Show THE FRENCH PAVILION AT T HE EX p g I 1 the same generous france that gave sa so freely to the cause ot of american independence in 1776 still gives 0 of her rarest treasures and the frenc french pavilion stands preeminent amon among the forel foreign gli exhibits at the san francisco exposition standing in the court ot of tile the palace Is le Pens eur a masterpiece in bronze by the greatest 0 of living sculptors auguste rodin rodin to show ilia his love for england the ally of france in the present struggle recently gave to earland a dozen or more of his pieces in bronze to remain forever as a tie between the two great nations inside the building are a nu number of smaller bronzes by R rodin odin in the main hall along each wall Is furniture which belonged to and was used by louis the fourteenth the grand monarch of france gilded furniture whose mellow mello Nl tones have only grown growa richer with the passing years tile furniture rests upon priceless rugs also at one time the property of louis the IV these rugs were woven in france by the tapestry works are more than two hundred years old and were spread along the ground that le grande Mon Alon argue might not soil his slippers when dismounting from his horse hanging on the wall are four priceless tapestries woven also for louis IV depicting great events in the life of alexander the great the battle of arbela crossing the gra narcus triumphal entry into babylon and the death of darius over the main doorway is a tapestry which was finished in 1902 the colors are bright almost vivid rich reds bril llant yellows all tto the colors perfectly harmonized yet clear and distinct more than two centuries are required for these colors to tone down to the soft richness richness of the older pieces two hundred years and the tapestries are more beautiful than any in the whole world and ana their pastel coloring remains unchanged in one corner of this hall are a few relies relics of the marquis de lafayette the brilliant young frenchman who offered ilia his services to congress at the beginning of the american revolution the gray marble slab resembling a tombstone was once a part of the old bastil basille Bas le destroyed by the french people during the stormy days of 1789 and presented to lafayette by the people of france as 3 1 4 token of the love they had for him against the wall is a gray stone urn which has been in the family as far back as lafayette history and ana tradition goes the flags goes the flags were svere carried by his bis soldiers during the revolution and presented to him when hen he returned to his native laud at the close of the war opposite these are tile the relies relics of count de rochambeau another noble who came to aid us during the revolution and in later years became marshal of france in a glass case near by Is a sword lying across an open book this sword belonged to louis IV when he be was a boy and the book is a prayer book which belonged to lafayette in ill tile the opposite side of the case is a sword long and slender of blade with handsomely carved hilt at one tim the property of lieutenant general who fired the first cannon for american independence opening off tile the main room is tile napoleon eort room tile rotunda room of the palace of the legion or of honor there are chairs and a rug nig worn by the feet of this fills man mail whose return cretu today would be welcomed by not france alone but by his ancient enemy england as well in a small case are two letters in napoleons handwriting and a letter to him from the empress josephine AJ a letter urging him to leave france forever and go to america it is in not generally known that his friends who longed to see him content with past victories begged him to leave the scene of so many accomplishments and at that time one defeat and take up the simple life in america in the belgian section are the relics of honore de balzac the table bablo the quaint carpet covered chair the brass inkwell ink well and even the very quill pert pen with which lie he wrote one can almost see the characters of his creation hovering about that priceless group the severe do de merret of le grande Brete eche and the tender faithful eugenis eugenia grandet grander had their nativity at the point of that quill zen oen in a corner case cae la is a model of 0 vic tor hugos right hand and a quill pen beside his autograph it is difficult to realize that the same great mind that could visualize the last desperate hopeless charge of the old guard at waterloo could create such a dainty piece of work as the peaceful landscape hanging above the case yet tills this painting was done by victor hugo in this section are paintings priceless hand made laces and photographs in natural colors this is the first time thue in tile the history of photography that natural coloring lias has been lepri deuced in the plate at the moment of exposure in one wing of the pavilion there are paris gowns that are a delight to the eyes of Every woman every man enjoys seeing them too judging by the difficulty we had in crowding past him to see them there are dolls dressed in every imaginable agi style and as a distant echo of tile the conflict raging now they are tor for sale to aid the red cross ot of france and belgium in one room is an exhibit of pearls from the largest pearl dealer in the world toilet articles are here in lavish display from the laboratories ot of rigaud roger and gallet violet and others names that mean the best in imported perfumes and cosmetics here is a large display of the dishes dear to the heart of every woman the beautiful fragile haviland china enclosed in glass is a small plate of the dinner service made by haviland and co for abraham lincoln one room is devoted to paintings and some connoisseur has said that there is more art more pure technique and richness of color and sentiment in this small room than there is in I 1 the entire palace of fine arts but perhaps he was a branchman Franc Fran hman climan still they are conspicuous for their great beauty there is a profusion ot of wonderful vases so many of them valued at six and seven thousand dollars that we scarcely deign to look at the smaller ones worth only a thousand or two we see tables and chairs so beautifully and intricately made that they baffle description francil artisans lead the world and after seeing their workmanship I 1 know the reason for it some part of ev ry science and every art of france is here and to see the work displayed display d makes one realize why france has so long held supremacy in ill the lines of her chosen endeavors i ors france so gay and carefree in time of peace so grim and self sacrificing in time of war has a civilization a culture that the world cannot afford to lose and every life every treasure destroyed in france leaves the world a little poorer holds us all a little bark back CLYDE L EDDY |