The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16
opening of the Crystal Palace in
Paris.

A Paris lettet-writefto one Of the London
Journals writes as follows about the open
ing Of the Crystal Palace, in Paris.
"From half.past ten o'clock, when the
doors were opened, until noon, a continued
stream of people poured in, the variety of
costumes in the central aisle making quite
gay appearance. At noon the doors were
closed, and very dull hour was spent, un-
enlivened By music or anything else, except
staring and talking. About eight thousand
persons were then within the walls. The
benches of all the public bodies were full,
and the diplomatic corps had not man mis-
sing. As noon chimed, detachment Of the
Cent Gardes, in their theatrical costume of
steel and sky-blue, marched in and formed
an avenue to the throne. Soon aiterward
came the Prince Napoleon, escorting (ofall
the persons in the WORLD that excellent la
dy, Queen Maria Christina, late of Spaih.-!
With the Prince came the Imperial Com
mission of Jurors. At twelVe-and.a-half
o'clock salute of artillery was fired, which
led the assembled company 10 suppose that
the Emperor had set out. Another dreary
half-hour succeeded. Sometime after one
O'Clock the noise Of shouting gave notice of
their Majesties approach, and preceded by a
number of outsiders, escorted by cuirassiers
of the guard, and attended by their suite, in
three or four carriages, Napoleon aud the
Empress, and King Jerome and the Princess
Mathilde, descended from state carriage
at the door of the Palace Of Industry. -
"The Emperor, with his beautiful wife by
his side, both looking fatigued and careworn,
remained standing on the steps OF the throne,
while Prince Napoleon, President of the
Commission, read speech. Nobody heard
a wcrd of this address, which seemed rather
prosy, and occupied considerable time. 1t
has since been published in the Monit1er -
The Fmperor's reply was briefly as follows:
"'In placing you, my cousin, at the head
of the Commission to whom was confded SO
difficult a task, wished to give you proof
of my confidence, and / am happy to see
that confidence has been justified. beg
that you will convey my thanks to the Com
missioners for their enlightened care and in
rdefatigable zeal. open with joy this Tenn
pie of Peace, which invites all nations to
Concord.'" ... ...-
"The Emperor and Empress then left
their position on the platform, and proceed
ed, followed by their attendants, in sort oil
a procession, to take cursory glance Of the
articles exposed on the stalls. Way had to
be made for them through the crowd, and
they were frequently brought to stand
BY dint of elbowing they succeeded in max
ing the tour of the building, and once more
stood bowing on the steps of the throne.-
Eugene, we may mention, wore superb
tiara of pearls, and, with her ladies', was ar
rayed in costume of that fashion which the
profane call slow bodied" Having made
their acknowledge dement's to the company
their Majesties left the hall with their suite
not more than half an hour having elapsed
since their arrival Almost Immediately af.
terward the company broke up. The bar
riers that prevented access to the buildings
of the fine arts and of machinery had been
removed, and the public began to circulate
in the long gallery. The imperial cortege
with its outriders and escort, whirled rapidly
homeW ard. The exposition of the world's
industry was opened"
The Paris correspondent of the New York
Times says:
"The Inauguration of the exposition has
disappointed many and discouraged more
The ceremony was cold. and offered but lit
tie interest to the spectators; while thu
brevity of the Emperor's speech and his ey
ldent indifference, sent spasm to the hear
of the scripholders, who had reckoned OF
more ecIat, and programme of entertain
| ment vastly more attractive