzerland. ] mean the very heart and
soul Of Switzerland, for here Il IT, Can
1t be illusion No, for that Is actual
water falling in cascade from the noun
tain side, quite stream too, for It turns
the wheel Of an old mill in the edge OF
the village There are actual cows aud
goats There are stables with the Swiss
Characteristic Of taking better care Of
the manure than of anything else. Here
are dozen or more OF small, tidy old
houses just az you will see them Ia Swift.
zerland and, perched upon the side of
the mountain on a patch OF actual green
grass are ehalets with oyerhanging cliffs
just as you have seen them In that most
picturesque OF lands. You rub your
eyes and look for Paris but can sec moth
ing but the village surrounded by high
precipices which shut out everything but
the sky and this charming scene. There
arc Swiss peasants, Swiss girls In the
costume of their country, ducks in the
brook, green grass, wild flowers, weeds
and edilweiss Ali this is done on little
more than an acre, / think, and is the
cleverest piece of work | ever saw OF
course is seauestration and beauty is
greatly heightened by contrast with the