Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-04-11
opening of the Paris Exposition.

tdIlSi hpih i5b WuiCu gives tne AohoV-
ing account OF the opening of the Uni
versal Exposition
The great Paris Universal Exposition
was formally opened this morning. The
day was observed as a holiday by the
entire population of the city. The morn
ing dawned cloudiiy, but the sky cleared
at an early hour, and by ten O'Clock in
the forenoon the weather was most
beautiful, like that enjoyed Of fine day
of May in New York. The state of the
weather may be taken indeed as typical
of the Exhibition building, which is
now in great confusion, but when fully
completed will be one of the wonders Oh
the world. Viewed at distance the
building resembles mammoth gasome-
ter dressed with flags, but when entered
it is found to be in every way conven-
lent. At eleven o'clock A. M. the doors
were opened, and by the time ofthe Em-
peror's arrival there were five thousand
persons inside. Outside, along the
I hills and roads for miles around Paris,
/ at least one hundred thousand people
had assembled. There were eight thous-
and policemen on duty and the order
was excellent. Every carriage in Paris
| seems to be employed in journeys to and
! from the building. The grounds OF and
around the Exosltion building are in a
lamentable state of confusion. Wagons
and workmeu were busy csrting away
the rubbish when the Emperor arrived.
Heaps of dirt aud straw and packing
cases lay around or were temporarily
thrown into the unfinished arbors and
fancy cottages. Inside the building was
the same scene-everywh debris; not
one tenth of the goods were opened or
arranged, but the French department
was, OF course in the best order, next to
that the Russian, and third the English;
all the other departments were not
ready. The American department is
one Of the most incomplete, and the
commissioners, exhibitors and Ameri-
cans generally in the city are very dis
satisfied with Commissioner Becswith,
who appears to be totally inefficient.
The only department in operation is the
restaurants, but even here the Americans
are behind hand. The only goods which
have been damaged on the voyage are
American. At one O'Clock the invited
guests assembled in the art gallery,
where America made fine show, many
Ane pictures being exhibited and well
hung, but the English display was much
greater. When the guests gathered
however, the superiority of the American
ladies was conceded. They were the
bellies of the day: A brilliant company
blazing with diamonds and orders, filled
the central hall to welcome the Emperor
and Empress, who came precisely at two
o'clock in the afternoon.
The crowd outside the building was
good natured, but not demonstratlve
towards them. No cheers greeted the
imperial party. They drove up long
avenue covered with a velvet canopy OF
green and gold, decorated with flags and
lined with soldiers. They alighted at q
splendid pavilion specially built for the
Emperor. The Emperor Immediately
reappeared and gave his arm to the En-
press, and proceeded on foot to the mair
door. During the imperial progress ful
bands played the national airs. The
cheering now grew louder, the Americans
and English present leading with hearty
"hurrahs," aud Turks, Japanese, Italians
Prussians Germans aud French joining
in the different styles peculiar to theil
several countries. The Emperor anC
Empress bowed repeatedly TO the crow,
as they assembled the platform which
runs around the machine gallery. The
Emperor wore q plain evening dress
with a scarf Of the Legion Of Honor
and carried 4 heavy cane. He LOOKED
smiling, but pale and tatigued. Thu
Empress was robed in black silk, anC
looked 10 fine health. A distinguished
party of senators and ministers formec
an escort for the imperial party. Tn
J members of the di plomatie corps accred
tied to the French court clothed in uni
, form, had special seats reserved for then
at the opening scene, but they were com
pletely hidden from view. Preceded b.
the chamberlains, the party passed rouuC
the entire gallery, nearly mile long
. | The different national commissions stoo
! on platform over the sections allotte'
, 10 their countries. Turks japanese
Russians, MooTs, Tunisiaus and Persian
: wore their full national costumes. tn
5 Emperor spoke q few words to eac
commission, but at the American depart
, ment he stopped with the Empress an
bowed to the crowd, who were Cheerin
heartily. Half m hour was consume
8 in this tour. Then the Corteee descende
. and passed through the art and fe'
e other galleries and at three Ocleck RI
turned to the palace. The Expositio
will not be ready till May. One'half {
all the space is allotted to France, an
that is not complete. The English ar
very strong in machinery, beating tn
: Americans in that department. Euglan
q being near Paris accounts in grea
| measure for this. There is nothing lik
-, SO many strangers here as were expected
The number OF Americans is not muc
greater than usual every season. Price
{ have gone up fearfally. The hotels rails
+. their charges fifty per cent, after TIL
week. 1t is useless to come so see ID
Exposition before May.
: LEGISLATIVE CORRUPTION. Alba
= l ox, IF Me-, N-orIr ~