New-York tribune., 1873-05-19
NEW-YORK, MONDAY, MAY 49, 1873.
THE UNIVERSAL EXHIBITION.
BEFORE AND AFTER THE OPENING.

| VIENNA, April 30.-Whoever wants to know the
meaning OF the German word URrHhe (unrest), should
be here to-day cannot undertake to report for other
| countries but the representatives of the United
| States and those Of Austria with whom they come
in contact Ito speak in the Bulwerian style the
Slaves of Time and the Children of Necessity. The
| Americans are running hither and thither-State
| Commissioners correspondents, exhibitors, archi-
tects mentally wringng their hands in their anxiety
| to discover where and how to secure the coveted
privileges for to morrow; while the Austrian officials
behind time and therefore sore beset, tempo
rarily lose all qualities except their courtesy.
| The landlords are haf-bewildered by the crowd
| of guests who insist on other rooms, OF
new arrangements to avoid the enormous scale of
prices which is to take effect tomorrow. The own
ers of private apartments still expecting to make
little fortunes, and their demands on the
second call; they first insist in renting for six
months, the whole pay in advance, and never come
down to less than three months. The strike of the
5000 hacks is only half over the Onehorse vehicles
returning to their stands to-day. These vehicles
called Congortdbles, here; and the two-horse car
riages, the Uncomfortables, still hold out. The
weather, finally is in a state of great doubt and un
easness, trying alternately to and to blow and
not entirely succeeding in either.
The only members of the new Commission who
Roosevelt, and Charles F. spang-with Mr.. Neil
rath whose position is not affected by the removal
of the Cd set of Commissioners, have been work
ing bravely in the midst of the most discouraglng
embarrassments and annOyances. / shall not al
lude 10 the circumstances of the change as they
have already been related by another of your cor
respondents but no one, not upon the spot, can
adequately understand the difficulties under which
they assume Office and the amount of sef-sacri6ce
involved in their acceptance, at such time. Had
there been change, could not have been ready
for the Opening; country in fact, will be entirely
ready; but there is now, at least, organizing en-
ergy at work which will secure us good representa-
ton within few weeks.
The Royal guests believe are all on hand The
Crown Prince and Princess of Germany arrived last
evening, the Prince of Wales and Prince Arthur the
day before and the Crown Prince of Denmark came
this morning. The Duke Of Oldenburg is also here,
the Count of Flanders, and various minor personages
of the blue blood. The receptions have been rather
quiet. but of very cordial in character. The
Viennese do not seem to be given to decorations,
cheering, trumphal arches, and the like. see no
signs yet, of any special popular display for TO-
morrow and doubt whether there will be anything
more than crowded streets. am surprised at this,
as the Exposition has been the great pride and hope
of the city for nearly two years past and Will enrich
n large proportion of the population il they
do not ruin their chances by too great
rapacity. / am little disappointed in the archi-
tectural effect of the Exposition Building. On
approaching Vienna you can only see the broad
funnel-shaped roof of the Rotunda rising over the
trees of the Prater. Its apparent hight is consider
ably lessened by its great span, and the two wings,
with their combined length of half mile, increase
this effect The location, between the shady ay-
~ fbp prata nd ed
and grassy meadows, yet almost touching the
northern suburb of Vienna, is all that could be
desired 1t is better than Hyde Park or the Champ
dc Mars. There is space for every country and
almost everything that has been offered, with no
signs Of stinting crowding anywhere The ar
rangement also, while less artistic than that of the
French Exposition of 1867 is completer and more
convenient for the exhibitors.
have just returned from final inspection Of the
Hall of Industry, it is officially styled previous
to the opening The work which has been done in
the last three days is amazing. When l saw the
great Rotunda last Saturday, foorless vacant and
dreary scarcely thought it possible that it could
be brought into condition which His X X. ApOs-
tohc Majesty, Francis-Joseph. would behold with
satisfaction lbut it already suggests the imposing
character of the opening ceremonies Out of the
bare ring in the center, gorgeous bed of azaeas.
springng from green turf has been evoked, with
the promise of fountain in their midst Pavilions
and groups Of statuary have arisen, and the Impe-
rial platform is already carpeted for its guests The
converging divisions of the vast ring roped off
for the representatives Of the various departments
who are privileged to occupy them, and one can
already guess how the outer encircling belt OF ladies
will brighten these dark triangular slices
of the sterner and uglier sex. Yester-
day-so this mornings papers state e-two
.lgI ,nAA Aln
long building for machinery, and threw out all
the boxes and planks they found, regardless of the
protests of the exhibitors. 1t was rumored that a
battalion would be employed in the main building
to-day; but this was doubtless, only menace, in
tended to work on the jaded souls Of the foreigners
as if they had not already done their utmost to be
prepared. l stayed until O'clock when nothing
more was possible than the clearing away OF the
refuse. Some countries have half arranged their
contributions; no one wholly. Germany, France,
and England make partial show in the west aisle;
Austria and Italy rather less; while America and
Brazil at the end cover their emptiness with dis
play of emblems and flags. Even this drapery over
our present nakednes might have been wanting but
for the zeal of Mr. Reck the architect OF the Com
mission, who took the work in hand.
Very few if any, Of the outer buildings are en-
tirely completed and the inspection of them, on ac
COunb VI buc lOOsc BldfOl tlioubh "hA"H NAN --SN
wade, will be somewhat Of task for few weeks TO
come. But the southern portal, by which the En-
peror and his royal guests will enter offers finished
avenue of approach. flanked by fresh turf flowers
and fountains If the rotunda had an elevation OF
lOO CT so feet more, the effect would be very
imposing for the liberal space allowed Is grand IN
itself However, the predictions which have been rte
throughout Germany for the past month, that the
opening must of necessity be postponed, Will
not be fulfilled. Nor win it, l am now