New-York tribune., 1908-05-24

Only one restriction has been placed upon their
inventive powers. This is the obligation 70 give
exhibitors within the Enclosures clear space for
advertising their wares. In contrfving the ex-
teriors they have been licensed to be a vtir1-
steal and bizarre they liked, and consequently
there is a carnival Of Oriental minarets. lat
tices and rocco decoration which bewilders and
delights the eye and is highly entertaining
In the Court OF Honor with its lakes. cas-
cades, fountains and fantastic pavilions. one
may see Venetian galleries and recesses and
passages OF AIhanbra lacework, and looming
I'D ahead is the Congress Hall. ornate as an
Indian palace Opening upon immense gar
den are the two palaces devoted to the applied
arts, the French structure aggressively Partisan
with its dorned entrance and ornamental dome
higher up. and the British building excessively
modern Renaissance, with two towers, each sur
mounted. with winged figure The Palace OF
Music is a rocco travesty Of everything that
was frivolous and meaningless IN Louis Qutnzs
architecture. with overdecorated panels and
ball upheld in air. The Wonen's Palace IS
more eccentric still, tricked out like an over
dressed belle for carnival and, II loud and
caprcious infinite in variety. like Cleopatra
Behind this coup are the Decorative Art and
Fine Arts palaces, with their domes, and not
far away are the vast machinery halls. futter-
ing with flags. On the other side Of the Court
of Honor there is cluster Of palaces and
pavfIions. with the enormous oval stadium IN
the background. with cinder path and cycis
track and accommodation for 10000 spectators
There are scores Of other buildings, the Pavilion
of the City of Paris being among the most ar
tistic; there are as many as three conplete VII
lagos. and at every turn there are surprises hks
half timbered Tudor house. with tiled roof
and window Iattices-
The exhibition cannot yet be properly seen
when workrnen are in possession Of the build
ings and the garden lawns and walks are n
transition stage: but the spectacle will certainly
be a splendid one when everything Is in order
as IL will be in the course of a few weeks The
landscape effects promise 70 be exceedingly
lovely, and under the glare of electric lights AZ
night the white palaces will have the glamour OF
Oriental magnifcence, The exhibition style OF
architecture. so curiously modern yet so ViVldLy
reminiscent OF forms and methods Of decorarlon
| OF all periods and countries. viii ultirnately
prove the main attraction for visitors It VIII
not justify the conclusion that either France
\ or England is reverting to classic lines and Dig
nifty of treatment in the art OF decoration; but
it will be proof Of a marked access OF vivacty
in the entertainment of vast conCOurSe OF spec
ators. Life let US cherish will be the nlotlvs
| OF the entente ccr1iale during a gay summer
| when Englishmen and Frenchmen are COM
peting IN the excitement Of a pleasure loving
carnival. with Olympic games in the stadium
side shows without number and a glory OF light
| from arc lamps and 10000 incandescert globes.
which will irradiate the dun London sky IN
| nocturnes beyond the ina agination OF whistler
At the opening OF this great exhibition de-
| tailed descriptions irupracticabIe owing 20
the confusion and disorder OF the buildings ana
grounds. II will be weeks before the ART palaces
are in order and the main exhibition structures
| adequately filed with French and British wares
Yet it is not too early for the promoters or the
enterprise to plume themselves upon their sue
cess in organizing wonderful show. IN com
parison with which the first worlds fair IN
| Hyde Park dwindIes and fades away in in
| significance. The newspaper writer's being bat-
ned in their pursuit of adjectives and meta phors
are taking refuge in figures and are estimating
the tonnage Of steel, plaster and fireproof slaos
| employed in construction. the mileage Of ave-
| nues and garden paths, the acreage OF tOor
space the daily water supply for lagoons and
! canals. the expenditures on buildings and
grounds. the valuations of the art. ceramic and
| 1eweiry exhibits and the probable attendance
from May TO October. the last being based upon
MT lmre ktralfy's optimism and not stopping
| snort or thirty millions These are statistical
/ proofs and elastic forecasts of the magnitude
| OF an enterprise worthy OF the traditions OF a
/ shop Keeping nation time goes on the
| hibition will attract hundreds OF thousands OF
| visitors daily. and they are not likely To take
| their pleasures sadly y r..
II