New-York tribune., 1876-05-06
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

LII EhO L Nun lie LOl LIZ.
INCIDENTS OF THE PARIS EXHIBITION
1uR OPENING CEREMoNIHs-1HEFT or PACKING
oxRs-PICgPoeRETs-THE sODA-wATER FoUN-
TAIN-HUs IAN TEA AND TUNIsL,N CDFFEE.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: On the 1st Of April, 1867, the Expo
son Universclle" officially opened The ceremonies
were very simple. Tae Emperor, In civilian clothes,
wearing only the "grand Gordon" Of the Legion OF
Honor, accompanied by the Empress, the Corps Dplo
mltique, and the Imperial Commissioners, with lew
gushed guests walked through the main building
The commissioners Of each nation, standing at the en-
trance OF each section introduced the procession
passed. The preparations were Of course very mnch
hurried at the last moment. and some OF the large
avenues at the further end of the building were mpSs
BILE OF packngcases In one place. where the
procession had to descend stairs leading from the
gallery, which extended all through the Machinery
Department carpet thrown hastily the stes had
not been tackled The head OF the procession walked down
with all the gravity the occasion required but the tan Oh
IL slid down with precipitation than dignity ana
foreign commissioner was seen counting is ri0s
and rubbing shns after the hurried descent OF those
iron stairs.
But the main pont was achieved, the Exhibition was
opened Next day the public poured in, and the thousand
and big and small establishments that were anxosy
waiting for the Exhibition TO DO opened, started
their various money making machines On the opening
day the admission fee was twenty fancs exc pt iO te
holders of tickets (Which cost 100 rancsh who
had the privilege OF being admitted These season tick
cts were the OF good deal OF fun Each one was
decorated with carte dc ciSe photograph OF the pnr-
chaser thereby making 1t n0n-ranserabe, and one man
who had shaved of his beard was refused admance at
the opening and sued the Imperial Commission iOr dd-
ages which he recovered.
The slowing away Of the packing cases was very weh
managed but even In the best regulated exb tions
accidents will One OF them is worthy OF mention
few days before the opening bills were posted up IN
different languages stating that the that were not
removed the 29th of March would be removed packed
or unpacked by order OF the Imperial Commission This
was intended more as threat than positive ORDER
but nevertheless the day mentioned gang OF men be-
gan carting away empty cases from the bohemian ana
the Belgian sections The exhibitors thought II was all
right and il only at the close OF the season. Whe
the cases were again given out tH"t
was discovered that these boxes had been
"hfted" by some sharpers who had disposed of them
The exhibition was fine field of action for pcfocketS,
and II everybody who lost pocket-hooK bought ne"
One method which the thieves had OF dspOsng O1 purses
they had empted was very good Opposite tne eXnlpi MIDI
of land called Tie Trocadero.' This was laid ont
grass Surrounded by low fences Alter the exhibition
the city had the grass mown ana an lncrediblf llIge
number Of empty and haiostroycd pOcket-Do0ks was
found 1t was the American section that me nISt
sOda-water fountain came upon the Europeans ~ IeNC
lson Tie introduction Of cream in the soda was re-
ciyed by the French with much pleasure ana aston
Ishmeut as the sraws in sherry cObbtIs had been when
Tie first American cafe opened III Pafl'. After
looking for some time, a FTenchman would aSk
for glass, sip IL le-'rely. ana on reeelhlns a
check hard rubber, with the American eagle stamped
on aud the figure ten O on tie other thinking
that I advertising metal, would quietiy pocket
it, smile and walk away. Tie soda FOUNTAIN hdu loulu
necessary his process ana 10 procure sass
Of soda YOU had first 10 buy check The Othel lashoh-
able dfnks German beer Russian tea and Iunisim
coffee The Russian tea was what wOuid he slylcd III
this free country "a fraud In small restaurant,
decorated chiefly with saw-pierced ana saW-Woihcu
wood moi paiuted, few less Russian looking
walters dressed bright silk Shirts worn Outsde ana
top boots served small cups of tea accompanied Dy
microscopic Of the driest imaSDa toast, Tor
the sum 80 each Now 90 sous III fails is aIe
thing 10 go there that between the hours OF and
IN the afternoon it very diiheat TO nad vacant
table in tho Kussian tea-house. 1he lait luIiridl
was a more plebcian place. Tie French people,
especially the lower classs have ever since lhe cOl St
of Algeria manifested great interest IN ever! Lhlhg
African what shepkeeper in Paris has not at least
one cousin In the IOuayes who has returned irOln me
wars with stories O 10 and conquest ana snubDe tc
Iarlsan coffee eXOlled to the skies the MOSha OF
Tunis aud Alger5. Tire luniSan cOileerOom was III
the kasenent OF the Palace Bey o Iuns The room
was dark and the ceing vtly low AT one emu was aa
orchestra, members Of which had Ofolm, sort Oi
cuitar-rther suggestive of distant relationship with
anio-and triangle The musicians uttered yeils ana
but as tine public general and the frnc ia particular
always like best what they understand least TINS music
Was thought magnificent The cOnee was not less lny5
terious. IL up with tie GrOunGs III a cup
which was small and rested in aDother shaped IKE
an eggeup TIC presence of the grounds caused great
deal cOughiu and choking and the absence OF clea
and especially sug disturbed many persons, Dat the
7unisian coffee a success AS the RUSSIAN tci was
the arstOcrac drink the African cunee became inc
popular drink at 10 sous "a cup music lncluueu' f't
Aer or "a B.,