The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-05-25


INTO the grand corridore of the
palace. Every thing WIS unfinished,
the brlcklayers and plasterers sur
prised in their job, had evidently
only beat a retreat few hours be-
fore magnificent Goeblins hung
against the walls souvenirs Of the
more prosperous days of France,
out they were hung there to con-
ceal unsightly piles of lumber and
mountains of ruinous debris. At
one O'Clock the foreign ambassa-
dors began to arrive, and these
were followed by number of dis
tinguished personages, the most
notable being those of England,
Spain and Italy. The footmen and
coachmen were all in knee breeches
and cooked hats; gorgeous in YES
ture and resplendent in gold lace;
the carriages were marvels of the
coachmakers' art, and the ROYAL
occupai is covered with orders and
gittering in diamonds were evil
IDENTITY of no common clay. At two
precisely a flourish Of trumpets, and
a wild rush of chasseurs announced
the arrival of the Marechal Presi-
dent of the Republic; the drums
beat the brazen trumpets brayed,
but no vivas rent the air for the
ruler of France; the crowd parted
respectfully as be entered, heads
were uncovered, and many bowed
low; but the deep enthusiasm which
popularity engenders was wanting,
and he passed on to the grand pa
villion in silence. Caught up in
the wild throng that followed in bis
wake, | was hurried along the
corridor; one moment / was in the
midst of the delegation of Deputies,
and the next | was in the suite of
the Persian Ambassador, soon I
found myself touching elbows with
the Crown Prince of Denmarck; an
other surge, and | was landed on
the stand alongside of the President
of the Republic. AT this moment,
the scene was particularly grand
and inspiring. A lovely amphllhea-
tre decked in the gayest robes of
spring stretching in gentle slope
across the Seine lay between you
and the main Exhibition. The
stand itself was of purple and gold
filled with magnificent gilded chains
tor the Royal guests who had been
invited, and President MacMahon
and his staff. Immediately behind,
on raised dias, were assembled
the Processes and wives of the
foreign Ambassadors, and away in
a corner gorgeous IN barbaric splen-
dor the Ambassador and suite from
Assam and several other savaees.
In front OF tie stand beautiful
cascade poured its waters into a
marble lake on the margin OF which
a gilded elephant was trumpeting
his angry blast, near by a huge
rhlnoceros was uttering his roar of
defiance; opposite him a magnific-
ent bull lashed the air with his
fierce tail; while his neighbor a
proud horse undaunted by his looks
seemed ready 70 grapple with him
IN the embrace Of death.
Over the buildings of the Expo
sition rose the bright giided dome
of the Invalides, under which moul-
der the sacred ashes of the Emperor;
away in the distance was the sombre
towers of Notre dame and behind it,
in bold relief against The sky, the
great dome of the Pantheon where
in the days of the Revolution they
enshrined the naked goddess OF
Liberty. To the East like some
majestic giant stood the Arc de
Trionphe de rEtoile inscribed with
its splendid battle roll. of a hundred
victories; and on the North rose
Montmartre from whose heights
seven years ago the Emperor Will
liam, at the head of his conquering
army, looked down on the starving
md beleaguered city. The storm
which had been threatenir G all the
morning now burst upon the as
sembled thousands with unrelent-
ing fury; the pitiless rain poured |
down in torrents, and the roar OF
heavens artillery drowned the thun-
der of the guns that greeted the
President of the Republic. The
opening ceremonies were griev
Gus disappointment to almost every
body present. There was no music,
no grand anthem by which France
and the world should remember the
day. Tho entire absoSce Of all en-
thuSiasm in the most enthusiastic
capital was as marked as it was la
to those who were expect
ing one of the most splendid pa
gents of ancient or modern times.
As spectacle it was the deadest OF
all dead failures, as public cele
brat!on to whoever has seen the |
Derby or the boat race on the
Thames, the contrast would be
most untavorable; but tor this, there
are here gathered together such an
of the worlds genius
and the worlds wealth, as has nev
er been witnessed in the world be-
fore. Strong with the prejudices OF
my own country, glorylng III It's
past success as | do, | am still com
PEELED to speak with reverence and
respect of this magniticans national
undertaking which in my estima
lion considering the dlfficultie>
which surrounded it, has had nc
parallel on the face of the earth