The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-05-25
OUR PARIS LETTER.
The Opening Of the Great Exposition

ed on the historic heights of Belle
vile went down in darkness and
blood, has France had such a splen.
did opportunity for military display
as at the opening of the Universal
Exposition. Crushed beneath the
ruthless hoofs of invading armies.
rent and torn with intestine discord
to-day she rises in her might and
proclaims to the world that the Re
public is supreme over the ashes OF
the Commune and the crumblino
ruins of the Empire. Whatever
may be our governmental sympathies.
whether kingly or republican, he
wonld be less than christian and nm.
worthy of the name of man. who
would deny to these people the
praise and the glory of having
rescued their country from such
! dire disaster and ruin as has scarce.
ly been experienced by any other
nation in ancient or modern time.
Seven years ago to-day the invader
Numbered at her gates; seven wears
ago this very month, the torch OF
the lncendiary left her palaces and
her halls of justice but heans Of
smouldering ashes, and to-day.
from every land, from the rising to
the setting of the sun, millions OF
pilgrims come to her with tribute to
assist at the opening of her Great
Exposition and to strengthen the
bond of peace whose doctrine is
enunciated in the universal brother
hood of man, and the Universal
Fatherhood of God.
For weeks past thousands upon
thousands OF distinguished strangers
have been pouring into Paris.
Princes whose blue blood went
back to Pepin the Little aud Char
lemange, were fianked by Pachas,
Bashaws and Shays, whose psdi.
gree anti-dated Noah and the roots
OF whose family tree were to be
found in the Garden OF Eden. For
many days it has been evident that
grand military display was in
tended. Strange uniforms appear
ed more frequently upon the streets,
fierce looking Turcos with baggy
breeches and vagabond locking hats
took the whole OF the sidewalk In
squads and without as much as by
your leave, or if you please elbowed
you into the gutter. CuIrassiers in
giittering helmet and cuirasse; i'm
posing looking officers, in ponderous
cooked hats and gorgeous with or
ders of merit, lined the highways
and guarded the corners of the
streets. Dragons armed cap en-
pied mounted on horses gaily com
parlsoned, dashed hither and thither
as if on important business and woe
betide the unlucky foot passenger
who happened to stand in their
way.
On Tuesday,by the kindness Of the
American Commissioner, the Hon.
Richard Mccormick, to whom | take
this opportunity to return my CRATE
ful thanks, [ received a formidable
card barred with imperial purple,
with compliments of the "Marechal
President de la Republique." invlt-
ing me to assist at the opening cere-
mony on the first of May, on the
terrrce of the Trocadero, at the
hour of two precisely. L under
stood that the Prince of Wales, the
crown Prince of Prussia, the King
of Italy, Princes from Austria. Den
mark and Sweden were also expect
ed to be present. So l thought l
must go; it is so pleasant occasion
ally to mingle in the society you
are used to. and which you are per-
fectly sure is respectable. The
morning broke gloomily; the day
previous Paris was visited by one
of the heaviest storms of the season.
1t requires something to dampen
the ardor of your young Partisan,
but [ don't know of anything that
will take the starch out of mans
collar as quick as shower of rain.
All through the preceding night the
rain had come down in occasional
showers, and when day broke the
clouds hung sad and gloomy over
the gayest capital in Europe. But
rain or no rain, the dignity of the
fourth estate must be maintained;
so the representative of your hon
ored journal knowing that be was
going into the society OF p inces,
arrayed himself in swallow tailed
coat and white kids, and as strug-
gled resolutely before the glass to
tie one of those ravishing knots
which used to send a futter through
the hearts of the young bellies of a
quarter of a century ago, my mem
ory ran sadly back to another Ex
position in this very town when
surrounded by a jolly band of
brother quilts, Jack Finch, from
Dublin, Tom Jennings. from Lon
don, Ludwig Hirch, from Berlin,
and a Russian with an unpronounce
able name from Moscow. | went up
TO see the Emperor open the great
Exposition Of 1867.
| know not if any of them sill
wander on this side of the Styx; but
if on the other side, hope they are
enjoying much better weather for
their Exposition celebration than
we have to day in the city OF Paris
Getting into my Garage | drove
down to the Trocadero, and soon
.,,..,olf II, III - m, 4 o..