The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-02

taries.
CONCISE AND GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF TIE
OPENING SCENES
From the Evening Telegram OF yesterday
PARIS, May l, 1878.
The great day which has been so long and plea
surably anticipated by France, and indeed by tine
whole world, has at last dawned, and the
sceptical population OF Paris awoke to the
fact that the Exposition OF 1875 was, IN despite
Of adverse predictions and hostile influences,
most tangible reality. 1t seemed during the
early hours Of the morning though the day
was to oe rainy and disagresable. The sky was
covered with heavy clouds, and drizzling mist
llled the atmosphere. The streets and boulevards
looked dark and dreary The brilliant prepare
tons that had been made IN honor OF the day were
Tor time eclpsed. In TACT, things opened most
inausplclousiy The conservatives, OF course. were
highly exultant, and regarded The whole arair as q
settled Iaiiure.
CHANGE IN THE WEATHER.
Fortunately the gloomy prospects that came In
with the early morning faded away later in the
forenoon. lew minutes alter ten O'Clock the
change began to manifest itself. The clouds rolled
away showing at first little patches OF blue beyond
the surrounding COON. The mist cleared;
and, finally, as the grand climax OF this earthly re.
awakening, the sun sh0ne forth in splendor and
the streets were Hooded with light and warmth.
This change In the weather was peculiarly welcome
ana surprising, for during the past two days the
city has been continuously a cloud, thunder
storms have succeeded each other and RAIN has
fallen In torrents.
PICTURESQUE VIEW
The effects OF this favorable change in the
weather were soon visible. The friends of the
Exposition were In their glory once again, and the
conservatives looked moody. As though ny magic,
the city acquired u pleasing air OF animation and
the streets gowed with light and color The aris-
tocratc quarters alone were dismal and lieless:
but few rags decorated the windows OF legltimIsts
and Bonapartists and 1t was evident that the enc
mics OF the republic were determined to irown
down the great republican project OF the day.
Paris was not the less joyous on this account.
The leading thoroughiares and bouevards were
gorgeous with nags, banners and decorations.
Along the quays throngs oil people were soon con.
Rregated, and toe multitude naturally moved In
the direction oil Autem and the Trocadero The
Champs Eiysees, which haa been almost deserted
earlier in the day, were soon crowded with happy
ParisIans.
A GREAT HOLIDAY.
The French nags were varied by the stars and
stripes, which noated from hundreds OF windows.
especially along the Boulevard DIES ltarens and the
Champs Eysees; the American quarter, around
the Rue Scribe was especially brilliant. The Mn.
tsterial buildings and the Bark OF France were
tastciuy and elegantly decorated with tricoor
iestoons and silk banners. other public buildings
we're splenddly adorned. and Tor a distance pre-
sented a gorgeous spectacle. In the windows OF
the Herald Bureau stood two bronze reductions Of
Barthodi's celebrated st&tuc Liberty Enlienten-
sng the World now In course OF completion; the
open hand OF one OF these statues bore an Ameri-
can nag and that OF the other bore a French nag
The effect was exceedingly moved, and a large
crowd gathered In 'front.' OF the building and guzed
curIously ut these representatives Of republican
harmony. Among French shopkecpers, not gcner-
ally supposed to be republicans, great enthusiasm
~ manifested.
BEFORE THE OPENING
A little before noon q slight shower OF rain fell,
but II was OF short duration BY this time
an immense crowd OF people had congregated in
the neighborhood Of the Pont de Jena, which IL the
connecting link between the Trocudero ana the
Champs de Mars the two wings OF the Exposition
1t IL estimated that nearly one hundred thousand
strangers IN this city. Most OF these are Eng
lish and American, who have come thus early to be
present at the opening. The American section, IL
10 admitted ON all hands, will make a very nne dis
that OF older and better situated nations. Com
missioner Mccormick and his assistant, Mr. Picker
ing have teen tlreless IN their efforts to bring their
work TO couple tion in time Tor the opening. and
success has rewarded their isbors The American
machinery department. unfortunately. Is still In an