The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-23 00:00:00

THE PARIS EXHIBITION.

(nom ov resew, 0011118POSDI2rf.)
. . .

A festival will take place on the 14th of July, in
the great nave of the Palais de l'lndustrie, in the
Champs Elyscles. The decorations put up for the
distribution of prizes will not be taken down until
after this festival. All the musical societies are
invited to join in it. This is the programme :
Sunday, 14th July, 1867, there will be a rehearsal
of the festival at the Palais de l'lndustrie, at seven
in the morning, and the festival will take place at
one o'clock the same day. On Monday, the 15th,
the prizes will be awarded. Wednesday, the 17th,
competitions in fanfares and harmony. Thursday,
the 18th, prizes for fanfares and harmony
awarded at the Palaia de l'lndustrie. For infor-
mation the directors of societies should apply to the
general commissioner of the Universal Exhibition.
On Sunday, the 21st of July, a competition of
military music will take place, also in the Palais de
l'lndustrie. Each band will execute a piece of its
own selection, and the overture of Weber's Oberon.
It seems that the manufacture of musical instru-
ments will occupy a great part of public interest in
the Exhibition. There are impromptu concerts
going on in the afternoon constantly. This year
it is not the more or less clever amateurs who
merely try the pianos as at other Exhibitions ;
but well-known professional instrumentalists have
several times displayed their skill, and a brilliant
musical festival has been the result.

The visitors of the American part of the Exhibi-
tion were congregated last Friday around a mag-
nificent piano from the American firm of Chicker-
ing and Sons, of Boston, which the well-known
pianist, Edouard Wolff, was playing. The instru-
ment is remarkable not only for the clearness
of its tones, but for ita elegant exterior and solid
make. It is said that the most celebrated makers
of pianos owe a valuable invention to the Cl icker-
ing establishment, the Erard establishment of
America as it has been surnamed. Alfred Jed!,
Madame Jaell, T. Ritter, Madame Escudier-
Kataner have also tried these famous pianos, and
have each testified to their superiority. Prince
Oscar, of Sweden, who is an excellent musician,
tried several harmoniums and pianos the other day.
He was especially pleased with M. Blanchet's in-
struments, and paid him a great many compli-
ments. The Prince was also very pleased withthe
little pianos, of a new form, which are constructed
to meet the inconveniences of steamboats.

I give you one of the latest Exhibition rumours.
It is said that a Russian company has bought the
materials of the Exhibition building—iron work,
pillars, everything. All these materials are to be
delivered up to the company in November. Thus
the building will certainly be closed to visitors in
October. I wonder to what use these Russian spe-
culators will put the framework of the gasometerf
Will they make a hothouse of it in St. Peters-
burg, or a riding school for the Cossack Cavalry 1
At last steps have been taken towards the proper
supply of cabs for visitors. The Imperial Commis-
sion has issued the following notice, viz., that
telegraphic offices are established at the gates of
the Exhibition, which will telegraph to a cab stand
with which they are in communication, and thus pro-
cure for every one a cab or remise, whichever they
require. The telegraphic offices are stationed at the
Porte de Labourdonnaye, the Porte Tourville,
Porte de l'Ecole, Porte Dupleix Porte Suffren,
Porte de Grenelle, Grand-Porte, and Porte de
l'Universit.S. The central office, where all kinds of
information respecting this system will be given, is
at the Porte de Labourdonnaye.
Italy is now becoming active in her department.
Garibaldi is uncovered, and is placed in an im-
posing position at the entrance of the Italian fur-
niture department, where he makes a wonderful
effect amid the elegant cabinet work. There is
some beautiful earthenware from Faenza in the
Italian courts. Some Turkish cushions in ena-
melled terra-cotta are disposed on the floor of the
furniture department, and have a very pretty
effect. I must confess that they do not look in-
viting to sit down on.
The Russian section of the park is becoming the
most delightful place. Among other novelties,
in one part of it the chairs are arranged in a vast
circle, in which the moujicka train Muscovite
horses. Thus, a miniature hippodrome is combined
with the pleasures of an open-air cafe.
Albert Wolff, in his chronique on the Exhibition,
has made the following observations, breathing a
charming spirit of hospitality to the stranger :

