Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-17
The Date for the Opening of the Paris
Exposition.
CONDITION OF THE new BUILDINGS
knowledge of the French Lam
guage VIII Not Be Necessary.
ROUMANIA'S FINE EXHIBIT

pride. So Americans will do we'll to keep
away from the quai d'Orsay for a few
weeks yet. Those who go there find the
graceful outlines of the United States build
ing largely hidden by ungraceful scaffoldng,
while heaps of debris outside, and the litter
of the plasterers, carpenters, plumbers and
other workmen inside are anything but
slightly. All this, however, will disappear
in good time
There is no more cosmopolitan place in
Paris just now than the quai dOrsay.
Among the two dozen foreign pavilions
that overlook the Seine one can hear spoken
almost every language on earth. Work
men have been imported from various
chimes to erect the buildings Of their va
rious nations, that the structures may
be national from every point of view-de-
signed by national architect, built by ma
tional workmen. and, in some cases, con-
structed of national materials. Germans
are erecting the kaiser's pavilion; Neapoli-
tons and Italians from all parts of the
sunny peninsula lending helping hand
in the construction of the royal Italian
building; Hungarians are putting up the
Hungarian pavilion, and Austrians alone
are laying the bricks and preparing the
woodwork of the Austrian building. But
the hands of French workmen-and they
do not appear to be in any great hurry
about it. either.
Time-kilIing workmen.
Said 1 to one of these men, who was
strolllng about on the river edge, giving an
exemplifcation Of time-killing a fine art:
Don't you work today?
Mo- was the answer; 1.-The day after
pay day we don't work, unless compelled
to: that is. unless there is a tremendous
hurry to finish something"
conversation started with
French workman, although generally in
teresting. is likely to prove endless; so 1
deemed 1t best to withhold further ques-
tons l was assured, however. that the
building would be complete inside of six
weeks. and that everything would be in
place many days before Easter.
The French wofkmen are very much in
terested in the American eagles which Com
missioner General Peck is importing from
our side of the Atlantic There is no sign
of any American contractors name on any
part of the United States national building.
Not so with the peighboring structures es-
Pecially the Italian building, the builders
OF which advertising themselves os
tentatiously. wherever there is an excuse
for opportunity, that one is tempted to
ask whether, with their huge announce
ments, they wish to delract from the lace
like exterior ornamentation.
Italian Jealousy.
The Italians scrutinize the United States
building with air Of sadness-not that
the structure of the stars and stripes is
bigger than theirs Gas matter of fact, 1t
IS some sizes snaller), but its dome is taller,
and IT disturbs the Italian mind to be over
topped To be sure. the Italian building
has four dones, whereas, ours has but one,
but the domes of sunny Italy are somewhat
heavy, and visitors will certainly prefer
the United States building, although it
lacks origraliity-being, after all, but
mere copy of classic piece of architecture.
The American national building has a
magnificent location the banks of the
Seine. 1t is almost Immediately opposite
the Palace of Horticulture the iron frame
work Of which is now being covered with
glass. Between the buildings of Italy and
the United States, the Turkish pavilion is
to be erected. IT will not rank with the
eGifces Of the Leading powers. for, although
somewhat DreteutIous in character, 1t is
very small. Roumania and Servia will be
more agreeably represented in Paris. These
two eastern countries are politically well
known, but from industrial and commercial
points Of view, they are yet in their IN
fancy. Both are making vigorous efforts to
gain universal renown this summer. 1t will
not be a surprise if ex-King Milan should
reappear on the banks OF the Seine in June
July Should he do so. however, he Will
not be received crowned head but
will come incognito.
Ex-King Miian's Career.
The ex-,zing's career in gay Paris was an
exceedingly fin de steele affair. He was
always prominent figure at the swell
clubs and a high roller" at the gambling
table The bookmakers on all the race
tracks familiar with His High
ness" as were The various members of the
Eentler in their boudolrs- He was a
first-class pigeon shot Nevertheless, de-
spite his immense resources and his con-
summate tact in obtaining loans, both in his
native land ard in France, the day finally
came when he could no longer hold bank
at baccarlt or bet 500 louis on a horse. He
was a hard pigeon to pluck, but tougher
ones than Milan have met their Waterloo
on the Paris boulevards.
Should he up at the Paris exposition
he will, no Coubt. be seen driving the smart
est autOcar IN the city and manifesting
lively interest in the exposition affairs of
Servia. Curicusly enough, the building his
country has erected close by the Alma
bridge. on the street of Nations. is in
spired from some old religious Servian mon
uments The interior ornamentation will
be exceedingly rich, the remarkable fres-
Goes being reproductions of ancient sanctu-
airy work. Hemispherical roofs will sur
mount the four rooms OF the pavilion which
will lead into the main nall. Specimens Of
the various products of Seryia with photo
graphic views OF the most beautiful parts
of the kingdom and numerous statistics will
be exhibited within.
Roumnnian Salt Cellar.
Roumania has been more fortunate In Sc
cnring space at the Paris exposition than
some other countries of larger area and
greater Industrial and commercial import
ance. In addition to the Roumanian pavil-
ion on the quail d'Orsay there will likewise
be seen quaint Roumanian restaurant,
where only national dishes will be served.
The basement Of this cafe is being laid out
as diorama picturing a wen-known salt
mine. Huge rocks Of salt are now being
shipped to Paris TO line the hall which gives
access TO this underground feature.
the Roumanian art exhibition promises to
be revelation The literary work of Car
men-Sylva has met with appreciation hith-
erto, but ROumanian painters and SC ulptors
are so numerous that the 1,oO0 feet of line
space set apart for their oil paintings in the
grand art palace will all be needed for their
very cre3itable exhibit.
In the Mercantile Marine building the
Roumanian government will make interest
ing exhibits from her departments Of pub-
lie works One feature will be a very hand
some model of the Port of ConstantZa tn
Mercantile Marine Palace is quite small