Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][merged small]

ARTHUR MACARTHUR, THE NEW LIEUTENANT-GENERAL

General MacArthur succeeds General Corbin and, since the office is soon to expire, may be the last Lieutenant-General. He will retire

June 2, 1909

[graphic]

J. CHARLES-ROUX-GENERAL COMMISSIONER OF THE MARSEILLES COLONIAL EXPOSITION M Charles-Roux is one of the most prominent business men of France. He is president of the Compagnie Generale de Transatlantique and vice-president of the International Suez Canal Company

[graphic][merged small][merged small]

AT MARSEILLES

BY

JAMES WILLIAM PATTISON
AUTHOR OF PAINTERS SINCE LEONARDO."

HE French people are very proud of their colonies and the government cultivates the enthusiasm persistently. It seems that colonies pay for themselves handsomely, even though the official budget reports a deficit each year. There must be some outlet for the expanding capital of a country like France, and the settlements in partially civilized lands are great promoters of trade. I know of missionaries in British colonies who say that the interest taken

by the government in missions is merely because they promote British trade interests. The missionaries use this phrase so much that they have a way of understanding each other when the letters "B. T. I." are pronounced. Therefore it is natural, when we view the French colonial expositions, with their fine showings of educational and religious work, to say to ourselves, "all for F. T. I."

However, not to be pessimistic, the colonial expositions are beautiful and interesting, this special one at Marseilles not the least so. Such showings have a right to arouse enthusiasm and they do. The

[graphic]

location of the city of Marseilles is a specially fortunate one for such an exhibition, because of the semi-tropical climate which admits of arborial and floral arrangements delightfully in keeping with the reproductions of oriental buildings, and the intermingling of French architecture. Also, Marseilles is itself a beautiful city, well worth lingering in.

As this exposition is so limited in its presentations, the grounds are conveniently limited in extent, and the location easily accessible by tramways. The entire affair lets us dream of the Orient, reveals the inner life of many strange peoples and refreshes the eye with great stretches of beds of exotic flowers, interspersed with pagodas and temples. Very few of us, who are busied with our own overcrowded lifework, realize the number of colonies supported by the French, or their varied locations. Whether the popular prejudice in England against French colonial management be well founded or not, it is true that the French people find

abundant opportunity for the investment of capital in these strange countries and that they are not entirely indifferent to the interests of the oriental populations with whom they deal. Possibly they consider it good policy to look to the happiness and health of their oxen and asses for the promotion of French trade interests just as some of the rest of us do for

ours.

The grounds of the exposition are shaped somewhat like a diamond, the main entrance being at one of the sharp angles. Entering the main gate, the eye glances up a majestic, wide avenue, the vista closed by the Grand Palace of Exportation, very much the largest edifice on the grounds. There are important pavilions devoted to the interests of Algeria, Madagascar, Tunis, Occidental Africa, IndoChina, Cochin-China, Cambodia, the Soudan, besides giving attention to the old French province in which Marseilles is situated, Provence. Entering by the grand portal, duly made gay and frivolous

[graphic][merged small]
[graphic][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« PreviousContinue »