Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-07-09
PARIS LETTER.
Paris, France, June 18th, 1000

| 0ApOSlU.ON US Odu RC1l LII
ance." This Was the opinion of M.
Renon, of Ali sxpositions; be despised
them and blamed women for them.
Let any one recall his own Impressions
of the Chicago exposition. Nine out
of ten will first think of the Midway
PIaisance attractions; a majority of
visitors will recall the tawdry, insub-
stantial architecture, the fireworks,
the Ferris wheel, and wilderness of
show cases differing little from those
of the great stores in many cities of
the United States. Well, the Paris
exposition is not substan TALLY differ
ent from this. It's Midway Plaisance
is not cramped, it is scattered here
and there i'll different parts. There is
great display of architecture that
will be torn down. There is Ferris
wheel and the Eiffel tower. There is
the same display of frocks, furniture,
| iewelry, hats, brio a brac, all arrang-
ed to tempt the modern Eve and swell
the tide of luxury and extravaganza,
as M. Renon might think, though he
would say it better. If all this is so
| why do people go to expositlons?
Because expositions are tremendously
advertised, and because the human
heart and foot is always in pursuit of
sensation; always seeking the will-o-
the wisp novelty. Because the world
loves to be humbugged great many
times, vowing after each deception it
will not be caught again, but ever
hungry for the next thing. The Paris
exposition, like all the rest, is NAM
moth advertising scheme, and France
has of course the hogs share of the
advertising and Paris will profit i'm
mepsely by the show. The part play
ed by our country here is, in compar-
ison far from conspicuous. We ap-
pear only here and there in an exhibit
marked by an American flag and there
is nearly always adjoining Us or across
the aisle from US an exhibit OF the
same class by another country, it may
be Italy, Hungary, or Belgium that
vies with US or eclipses US in richness
and taste and extent of display. OF
course this means nothing to those
who think, or know that the United
States exhibit is nothing more than
the clay out'' of some firm or firms
that strive to find or increase their
business on this side Of the water.
But to the average tourist from rural
France, Germany and Belgium who
make the bulk of those who see the |
exposition and who know as little |
about the United States as a horse |
does Of asJrono my, the impression is |
that Belgium and Italy have more |
taste and better things than the United !
States, and that France has every
thing. These international eXposi- |
tions are much like the hospitalities |
of the fox and stork. How can our !
country, considering the three thou
sand miles of sea and the even more +
obstructive miles Of railroad under the |
peculiar French management compete |
with France or other contiguous
countries? The way to get even with !
them will be to have our next exposi- /
ton at Cape Nome.
do not know anything about the /
misuse of the appropriation of ST.
400 600 made by the government for
this exposition, as alleged in the
charges of Senator Jones. There has
doubtless been extravaganza and err
rors of judgmentin building, purchas-
ing, installing, and in the hundreds Of
-, iat
sonnet Of the American commission
employees and servants have had to
pay out money. Not one in five of
them can speak French or make
change in centimes, francs and louis
without getting cheated or at least
running the risk.
Anyone who has travelled in Europe
knows that the French are the great
est, most skilfuI and most mobile rob-
bers on the continent. A contract
for a dinner is followed by an over
charge for the napkin and plate. A
ride in a cab means invariably an ad-
ditional payment to the driver. Shop
keepers and officials in the railways
seeing that you are American and
knowing your ignorance Of the money
and carelessness about little things
will not always return you your full
change. You must watch them all
the time. Their nonchalance when
detected is fine. Their faces are too
red to show blush. The American
commission here is somewhat luxu
riously installed. They have not de-
MED themselves in fine desks and