The New York herald., 1878-10-24
Princes, Princesses, Diplomats, Scien-
lists and Men Of Affairs.
SCENES IN THE PALACE.
Brilliant Assemblage in. the
Grand Hall OF Mirrors.
ELECTRIC ILLUMINATIONS.
LBY CABLE TO THE HERALD

BIZ CABLE TO THE HERALD
PARIS, Oct. %, 1878.
The fste given by Marshal MacMahon in
honor of his royal and other distinguished
visitors at the Versailles palace last night
was brilliant beyond description, worthy of
the times of lie Roi Solen Fifteen thousand
persons were present. including all the
foreign notabilities Of fashion, the promi-
nent in the arts and sciences and the
scions of royalty. The Prince and Princess
of Wales, the Princess Thyra, Don Francois
d'Assize, the Princess of Sweden and Dem
mark, the Duke d'Aosta and Count Of Fland-
ers were there, with other royal personages
who have been visiting the Worlds Fair. 1t
may be termed the closing reception Of the
International Exhibition.
BRILLIANT RECEPTION.
The Marshal and Nine. MacMahon arrived
at nine o'clock A regiment Of cuirassiers
were drawn up in the Cour d Honneur, and
paid His Excellency the customary homage
as he passed through the lines. The guests
were received by the President in the large
saloon at the head Of the magnificent
Escalier de Marbre. The sabred and
plumed cuirassiers lined both sides of
the lovely staircase from the vestibule
to the entrance of the grands appartements.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived
at ten o'clock and were received at ''salute"
by the guards, while the Marshal advanced
and met them at the head of the staircase.
Next came Don Francois d'Assize and the
other princes above named. In due course
came the ambassadors Of Germany, Great
Britain. Russia, Austria, Belgium, Italy,
Spain, Turkey and others Of the diplomatic
corps-all in full uniform.
SCENES IN THE SALOONS.
The suite of saloons terminating with
rors), which were used for this occasion,
were completely thronged. It was scarcely
possible to move and still less possible to
dance. The orchestras of Waldteufel and
Lagrange poured into the saloons, as it were,
q food of delightful melody and dancing
airs from opposite ends of the Galerie
Everywhere the hum of excited conversation.
Brilliant military and diplomatic costumes,
the beautiful toilets of the ladies, the
lofty plumes of the princes, the splendid
decorations Of these, "the grandest apart
ments in the world" made up a marvellous
picture. On every side were men Of re-
nown in social and civil life. Historical
souvenirs abounded on canvas and in
marble-the grandeur Of royal courts, the
luxuries Of extravagant monarchs. The
saloons, illuminated by thousand wax
lights, with their immense arcades, noble
mirrors, Corinthian pilasters, in gold, gilt
and blue and bronze, vaulted ceilings and
allegorical pictures Of the days of the Martyr
King made a scene at once dazzling and
bewildering.
REcoLLEcrIoNs OF GREAT MEN.
It was amazing to witness the efforts Of
the ladies to scrutinize the features of the
great Frenchmen Of the past. M. de Bort,
the Minister Of Agriculture and Commerce,
was engaged in illustrating some of the
events Of the time of Louis XIV. to num-
Der of exhibitors at the Exhibition. Here
were the noted Marshal villars. the Duke
of Anjou, Colbert, Torcy, Louvois, Marie
Antoinette and numerous other celebrities.
participators in scenes in these very halls
which now, for the third time, resounded
with the voices Of men Of the highest rank
paying tribute to the Republic and cele-
brating great industrial event which was
built from the debris of the crushed Empire.
From here q French monarch was dragged
to the scaffold (; here the German conaueror
Of 1870 was crowned Emperor, while Napo-
leon III. went forth wretched exile. nm
awful example Of disappointed ambition.
PARRY LAND.
At midnight the view of the Park from
the windows was grand and fairy.like. A
long vista, extending for miles between the
trees and terminating at the Bassin dap
pollon and the canal, was refulgent with
the softening rays of electric lights. All
tho allees or walks, the Tapis Vert. the Ave-
nue. de Trianon, oil the diversified and in
describable divisions of the Park presented
the appearance of being lit up by bright