The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-05-30
Especial OoFsspoudsnos Of the News.
OUR PARIS LETTERS.

QUH PARIS 6G Ems
NO. VI
Opening oftbe Graad Sh0U- TIE Disadvaa-
taqes Of a Crord-T The Scene from the Troo-
adero-SoJdiers and Sailors on Exhibition
Comparison Of Faisnouut Park and he
Champ de lars-An AdDeHture ~ Tum-
nel-Notes and Gossip.
PAVILION OF THE TRoCADERO, PARIS, I
May l, 1873. J
Here I sit, tired and worn out, it is true,
but with the supreme satisfaction Of having
seen the opening Of the Exhibition. That
is to say, saw the backs of great many
people, who we're sitting in front of me, for
1 was one Of those fortunates or unfortun-
ates, it is hard to tell which, whose strip
Of paste-board, adorned with a yellow cross
in the middle, consigned the possessor to
the grand cascade, and with a good view
down the bridge Of jena and into the
Champ de Mars-only there we're so many
people in front Of me, that it was but now
and then one could get a glimpse of Mar
Fhal McAfahon and the grand procession.
1t was, asst always is on such occasions
in France no less than in the United States
there was an immense amount Of eIbowing,
a simultaneous standing upon seats as soon
as the procession came in sight, very few
qendar7nss where they were wanted, but
any quantity Of them half mile of, and
not the remotest possibility of hearing a
single word spoken by Mr.. Tisserene de
Bort, the Minister Of Commerce, or any
body else. When, once in a while, I got
a glimpse through the solid wall of flesh
before me, I could see the white head of the
Marshal opposite brown head, which I
supposed was that Of N. de Bort, she mouth
Of which was opening and closing in quick
rapidity, as if its owner said something,
which he doubtless did.
But judging from what I did see, after
all the speech-making and receptions were
over, the opening was a grand success. It
is true that very rlu,h remains to be done
yet before the Exhibition itself will becOm-
plete and really worthy of thorough in
spection; but the last two or three days
have done wonders, especisiiiiy in the French
Department, and there was a smaller dis
play Of packing-cases than had expected
/ 70 find. At the entrance to our own divis-
ion stood Commissioner General McCor-
mick, with his assistants, hanked on one
side by detachment Of marines, and on the
other BY a squad Of sailors from the "COn-
stitution :" which is now at Havre. All the
/ officers we're in fuIl-dress uniform and our
jack-tars looked neat and natty in their Sun
day rig, comparing favorably with the En-
glish sailors, who Eere placed at the en-
trance to the British division, about fifty
yards of, and who were as handsome body
Of brawny fellows as anybody would wish
to see.
The most interesting, as well as most
complete exhibit to-day was the exhibition
of soldiery by the various powers, great
and small. As I said in a former letter,
every country must furnish its own guard
to protect and take care Of the goods on
exhibition in its department, and these are
picked men from the armies and nayies Of
the respective countries. The Danish
guard attracted considerable attention, and
caused even Marshal McMahon to pause
in front Of them and make a few cOmpli-
mentary remarks to the commanding officer;
they we're tall, well-made fellows, dress
ed in white pantaloons, dark-blue frOck-
coats, trimmed with red, white gloves,
and large sbakoes Of peculiar pattern. Not
far from them were their late antagonists,
the Prussians, in dark green uniforms and
the peaked helmet by which German SOL
der may be known all over the world.
The Chinese and japanese soldiers looked
extremely odd, but carried Remington rifles
Of the latest pattern, and troWeI-bayonets,
made in Providence, R. 1. Looking down
the main avenue, these lines Of soldiers, all
differing in uniform, bearing, and looks
generally, presented a striking appearance,
especially in the act Of presenting arms"
as the procession passed.
And now a few words of the Exhibition
itself Those who come here expecting to
find a counterpart of the Centennial will
be disappointed no single structure on the
Champ de Mars can compare with the Main
Building" in Paramount Park in 1876.
While the main aisle of the Exhibition
building on the Champ de Mars is some
800 feet longer than that at Philadelphia,
it is less than half its height, and is broken
up and marred by a number OF transepts
which utterly disturb the perspective
Hence, there is no tout ensemble, no striking
vista, as when one entered our Main Build
ing from either end and the large canvas
screens which are suspended under the
glass roof to ward of the rays of the sun,
have am oppressive effect, that does not
compare favorably with the free and airy
loftiness of the Philadelphia structure.
Viewed in its details, however, the French
are ahead of us but for this perfection of
minuteness and details, general grand ef-
fects have unfortunately been sacrificed.
What an American will also miss here,
is the magnificent grounds that surrounded |
our Exhibition at Fairmount Park; for, with /
the exception Of the large open place in
front Of the main facade, or Gale7ie d Jena,
as It is called, because it faces the bridge of
that name, there is nothing but buildings
on that side of the river. On the other
side, there is the magnificent cascade and
park of the Trocadero Palace, about two
hundred acres in extent, dotted over with
cafes, and the special buildings
erected by japan, China, Sweden and Nor
way, Hungary, Tunis Persia, and Algeria
the last-named building, close to the Porte
de ChailIOt, being particularly magnificent.
The most superb view of the Exhibition, as
a whole is from the middle of the Bridge Of
Jena, looking either way, and no more
view than that had from this
point was presented at Philadelphia.
A = IL |