The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-24
WASHINGTON, d. G..

PARIS. Au01tsf d. Il

AXIS, august Ziy 1901.
The INAUGURATION of the Louvre The En-
q,gfss's Dress-the National Fete ON St. Ma
~ Ieon's Doy-The Illumination and Beau
h,m Firetrorks-7he Camp at ChaIons--
Tie Emperor Of Russia Expected at the
A French officer Accused of the Murder of
"a Influential arabian Chief
To the Editor Of the National Era:
The junction of the Louvre with the Tuille.
ries is com pleted so far IS the exterior is con-
cerled; but it will yet require many years OF
artistic labor ere the interior of this vast TN.
erlskiug can be finished. On Friday, the
Of the great galleries Of that portion of the
building commenced in July, 1852, and finally
terminated in 1851, which has cost the present
Government thirty six millions of francs. The
Emperor and Empress, accompanied by Prin
cess Msthilde, Princess Murat, and a number
of ladies of honor, Prince Jerome, Prince Ma
poison, and the gentlemen of the Court, left the
Tulleries by the Triumphsl Arch, crossing La
Piece de Ia Cdrrousel, and stopped at the Pa
siliOn Demon, where their arrival was an.
noun ed by salvo of artillery from the Hotel
ses jnrdtides, and the drums of many munich
pal regiments drawn up near the Pavilion
Demon, beating aur champs. Their Majesties
were received, on alighting from their gala car
ria yes, by the Minister of State and the great
officers of the Crown after which, they pro-
ceeded up the magnificent double staircase,
where twelve Cent gardes, in their elegant gala
dress, stood posted at intervals; they then pro-
ceeded through the vestibule, in front of which
is placed colossal bronze bust of Napoleon
the First, surmounted by tricolored hsgs, lead
ing to the gallery where the ceremony took
place.
The unfinished state of the interior of that
magnificent buildisg made it necessary in some
dtgree to or sment it, to do honor to the cere-
m0ny in which the highest personages of the
land took part, as well as the workmen and
artists, whose exertions greatly contributed to
bring the colossal enterprise to q happy
conclusion-an epoch that will ever be COM
memorative of the activity of the present
dynasty. The sides and ceilings of the gal
lery in which the ceremony took place were
Consequently temporarily covered with canvas
painted gray in panels, TO represent what will
b. its appearance hereafter. AS this gallery is
stined for the exhibition of the works of liv.
ing artists, everything about it is extremely
simple. The panels before mentioned were
ernbelshed in the centre by escutcheons of the
arms Of the Empire, with the letter N. beneath,
aud the windows were draped with crimson
velvet, trimmed with gold. The dais was raised
a the end opposite the entrance, ornamented
to suit the window hangings, and caught ND in
Il centre by a richygilt Imperial eagle ORR
Il ans Of flags were suspended from the ceiling,
alternating green covered with gold bees and
tli-cllored
Their Majesties seated themselves on the
Is, and on either side of them were Prince
Jrrome, Prince Napoleon, the Princess Ma
uide. AID Princess Murat The grand off
GERS of the Crown and ladies of honor stood be-
nd the Imperial family Seats were arranged
a.ong the sides, rising above each other; and
IL the body of the gallery, forms were placed
tansversely for the workmen, among whom
IS observed a woman by the name of Jean
tie, who, at the death of her husband, was
left without resources. She replaced him at
his post, and has worked on the Louvre ever
since, winning the esteem of her fellow work
n IN and employer. The ceremony was con.
dlcted with great simplicity, and lasted nearly
t,irty minutes.
Mr.. Fould, Minister of State, addressed a
f. words to bis Majesty, paying a Just tribute
o. praise to those who had taken part in the
r pid accomplishment of that great work Then
Il flowed the distribution Of the crosses of the
Legion Of Honor by the Emperor to the meri.
T. rous who had won laurels, either BY their
SKILL or industry, mark Of his Imperiel ap-
hntt H. al Il
Il ibution, his Majesty stood up and addressed
tie assembly, coDgratulating it and the coun-
toy on the happy termination of this old nation.
a monument, the embellishments of which he
raced through the regns of Louis XI, Henri
Nv, the 18th, l4th, 18th, and 9th Louis, down
t. that of his own uncle; and lastly, to that of
the "ephemeral power Of 1848 "-contriving.
BIZ this last slight allusion, to combine mon
chial with popular favor and to present this
Dew work to the nation as emphatically that of
France. We all know that Frenchmen look
uoon Paris as part of their own property, and
all the improvements of the capital are consd-
cred by them necessary to maintain the nation
q glory of France. To embellish Paris is the
interest of French king, and Napoleon III
understands the necessity of it better than
many of his pre- decessors.
The Emperorthen gave his arm to the Empress,
Gers Mathilde, leaning on her fathers az m, and
tie other members of the Imperial family, with
their respective suites. The Emperor wore the
uniform of a general officer. The Empress, as
usual, was most becomingly sttired; her dress
vas of pink silk, with two broad hounces of
Point de Venise lace, covering the whole skirt,
giving it the effect Of double skirts. The waist
vas high in the neck, buttoned up to the throat
with pearl buttons, and without basque The
sleeves were long, and also trimmed with Point
de Venise lace. lace mantils, pointed be-
hind like shawl and trimmed all round with
a deep lace, and a narrow one above it, CORES.
ponding with the lace on the sleeves. Her bon
net was of tulle illusion, trimmed with besuti.
ful white blondes and tufts of lovely primroses
en- either side, and small wreath of the same
fowers across the forehead in the tour de tete,
tremendously crownipg that youthful and beau
tiul brow. We were fully convinced that skirts
! ad not diminished, but were rather astonished
10 ind them still on the increase.
The Empress appeared to have two instead
Ct one hoped skirt, out of which her slender
and flexible waist gracefully emerged.
There is one class of society that will GER
family not complain a. the increasing quantity
q ma erlal required to make full dress, such
a' would have made four or FIVE for our grand
mothers. Empress Eugenie must be in high
iAvor with the merchants.
Princess Mathilde wore white taffetas foun-
ca dress, trimmed with pink silk, pink 6ounces,
fno r1ches OF the same above, on the border
OF esch of the three hounces. and beautiful
Nenitian guipure mantilla. A chin bonnet.
without any other ornament than a rich feather.
to complete this elegant toilet Feathers are
Becoming more and more in favor, and give an
sristocratic cschet in the absence of diamonds
that cannot be worn in the day.
Princess Murst wore an Azof green taffetas
Dress, with deep Brussels point lace covering