People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1893 — FROM FAIR FRANCE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FROM FAIR FRANCE.

Rare and Beautiful Exhibits at the Columbian Exposition. Picture* That Delight the Parisian’s Heart and Bric-a-Brac That Is Very Costly—Various Notes of Interest. fSpeclal Chicago Correspondence. 1 fn all the vast array of splendid exhibits in the mammoth building devoted to the manufactures and liberal arts at the world's fair there are none more curious and beautiful than those contained in the department of France. Each of the different nations represented has contributed lavishlv of its choicest productions in the various lines, and there is a strong spirit of rivalry among them for the honor of having the finest display; but it is exceedingly difficult for the unprejudiced to determine to whom the honor belongs. France, however, is justly entitled to rank with the best in t the display of paintings and odd arts cles of bric-a-brac. One may stroll for hours among the wonders of other exhibits, and at each succeeding one de-

clare it to be better than those before .It, but when he has been thorough the French section he is free to pronounce #3 unsurpassed in the whole exposition. It would require much space to enumerate the attractions of this exhibit. Principal among them are some very fine pieces of art pottery, colored statuettes and table wares. In some instances the prices are given, the

articles being l on sale, to be delivered at the close of the fair, and it almost takes one’s breath away to see the immense valuation placed upon some of the smaller pieces. But they are only for people who have long purses and do not mind the outlay so long as their taste for art is gratified. Poor people who find themselves wandering about among the rich and costly articles so freely displayed on every hand view

them in a mechanical way an cR pass on thinking no doubt that they are all ▼ery fine but entirely useless as far as they ane concerned. Passing by some of the expensive statuette* the other day an elderly, homespun-looking sort of a woman paused and gazed curiously at a tiny pink cherub with blue wings and yellow hair, abo>nt the neck of which was hung' a card hearing the notice: “Sold, 525.” After an indignant sniff or two she turned to a woman at her elbow and said: “My land! Twenty-five dollars for that little ahaney doll! The pne that bought it must hev more

money nor I.rains. We got one to home on our mantle twict as big as that and a heap purtier and it only cost half a dollar.” Later on the old lady came across a vase in the Japanese section which bore the price, $20,000, upon it. She didn’t have any at home that was bigger or better than it was, but she said, as she looked askance at the highpriced piece of pottery, that she’d be hanged before she’d pay that much for a “no-count pot.” It is not only in the Manufactures building that the French vie with the other nations in their exhibits. The Art palace contains many surpassingly beautiful works, which will not suffer by comparison with those of any country under the sun. In fact, in the opinion of some of our best painters, France leads them all in the art display. True, some of her pictures were determined by the art committee to be a trifle too bald, but they were becomingly draped with opaque hangings and the multitude can view the splendid exhibit without any offense to its sense of pro- . priety. | The French building proper, situated ' on the lake front north of the Ceylon I building, contains many features of in- i terest. The building itself is quite imposing. As viewed from the north it 1 presents somewhat the appearance of a j coliseum, but upon coming round to • the front on the east its aspect changes and one is at a loss for a description of , its style of architecture. On the right is a doorway leading through the building into a semicircular gallery, elevated but slightly from the ground, in which are hung some very large paintings of views in the French capital. Here the Parisian may feast his eyes upon the familiar scenes of his beloved “Paree," j and point out to his friends the leading places of interest in the great city. Having passed along the entire length of the gallery, leading up to 1 which are stairways from the central court, which is a sort of garedn spot, [ one enters a detached portion of the j building in which are a number of interesting exhibits of a mechanical and scientific nature. Among other things is a peculiar system of photography by the aid of which criminals are detected, : in the demonstration given wax figures being used to represent the culprit. The foregoing comprise but a portion of the French exhibits, the departments of agriculture, horticulture, electricity and mining each having an elaborate display. It has developed that France

has indulged in some reflections on our Columbian exposition, but in the outset she came promptly forward and contributed largely to its success and she has reason to be proud of the good showing she has made.

A TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLAR VASE.

FRENCH BUILDING.

AMONG THE FINE POTTERY.