The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-05-22
n E o

FRANCES GREAT SHOW.
OPENING Cor emonies of b Paris Exhibition
A Brilliant Scene.
The International Exhibition Of 1878
opened with imposing ceremonies.
At nine o'clock A. N. it was rainy and it
feared that the ceremony would be
greatly interfered with, but at 9:45A N.
the rain ceased, and at 11:30 the clouds
had broken and the SUN was shining
brilliantly. the weather being rather
warm. The ceremony of opening the
exhibition began at 2:30 ?. NJ, at which
time it was showery, but at three o'clock
the sun was again shining brightly. The
crowd was immense and enthusiastic in
spite of alterations Of rain throughout
the proceedings. Cries were every
where heard of ''Vive Ia Republique"
and "Vive Ia France" Among those
present we're the Prince of Wales; Don
Francis d'Assise, father of the King of
Spain; the DUO d'Aosta, brother of the
King Of Italy and e1-King of Spain;
Prince Frederic, Grown Prince OF Den
mark; the Prince Of Orange, heir ap-
parent to the throne of the Netherlands,
and Prince Henry of Holland.
President MacMahon arrived at the
Trocadero in the State carriage, escorted
by his military household, troops being
drawn up all along the route from the
Elysee. A procession was then formed,
which marched from the Grand Arcade
to the platform overlooking the fountain
and commanding a view of nearly all the
buildings and grounds. Here M. Teis-
serene de Bort, Minister Of Commerce,
welcomed the Marshalin O short speech,
and the Marshal then declared the Exhi-
bitioned opened. One hundred and n
rounds from the guns at the Invalides,
on Mont Valerien, and on an island in
the Seine, followed the announcement.
At the same time two military bands
struck up, all the fountains played, and
soldiers stationed by the hagstafs hoist
ed the flags of all nations on the roofs of
the two palaces and the annexes. The
Marshal then reascended to the Troca-
dero Palace, the procession reforming
behind him, and, after completing the
round of the building, crossed over the
river to the Champ de Mars. The
troops were drawn up On and near the
bridge. The terrace of the Champ de
Mars Palace was occupied by Senators,
Deputies, the Council of State, magis-
trates, a~cademicians. the military staff
and the French Commissioners. Enter,
ing by tho central door, the procession
went through the grand vestibule, decor
ated with the crown jewels, Sevres por-
celain, gobelin tapestries, and the Prince
of Wales's Indian collection. It then
passed through all the sections, the
Commissioners of each country greeting
it at the door, and next inspected the
Military School, where all the Exhibit
ton workmen were stationed, and lastly,
traversed the machinery anne1es.
AS the Presidential procession, includ-
ing princes, diplomats and other dis
tinguished guests, reached the front OF
the palace Of the Champ de Mars, the
scene was extremely picturesque. The
State bodies in uniform, councillors and
magistrates in their robes, and the dit
ferent bodies of the Institute and the
Legion of Honor stood in strong con-
trast with the Senators Deputies, clergy,
and minor officials in their civil Co.'S
tunes. These, with the deputation from
the army in full uniform, fell in with
the Presidential cortege and moved
through the East Indian Hall into the
grand central nave Of the pa'ace, pass
ing in rapid review the various foreign
sections, and exchanging salutes with
each Commissioner, who stood in front
of their respective sections. The pro-
cession then passed into the art galleries,
thence into the French section, which
occupies one entire side of the palace.
After tho usual courtesies, the President
and party left by the Avenue Rapp gate
and returned to the Elysee.
The spectacle, afterthe official declara-
ton of the opening, was imposing in the
extreme. From the heights of the Tro-
cadero the thousands Of guests assem-
bled could see the crowds on the sur
rounding streets, the banks of the Seine,
and at Passy, both on the right and left:
In front lay an immense area crowded
with the Exposition buildings, gaily
decorated with flags of different nations,
the grand cascade, and rows OF statues,
illustrating the countries participating.
Long lines of brilliant equipages filled
the road to the Champs Elysees and the
Tuileries, interpreted with detachments
of the Mounted Guards of Paris, the
magnificent escorts of the visiting
Princes, and the military household OF
President MacMahon. The dazzling
facade of the palace on the Champ de
Mars was richly ornamented with nation
al emblems, and in every assignable
space the thousands of spectators were
held in place by lines of infantry. The
military display was less imposing than
originally intended, as the Minister OF
Agriculture had decided, on the advice
of the engineers, that the recently con-
structed avenues near the Exposition
would suffer by the passages OF cavalry
and artillery. The Sixth battalion OF
Chasseurs did the honors Of the Troca-
dero, saluting each section Of the cortege
on arrival.
EARLY in the evening the avenues and
boulevards were crowded with vehicles
and foot passengers. Later, the streets
were impossible in mall places in con-
sequence Of the immense crowds as
sembled to witness the illuminations.
Many buildings in every quarter OF the
city we're decorated with flags of all na-
tons. The American colors wers album
dainty and conspicuously displayed.
The boulevards des Italiens and des
Capucines we're brilliantly illuminated
with gas jets, transparencies and Chinese
lanterns. Except on the b%oulevards the
display was spasmodic and occasional.
The pressure Of people and carriages on
the two boulevards mentioned was in
describe. For three hours every inch
of space in the main thoroughfares, and
every side street was occupied by sing
ing masses shouting and singing.