Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-05-10
OpenIng of the Paris Exposition,

The World s Fair at Paris was opened on
Wednesday. according to the programme
announced. President MacMahon arrived
in the state carriage. escorted by his mill
tary household, troops being drawn up all
along the route from the ElYsee. A process
sion was then formed, which marched from
the grand arcade to the platform overlook
ing.the fountain, and commanding view
OF nearly all the buildings and grounds.
Here NJ. DeBart, minister of commerce.
welcomed Marshal MaeMahon 10 a short
speech, and the Marshal then declared the
exhibition opened. A hundred and one
rounds from guns at the Invalides, on
Mount Valerien. and on an island on the
Seine, followed, and at the same time two
military bands struck up, all the fountains
played, and the Aags of all nations were
hoisted on the roofs of the two palaces and
the annexes The Marshal then re-
assembled to the Troeadero palace. the pro-
eession reforming behind him, and after
completing the round of the buildings
crossed over the river to the Champ de
Mars. The terrace of the Champ de Mars
palace was occupied by senators, deputies.
| the council of state, magistrates, academi-
clans. the military staff and French commits
| sioners. Entering by the central door the
| procession went through the grand vestl-
bule, which was decorated with crown Jew
| Ella, Sevres pOrcelai n gObelin tapestries and
the Prince Of Wales's India coll lection. Ii
then passed through all the sections, the
commissioners Of each country greeting it at
the door.
At the American section squad OF sail
ors from United States vessels at Havre were
drawn up, commanded by Ensign Young, of
the Constitution. Gov. Mccormick, chief
commissioner of the United States, attended
by the assistant commissioners and attaches,
| stood in front of the entrance.
President MacMahon was attracted by
the bearing Of the American sailors,
inquired concerning the service and
the vesstl- to which they belonged.
and expressed qualification at their appear
ance. NJ. Berger, director of the foreign
sections, presented Gov. Mccormick to
President MacMahon, who stood several
minutes in conversation with him. hnger
| in fact than at any other section. The
marines and employees cheered heartily as
| the procession moved on. A numerous
| company Of American ladies witnessed the
| procession from the American facade and
| Joined in the courtesies to the President.
| The general effect of the exhibition ball
was Disappointing to visitors. in cOnse-
qucnce of the backward condition Of the
interior. The machinery department, ex-
| cept in toe British section, is still ineom-
plete, and much Of the space numbered with
unpacked cases. Some exhibits of lighter
order, especially in the Swiss, Chinese and
Japanese sections, were completely ready
| and very attractive. The Russian section
is also well advanced and the exhibits are
comparatively large. The English and
Canadian sections, taken as a whole, are by
far the largest, finest and most forward in
the exhibition.
The American. though unfinished, COM
pares favorably with the others. The agri-
cultural and alImontary Departments will be
better than at any previous foreign ex-
hibition. The machinery department Is
very rich in labor-saving machinery of q
light class. Already, though incomplete,
IL compares sayOrsbly with the English,
while occupying only One-sixth the space
allotted the British exhibit. The display of
machine tools is inferior to the American
exhibit at Philadelphia. but superior to any
other at this exhibition. The agricultur-
al, sewing and weighing machines make
q fine display. The textiles are not
yet arranged, but promise very well.
The drugs. chemicals, publishers exhibits,
chromOs and cutlery are superior to the
competing exhibits in the other sections.
The American art department is nearly
ready. Ii will be the best ever shown abroad
by America. The hall is too small, but is
beautifully arranged, and contains hundred
paintings and few water cOl0rs. The
places Of honor are occupied by Bridg-
man and Dana.
PARIS ILLUMINATED.
The city of Paris was illuminated in the
evening and immense crowds turned out,
making the streets impossible in many
places. Many bildings in every quarter Of
the city were decorated with the flags of
all nations, the American cOlOrs being abun-
dainty and eonspicuously displayed. The
Boulevsrds Italiens and Capucines were
brilliantly lighted with gas Jets. transpar-
eneies and Chinese lanterns For three
hours, every inch OF space in the main
thoroughfares and every side street was
occupied by surging masses, shouting and
singing. The demonstrations frequently
became semi-riotous. Visitors who went
out in carriages or on foot to see the illu
limitations often found themselves involved
in the crush. and compelled to seek refuge
in the open dOOr-ways of hotels. restaurants
and other public places. Men, women and
children of every class mingled indiscrimin-
stely in the crowd, which was occasionally
enlivened by q rush of companies of half
intoxicated youths and wOrkmeu, bearing
Chinese lanterns and singing the Marseil-
laise. Toward midnight, when the illumin-
alton should have been at its best, many
lights were extinguished, and the crowds
began to disperse.
No accident was reported. although it is
estimated that 100000 persons visited tho
Champ de Mars and TrOcadero. 1t is COM
puted that 100000 foreigners are now in
the city.
THE MAIN BUILDING
is an oblong. One walks lengthwise of the
Oblong for products, across 1t for countries,
the passages crossing each other exactly at
right angles. The products are arranged in
nine grOups-art. education. furniture, It's
sues, e1tractive industries, tools, ali
mentsry products, agriculture and fish cul-
ture, and horticulture /; but some of these
groups are not placed in the main build
ing. Lsngthwise, the building has twelve
principal avenues, six of them belonging TO
France. six to foreign countries The divid-
ing line between them is formed by a range
of noble galleries devoted to the art show of
all nations. The building Is of iron and
glass, with roofs hal. of glass, halt of states
and with vast awnings under the glass to
soften and temper the light. Ii is by no
means beautiful in lis lines being much too
low for its length and breadth. The build
ing on the TrCcadero has more pretentiOns
TO architectural effect, and it Is to stand as
a lasting memorial of the undertaking. The
building is in masonry Ii is striking by
reason of its size. and especially by the ex-
tent and bOldness of its curve, but this effect
is cOunteracted by the excessive number of
its windows. Ii is all openings colossal