Colonial expositions served as attractions well before children ever reached the colony.

Evidence

You will have certainly received [Grand] Maman’s letter where she asked you to allow me to go to Paris, but I thought it kinder of me if I asked you myself. You know much I would love to go, oh I would so! It would be one such cruel deception for me [not to be allowed]! I have so hoped to go one time to Paris to the [colonial] exposition. Mademoiselle Jeanne has herself proposed it and you know that she will keep us well under guard so we won’t get lost! There are a few girls who already have permission and it would be so hard for me to see them leave without me. I promise you and you can believe me, if you let me to do it, I will take far greater pains with my lessons and especially I won’t feel the consequences of my escapades! And what’s more I will see you! Oh, I want to so, so much! It would be the time when I would be going on vacation anyway. I implore you to not refuse me. Please allow me this pleasure! Don’t refuse it, I implore you! If you permit me, please telegraph me immediately so I will not longer be in doubt. I’m sure now that I have asked you in such a way you can’t refuse me. Just think, there are not expositions like that of the exposition of 1878 every year. Adieu dear Pati-Pati. I thank you already, Whatever his expectation, it was neither confidant nor friend that Suze became. — Ann Laura Stoler, Along the Archival Grain_ Epistemic…, 1492

Categorization

• XREF: Relates to the reader’s research on colonial mail and childhood socialization into empire, as well as exposition scholarship.