The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-09-06
Distinguished Men Welcome the
French Ambassador Extraor-
binary to the Fair.
MAYOR PAYS OFFICIAL CALL.
Accompanied TO 81. Louis by
Many officials of His Coun-
try known as King
of Detail.

With the dignity beatting his rank
the representative OF one OF the foremost
Of European nations 10 tho Louisiana Pur-
chase Exposition. NJ. Alfred Picard. Am
blssador Extraordinary OF the French Re-
public 10 tho Worlds Fair. was received
by representatives OF the Exposition. and
by his countrymen. at Union Station yes
terday afternoon at $40 o'clock.
u. Picard Travelled from New York ON a
Special train.
Accompanying him were his two secre-
faries. Robert Delaunay-Believile. student
OF the Central School OF France and son
of the famous French machine u,anufac-
turcr. and Oh. l.. Hurteau. an engineer.
who completed his studies at the Poly
technic Institute of France.
on Il previous train were the following
distinguished Frenchmen. who will lie In
ST. Louis the remainder OF the week:
Maurice Estieu. president OF the French
section OF the Fair: VI. Herbette. member
OF the French State Council; Senator Paul
Strauss. with his wife, and other mem
bers OF the French Parliament and Ju-
rcra.
Five Senator's and twelve members OF
the French Chamber came OH the steamer
with NJ Picard. well the band of
the Garde Republicaine OF eighty pieces.
At the station to greet ". Picard were
Deputy Commissioner Gerald of the
French Commission: +. ID. Hirschbers,
chairman Of the Committee on Reception
of the Exposition. and DiaZ AlDertini OF
the COMMITTEE on Ceremonies OF the ES-
position. Officials of the Terminal Com
pany had made arrangements for the re-
Ccption OF the train, and the Ambassador
and his party reached the csrriaseS which
We're in waiting without interference from
the thousands who thronged the station.
With Mr.. Htrschherg and NJ Gerald. u
Picard entered carriage anb was imne-
diatcly driven 20 the residence OF the
French Commissioner, at No. ss-S Lindel
boulevard.
MAYOR WELLS CALLS
Later II. the afternoon Mayor Rolls
Wells, representing the city OF 81. Louis.
visited the Commissioner residence and
paid an official cal! to the distinguished
guest Beyond an exchange of cordiaiitics
and an expression Of good will. which the
city and the officials of the Exposition IN
tertained toward the French Republic. the
brief conversation between Mayor Wells
and the Ambassador covered but few
points. VI. Picard expressed himself 10
the Mayor "a being highly pleased with
the impression of the city which ne had
gained in TIE drive out over the boui.
wards. and told with pleasure Of the antici-
pations which he had OF his visit. MIR.
--albertini. representing the Exposition, was
coined NJ Picard in behalf OF the Worlds
Fair.
NJ. Picard was thoroughly worn out with
the trip which the party had made from
New York. having made no stops between
the metropolis and ST. Louis, and after
an early dinner he went 20 bed.
The Ambassador IS 10 years DID, but is
q most fluent and entertaining CONVERSE
tionallst In speaking Of his trip 10
America and his official mission he said:
81 am thoroughly pleased with the expert
ences which have thus far accompanied
my official visit TO this country OF yours
j was greatly honored when my Govern
snent designated me as its official repre-
sentative to your Exposition, of which
we of the Continent have heard so much.
Il hasFa lrrI TO- ~,
lightful anticipations TO my arrival in St
Louis and the pleasures which will fol-
low me- az l travel about through your
magnificent display. ] am sure will more
than repay me for the ardous and wearing
Trip which We have undergone.
We have travelled directly to St. Louis
from New York and have lost no time
since reaching America in reaching the
Worlds Fair City.
BEAUTIFUL AS PARIS.
''The city Is beautiful, beautiful. As
handsome thoroughfares and as charming
homes as are those OF my own country.
i am delightfully."- surprised and charmed
with what i have already seen of 81.
LOUIS. 1 am so weary now with travel
That must beg TO be excused from talk
Ing further Tonight Under ordinary cir
cumstances l am more than pleased to
talk with the press. I have always had a
very high regard for the American press,
such high. broad plane that IL must
mean much 10 the country at large What
my plans will be ] am not sufficiently
aware OF the situation to state Neither
can | now say as to how long NV stay
Will be in ST. Louis
IT was learned through one Of the secre-
taries OF VI. Picard that the first offlcial
visit Of the Ambassador to the ExposItlon
Tiil be made some time to-day. Naturally
the Little Trianon, the official home OF
The French Government at the Fair, viii
be the first place TO be visited. and here
The Ambassador will receive the members
Of the commission. the French Jurors and
CNh 4
The days events will not be formal Later
h trip VIII be made through the exhibits
which the French Government has made IN
various buildings. and an Inspection made
Of the individual displays of French ex-
The first formal function is to be an
nouncec to-day, and will be a reception
given By the Ambassador TO the Exposition
officials and to representatives. of the
United states and foreign Governments.
!he date Will be fixed for some day later
IN this week.
No man is better fitted to critically Judge
the ST. Louis Exposition than is Il. Picard
He is q king of method and a master Of
detail and Il WAS he who organized the
great Paris Exposition OF 1900. of which
tive head.
In outward appearance he might be TAX
IN FOR Don Quixote. figure with lanky
limbs, a cast of countenance Overlooked
with an ar OF gloom. n nose OF character
!stis prominence. piercing eyes and a mus
,ta ie or hc,3ic diLnensionsIthess make
o.
ever fitting at windmills. Never was a
greater contrast between natural aspect
and reality. M. Picard Is. in fact the
king of method" a practical man above
adj things. the very REORGANIZATION OF the
French genius of incidity. order. harmony.
MAN OF PARTS
From his youth up N. Picard has given
free play to his taste for serious matters.
Mathematician, engineer. economist, ad-
Yninistrator. iawyer-he has been all these
BY turns and simultaneously He has built
bridges, excayated mines, arranged sta
Gstics. managed railways and led the Cfs-
cusstons OF a council of state IN its con-
SITUATIONS over the plans OF n worlds fair.
The Ambassador was born In Lorraine
When seventeen he made HIS way to
Paris. entered the Ecole PolytechniQue and
just before the outbreak of the Franco
Prussian war passed out OF Its classes
which through life have brought him his
ssccess-hard work. patience and regular
fly.
Returning to Metz. he was shut up with
the garriTcn In the citadel and suffered
the priyaliOns OF the siege. Rather than
surrender and give his parole not to bear
arms against the enemy he effected an
escape in an Ingenious manner. He was
one day cianking his sword doiorously
along the Metz pavement. when he caught
of corpsei'' he muttered. but an idea was
suggested to his mind. Running to q
friend he exclaimed: You must declare
that I am in the last stage Of consump-
ton and urge that L should Be sent home
The German surgeons deceived by the
youths cadaverous appearance. granted
The request. The sham consumptive passed
through the besicgers' lines unquestioned-
He at once struck FOR Switzerland, Joined
-