If, during the Exhibition, • °wintry cousin, or a stranger
shall come to you armed with a letter of introduction, is.
ceive him with open arms. On the morrow of his arrival
invite him to breakfast at a restaurant, where you will not
spend more than twenty-five sous. Then take your guest
to the Bourse, and let him be pushed about and hustled
for an hour or two by the stockbrokers' clerks. After the
Bourse, go with him on the knifeboard of the omnibus, to
the Champ de Mars. Tell him to walk about the
Lion for three hours, while you remain at the buffet. As
you leave the Exhibition offer your visitor •
glass of liquorice water, and tell him that
Baron Brine particularly recommends it as a drink.
Ask him to dinner, and feed him on potatoes.
and apologise to him by saying that since the opening of
the Exhibition meat is too dear. After dinner take your
guest to the Aquarium on the Boulevard Montmartre, and
let him watch the gold fish feeding on wafers, which are
given to them at about eight in the evening. From eight
to nine let bun have an hour's tragedy at the Eldorado.
Then terminate the delightful day by a visit to the
Athinee, where he will most likely hear one or two lee.
tures. The most intrepid visitor will not be able to stead
this regime, and on the morrow will be certain to ask yen
to see him to the railway station. A few hours later will
see him among his astonished family.
The violent contest that has been going on these
last two or three days between the proprietor of
the chairs in the park and the I Unonadiers and
restaurateurs has now become the subject of a law-
suit. The proprietor of the chairs has been told to
await the decision of the judge. I should hope
that the prig ilege of preventing Gusonadicrs frost
placing chairs outside the cafes will not be
granted. The women who let chairs in the
Champs Elysees might just as well refuse to
allow seats to be placed in the eares-ewo
It has been suggested that a ticket should be
given to persons who pay four soils for their chair,
enabling them to sit down in different parts of
the building. This is done in the Champs El)s;es
and elsewhere. It will be indispensable in the
Exhibition. _

The festivals and competitions in music, which
the Imperial Commissioners are preparing for duly,
continue to occupy the minds of the musical
world. I give you several details relative to the
instrumental societies. There will be international
contests between civil societies, and contests be-
tween the military bands of Europe. Twenty gold
modals • great prizes of 5,000, 4,000, 3,1100, ,1.101),
and 1,600 francs; medals of honour, and com-
memorative medals will be awarded in this com-
petition. These prizes represent in all WOG
francs, including the prizes which will be awarded
to the orpheoniats.
The exhibition of locksmiths' work and bell
will be opened at the close of the horticultural ex-
hibition. This is a good idea ; it saves the Impe-
rial Commission some considerable expense, and
permits the public to admire the beautiful gates
which the Paris locksmiths have set up here.
On Thursday the works for laying down the
railway lines which will go from the Exhibition to
Itillancourt were begun. They are now going oa
with great activity, and I dare say the railway will
be open to the public by the Ist of May.
A great change has been effected in every part of
the Exhibition during the past week. It is said
that Easter Monday will see a charming little
opening fête in the Horticultural Gardens, over
which the Empress will preside. The gardens acs
already delightful. The show of azaleas, the row'
garden, the rhododendrons, the ferns, and orchids
are all in their glory. The scene from the emi-
nence over the great aquarium is beautiful. nig
rocky height, most artistically contrived to imitate
the ruggedness of nature, is topped with a silver
glass globe, so arranged as toteffect in a series of
exquisite pictures every possible picturesque vie*
of the Eihibition and park. The aquarium under-
neath seems to be in the bowels of the earth.
the light streaming through fissures into the aster
where the fish are. Thu visitor appears to be
some well-protected cave under the ses, looking
out into the world of waters around him, at the
strange life that plays its part of the great scheme
under the waves.
The Emperor has been a frequent visitor, al