The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-06-02
EAGER THOUSANDS
STORM The PARIS Fair

Ready, or not ready, the great exposition
mad to be unveiled to the world. Early
visitors have had to confess that even
lin it's unfinished state it has proved stu
;pendous success from the very start
Some buildings still need more attention
from the sweating workmen before they
will be as the architect designed they
should, and many spaces alIotsd to exhib-
Its yawn at the visitors with an aching
void that looks long to remain untitled.
But no one criticises these few isolated
shortcomings, for the ensemble is so mag
nificent, so completely satisfying in it's
huge splendor that the presence Of the
Workmen is forgiven and the absence of
exhibits overlooked.
Already the public are beginning to
show preferences for this and that build
ing. Many ask at once for the great area
On the Bots de Vincennes, where 300 acres
have been set apart as an annex for the
exhibition of railway and tramway roll
ing stock, automobiles, engines, windmiIls
and the new and improved agricultural
machinery that the United States have
brought to the fair to excite the wonder
of the European farmers. In this great
annex, really one of the most important
parts of the exhibition and deserving of
more dignified title than that of IAN
nex,' the grand military and naval dis
plays and the professions of boats on the
lake will take place and all athletic events
that are keeping the muscular portion of
humanity and those Interested in SPORTS
In condition of intense excitement will
be pulled off and laurels torn from thu.
brows of worlds champions to find a
new resting place on the heads of as
plrants who are at present unknown
and whose names have never figured in
mountaineering achievements.
other sections Of the fair are interest
ing, some are beautiful, even marvel
Gus in their, beauty, but if excitement is
wanted, tingling, thrilling, white-hot ex-
cltement, then the annex on the Bots de
Flncennes is fireplace to look for it. An,
Client Greece in the palmiest days of her
athletic glory never witnessed a sight
TO equal this Of the champions Of the
world in competition. The records of the
anc1ents will be knocked silly and the
song of the cynic who sang that human
lty has deteriorated since the days of the
Olympian games will have to change his
tune, for no youth Of Athens, could he
return to earth to participate in the ath-
letic events of the Paris fair, would stand
much chance against the scientifically
trained champions who have made record
breaking so common an occurrence that
one wonders when the limit of human en-
aeavo1 in this direction is ever going to be
reached L.. -,
A building that is being singled out as
faVordte one by the visitors Is that of
the fine arts which rears its huge shape
on the beautiful new avenue that, has
been opened from the Champs Elysees to
the new bridge, Alexander III. Possibly
the beauty Of the approach rather than
the attractions of the fine arts structure
tempts people thither, for the great broad
avenue leading from the Champs Elysees
Is vista Of flower gardens and fine build
ings.
From this point it seems that the line
of travel sets towards the pavilions of
the various nations, conspicuous among
them being that of the United States,
which I have described at length in my
former letters. 1t would seem that the
first sight of a foreign exhibit sets every
we thinking Of home From the thoughts
Of home to the realization Of a link be-
tween Paris and the country where that
home lies is a natural transition and forth
with the visitor makes a bee line for the
pavilion over which his flag flies, there
to meet those who speak his tongue, own
allegiance to the same ruler or swear by
the same constitution. These foreign
are cities Of refuge to those
who are unusued to the hubbub of a great
gathering and who speedily become be-
Wildered at the ever-changing sights and
sounds and the babel of tongues. The
pavilions of the United States and Great
Britain are without doubt the finest in the
line as regards architecture, decorations
and furnishing, and Americans here are
highly pleased with the building over
which Old Glory floats.
Only very short distance from the
American building is the pavilion where
the Austr1ans gather. 1t has not yet been
described at length, but is deserving of
more than passing notice, both because of
Its peculiarly interesting architecture and
of the exhibits that are to be seen there
The pavilion is constructed in Marie
Iherese style, and is reproduction of the
architecture of the palace of Princess Eu-
genie and of the Vienna university. A
good deal of Austrian pride Is conferred in
this building. An illustrated exhibit will
show the progress made by, Austria during
the past 900 years, and the improvements
In the postal system, which Austrians
claim to have mostly originated in the
brains of clever men of their nationality,
will be ON view in proof of the assertions.
which, it goes without saying will be
A merry little war is in pros
pective in this building. The Austrians
have claimed the duplex telegraph sys-
tenn as their own and have put their, sign
manual on the postal card and the pneu-
matte tube for the quick delivery of mail
Later other claimants will come forward
to dispute these Austrian claims, and the
courts may yet be called upon to settle
the controversy.
Passing from the discussion Of building
to that Of events, the purely amusing
features of the fair are being rapidly IN
augurated, and Turks and Arabs, bowling
and whirling dervishes Chinese and jap
anese nondescrirts, Persian and Hindoo
scholars, and ied, yellow and white mys-
teries rub elbows and exchange opinions
IN divers tongues, with many incompre-
hensible gestures that might mean either
admiration or contempt. 1t is fully as
interesting, If not more so, to study the
&SSktAoo - ~ - QoS Lie DuliulllSS dIlQ 0A-5
hibits Never was such a curious gather
ing of the most curious of all the races
seen within one limited area as that which
constitutes the human EXHIBIT of this
most astonishing Of fairs.
ROYAL CARIcATURE.
Although the majority of Queen Vic