Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-11-15
PARIS LETTER.
Distribution OF AWARDS,


The old saying of thing going up like
a rocket and coming down like stick,
must be reversed in speaking Of the Ex-
hibition Of 1878. Nothing could have been
more unutterably miserable than the open
ing ceremony; nothing more successful than
that which brought the enterprise to close.
For weeks after the Inauguration the palace
in the Champ de Mars was to such an ex-
tent encumbered with unopened packing
cases that except in the English section,
the Exhibition seemed a delusion, while
the Trocidero was kept rigidly closed after
the fair had been open a full month. At
this moment the space that extends from
the Ecole Militaire to the Place du Troca-
dero contains, probably, more treasures
than have ever been collected together in
one spot since the beginning of the world.
It Unsatisfactory to have a record that the
managers who have worked up what prom
ised to be gigantic failure to huge sue
cess, have profted by the experience of the
opening day, and have avoided at the cere-
mony of the distribution of prizes, the
blunders that converted the Inauguration
into failure. No praise would be exces-
slve for the really wonderful way in which
the enormous audience assembled to-day in
the Palais de FIndustrie were conducted to
the seats set apart for the different classes
of actors and spectators. There was no
scrambling for places, no obstruction at
the doors, nor was there at any moment the
slightest confusion in the carrying out of
the necessarily elaborate arrangements.
Although some q, 900 persons were present,
the wide avenues were never allowed to be
blocked up, and the guests were induced to
remain in the places assigned to them by
courteous officials. The consequence was
that everybody was deeply impressed by
the magnifcence Of a spectacle finer than
anything that has yet been produced under
Republican regime. A reproach often
levelled against Republic is that it does
nothing to satisfy the love of splen1or in
herent in the popular mind-thsat it stands
at as great disadvantage compared to a
Monarchy as Professionalism does to Cathol-
icism in countries where the love of music
and color and pomp is breathed in with the
very air. No such reprosch can henceforth
be launched at the cl4ssically modelled head
in which at tO-day's fete the French Re-
public was idealised. With the single ex-
ception that the famoussCent Gardes we're
to-day replaced by the Garde Republicaine,
there was no particular in which the eere-
mony differed from what it would have been
if the Emperor had still occupied the throne
of France; and although the employment
of the military most certainly added to the
effect of the scene, there were not wanting
rigid puritans who, if they could have had
their way would not have allowed bayonet
to be seen in a place which, for the time
being, was emphatically temple of peace.
But, as the-soldiers were very useful in lin
ing the avenues that surround the Palais
and in marking the blocks Of seats in the
interior Of buildings, it is ungraeious, es-
pecially in a military country like France,
to object to their presence. Thanks to the
admirable decorations, and to the extraord-
mary variety of uniforms worn by repre-
sentatives Of every country under the sun,
the coup de sell was as rich in color as the
most ardent admirer of Rubens could de-
sire. To say nothing of the diplomatists
who formed a dazzling groupe to the i'm
mediate right of the President, there we're
scattered about among the delegates and
commissioners of foreign countries speci-
mems of military uniforms aud civil COS
tunes such as rarely indeed are brought TO-
gether; while France supplied her quota CT
color in the coats covered with palm-leaves
of the members of the French Academy,
and in the robes of the Judges of the va
rious courts Of law. It was only the Dep
uties and Senators who were conspicuous
in their places of honor by the plain even
ing dress, which was de rignlar for all not
in uniform who entered the building. As
they we're marshalled up to their places of
honor with the same state which was shown
to the Marshal, the words GsSt been dis
t'ngae, came to ones lips, and one felt that
under Republic the representations of
the sovereign people needed no costume to |
add to their dignity.
1t is not without reason that a leading
Republican journal, while regrettinp the /
end of the Universal Evnosi-
ton, which now as on the opening dav Is
the object of the wonder and admiration
Of the assembled world, describes itas about
to close in full success. Indeed, since NAV
lst when the inaugural ceremony was
marred, until to-day when its last grand |
tete was celebrated with the pomp and dig
nifty beftting such an occasion, the Ex-
hibition, so far from displaying a single |
sign OF decline, has gradually increased in
success. The beginning Of to-day's reioic-
ings, as far as regards the general popula-
tion Of Paris, were not so conspicuous for
their enthusiasm as they were on Nav 1st
but it must be remembered that the field
was incomparably smaller. The inaugu-
ration Of the Troesdero and the Champ de
Mars was the welcome of the French ma
ton to the world. To-day's ceremony at
The Palais de l'Industrie was as it were n
private fete in honor Of the officers, jurars.
ana 1 e19ioltors, who, 4, by their combined
sHoIiS nave made the success Of the Ex-
libitiop,