The Princeton union., 1900-08-23
EUROPEAN SIGHTS.
A Letter from the Old World 9
UNIONS SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.



PARIS, France, Aug. l. 1900.-Paris, |
aside from the exposition, is a city of
great and peculiar interest and beauty,
and with this adjunct is little more, to
one at least who saw our own Worlds
Fair of seven years ago. 1t is indeed
to note the Indifference of
the French people to the exhibition
and with tickets selling everywhere
upon the streets for 80 centimes (6
cents) or less, one would at least ex
pect to find the grounds thronged. It
is predicted that the crowds are yet to
come and this is probably true,-in-
deed there has been perceptible: in
crease in the numbers of visitors, even
during our short sojourn.
Of course it ''doesnt compare'' with
the fair at Chicago but [ fear that we
Americans are prone to assert this
with more of an air of superiority than
the facts of the case will warrant. For
myself, felt, to present it very lightly,
a twinge of regret to find the United
States so overshadowed by such coun-
tries as Spain and Italy in the size and
beauty of it's representative building.
This is supposed to be miniature re-
production of the capitol at Washing
ton but, with the possible exception of
the dome, bears little resemblance to
that structure. But three states, viz:
Massachusetts,, New York and Califor-
MIA. have furnished rooms in the build
ing and the books for registration in
these rooms are filed with names of
visitors from every State in the Union.
There is this to be said, however, for
the building: 1t is a quiet little rest
ing place, and in the restaurant con-
nected with it we found the only ice
cream soda, worthy of the name, we
have had since leaving home.
The Italian building, representing a
Venetian palace, is-really very beau
tiful and Contains much OF the art o1
modern ITALY. It is closed this week
on account Of the tragic death of King
Humbert and the Italian exhibit ir
the Liberal Arts is covered and drapeC
in black. This sad event is deeply de-
plored by all classes and the attack
upon the Shah of Persia now visiting
here has added greatly to the popular
indignation.
We passed this distinguished in
dividual upon the street the other day
He was driving with two companion
in a very unpretentious style ant
would have passed unnoticed only tha
one OF the party who had seen hin
previously pointed him out. We wer
on our way to the exposition ground
) at the time to hear Guilmand in an or
gan recital at the Sale des Fetes of tn
Trocadero. This hall contains one c
, the finest organs in the world and
hear it manipulated by Guilmand wa
never-to-be-forgotten treat. w
braved the rain on Sunday to hea
him in the church which claims hir
as its organist, church of the Hol
Trinity.
The Trocadero is one OF the perma
. nent buildings of the exposition hay
: ing been constructed for the fai
E of 1878. It is fine structure wit
i towers two hundred and seventy fee
in height, and open corridors extend
: ing along its entire crescent-shape
' facade. Rows upon rows of gas jet
adorn the building from ground hoc
= to tower-summits and the effects {
these seen through the spray of nun
berless cascades and fountains upo
4 one of the nights of illumination,
y simply entrancing.
y Indeed, the beauty of the entil
y avenue from the Trocadero to th
u electrical palace at such time be!
}. gars description. The Eiffel tower,
l. blaze of jets to the very tip of its alt
II tude of nearly one Thousand feet, form
IS the central figure while away at tt
. opposite end the electrical palat
II showing an immense altar at the frol
IS surrounded by mammoth star in tt
o center of which is the figure of {
" angel, CLEANS in constantly changir
> colors through the crystal showers,
d the Chateau d. Eau. The illuminate
g takes place twice each week and is OF
W of the most pleasing features OF Il
- exposition. / = TIT -
IL Others of the permanent buildin
'e are the two palaces OF art and the
are we'll said to far surpass anythil
i, of the kind at our Worlds Fair. II
" Grande Palais is Of creamy grant
1e with an entire roof of glass and tt
it light upon the sculpture and paintin
a is superb. St. Gaudens' statue of She
in man, considered one of the finest piec
there, occupies a prominent place al