The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-11-22
Correspondence
OUR PARIS LETTER
Partisan Fetes-The Distribution Of
Prizes-The Great AsSemblage OF the
Worlds Representatives, &c &c.
From our Regular Correspondentl
HOTEL DU LOUVRE,
PARIS, Oct. 80, '78. J

From our Regular Correspondentl
HOTEL DU LOUVRE,
PARIS, Oct 80, '78.
The Paris Exhibition ttes commenced
on Sunday with free performances at
seven Of the largest theaters. This is
the first time the Republic has invited
the circenses of the Empire. The weather
proved bright and balmy enough for
some monster outdoor entertainment,
but this could not have been calculated
upon late in October, and the Govern
ment therefore provided for the popu-
lace festivities least affected by atmos
pheric influences One drawback to the
enjoyment was the number of people
necessarily disappointed. In the thea
ters thus opened there were about 10000
places available, and those who sought
admission were enormously in excess Of
this number. Although the perform
ance at the Opera was fixed for noon and
at the other theaters for 1 or p m, peo
pie actually began to collect near the
Francais at 10 the previous night, just
as they do outside the maires on the
eve of the issue of loan, and on the
closing of the Palais Royal at midnight
they took refuge from the rain in the
arcade Of the Rue Richelieu. Hear the
Opera groups remained in the cafes until
the closing hour, and then hung about
the reighborhood. intent on getting near
the head of the quene. The most per
feet order prevailed everywhere during
the long hours of waiting. There was
of course, keen scramble for the best
seats, and the Opera has never had such
an audience. The most luxurious build
ing in Paris was thronged with men in
blouses and women in white caps or
bareheaded, who during the intervals
between the acts promenaded up and
down the sumptous corridors and
lounged on the balcony. Such juxta-
position of wealth and indigence has not
been seen in Paris except when revolu
tionary mobs have taken Royal or Leg
islative Palaces by storm. The behavior
of the crowd was exemplary, and the
Opera is none the worse for this inva-
sion of the proleitariat. The opera was
Guillaume Tell. The audience warmly
spplauded the Marseillaise, which was
interpolated between the second and
third acts The Francois gave the Mis-
anthrope and the Paideurs;; the Opera
Comique, the Dame Blanche, the Odion,
R0dgune and the F0lies AmO'srcases;'
and the Historique, Marceau, while the
two circusus gave concerts, The city
was full of hustle. Many streets were
decked with flags, though this demon
stration was not 80 universal as four
months ago, and at night the municipal
buildings were illuminated, the Council
having spontaneously voted $4,000 francs
for that purpose.
The distribution of the prizes of the
Exhibition took place on Monday in the
Palais de L Industri, in the Champs
Elysees. The ceremony passed off
nos. successfully. The day broke close
and gloomy, and slight rain fell in the
morning, but towards eleven O'clock the
elements became more propitious, and
the afternoon turned out charming
The great central space of the palace
was transformed into magnificent hall,
which was elegantly and richly decora
ted. The east end Of the immense sale
was set apart for the places of honor.
Here series of raised platforms covered
with crimson and gold, rose one above
other till they reached the galleries. In
the center at the bottom was the estrade
of the President of the Republic, ,fianked
, on either side by the tribunes of the
Diplomatic and other official corps
Behind and above the Marshal sat the
members ofthe Senate and the Chamber
: The ground space was allotted to the
: juries, the exhibitors and their friends
Round the hall beneath the galleries ran
4 tribunes for the various countries rep.
resented at the Exhibition, beginning
with England Over these tribunes the
national colors of every land waved 10y
the side of trophies of French flags and
escutcheous emblazoned with the letters
"R F" and the word pax The CALLER
= . les were turned into open boxes for such
of the general public as we're lucky
>. enough to have procured a ticket
Above the Presidential estrade stood ou
in bold relief bust of the Republic
gorgeously bedecked with the avoritt
u tricolor, while throughout the buildingl
: banners and streamers Of every color
Ii and cline under the sun foated ane
e ntermingIed together. The music
=, composed of several military bands ant
choir of Orpheonists, 200 strong, wa
placed at the west end Of the palace.
e Representatives of England, Russii
and Turkey sat side by side in theil
respective military attire, and chatteG
1 with one another in such an apparent,
d. friendly way that one was almost tempt
,e ed to put the Eastern difficulty down a
y, romance got up for the amusement o
y the reading public. The Japanese Am
# bassador was there in his quaint dress
s. silent and placid, but he passed aImos
unnodced by the side of the Annamit
ambassador and his suite, e,whose swarth.
: faces and gaudy silk costumes attracts
'e more attention than they seemed toike
o. In the other Official tribunes sat sever
\, looking judges some in sable, others Il
ID seal, others in scarlet gowns; member
TX of the French Academy, with thei
ne laurel bordered coats and gilt rapier'
i'd bishops in purple robes-in short, ever
ir, conceivable and inconceivable species
er attire was to be seen, mingled togethe
in the most picturesque and Oversize
manner The proceedings began abou
:. :. half past twelve by the arrival of tn
az President and Bureau of the Chambe
70 of Deputies When everybody had BEL
ne tied down into his right place the defl
began to the insp;riting sound OF
'n Triumphal March, executed by the mi
'e itarv hands. First came the foreig
pt soldiers sent over to do duty at the E1h
ee bition. There were American, Sweedisl
all Moorish, spanish, and Italian troop