, 1878-07-18
0peuing of the Paris Exposition.

The prea' F. ench Exposition Of 1878
opened on the lst of May with grand
National fete, the FIRST since the days ot
the second empire, since the war, since
all those disasters which the French have
eynerienced since France first donucd
her Republican robes and pnrriei the
dagger strokes Of her willy enemies. The
people hailed the day as an emblem Of
peace, of future prosperity and their
Justly entitled reward for past sutfering'
and much patience. All work was for.
bidden, and those who did not care 10
wander through the gardens and tie
boulevards, spcn' the day in contented
idleness looking cut ot their windows
upon the flags mhvlug With the breeze
and gazing with friendly expressions on
their neighbors across the way.
The Exposition was opened with due
ceremony in the presence of the different
representatives of various countries who
appeared with all their importance shin
ing on the breasts Of their coats, many
small men even staggering under the
weight Of their decorations Marshal
MacMahon, in order to give as little
plebeian tone to the affair as possible,
kent the audience and ambassadors wait
ing with priuceIy indifference. Tickets
of invitation were Issued to the ditferer
Commissioners, to be distributed among
their compatrio;s, who, however, Com
planned thar the French had kept the
lions share and there were not sufficient
invitations to satisfy all their disln-
guished countrymen. Whilst some
tickets carried the proprictors to the
very centre of the important hall where
the ceremony was to take place, others
offered admission only to the grounds,
where the visitors stationed themselves
to see the procession Of grand person
ages as they passed before them. The
crowd was so great that little attention
was paid to the iDjunctions for the pres
ervation of the grecnswards, and the
garden was almost ruined by the tread
of many feet. The usual executive abil-
ity of the French seemed on this occa-
sion to be wanting, for considerable con
fusion ensued, and no one was able at the
end of the ceremony to find his carriage,
and it was only after wandering over
much ground, through considerable mud
and receiving occasional shower baths
that one came across his vehicle. How
ever, no one felt much inclined to nurse
his anger Tor everything and everybody
was en- fets.
From every window waved large and
small flags, aud very many contained
two, by which it was known that an
other than Frenchman born occupied
the conspicuous apartments. 1t was
astonishing to perceive how very cos
mopoitan the inhabitants nf Paris prove
to be, to find out how many Of ones
compatriots are away from their native
land, and how Paris, the great city of
which all France is so proud, is sus-
tanned and its glory contributed to by
different representatives Ot the various
nations Of the EARTH These flags pre-
sented mJst picturesque effect and Of
tentimes singular contrast, for there
were all c"lors and peculiar designs to
be seen, bat none Of them could surpuss
the red, white aHd blue, particularly
when the lars would be discerned. All
the windows from the first to the lirth
fight were filed with flowers, which
were a pretty accompaniment to the
flag g, and tlese, with the pleasant faces
pee hg through the hospitable openings,
prc,ented II very pretty picture. The
PAisiaus gave strong expression to their
patriotic sentiments by the purchasing OF
tiag and lanterns, and 60 great was the
de-. and for bunting that merchants
raised the price, and, specializing with
unpatriotic spirit, but with commercial
instinct on the patriotism CT Others,
realized quite large sum. When the
bunting gave out, recourse was had to
calico, but that also came to an end, and
many made flags Of tissue paper. EARLY
in the evening there could be seen Chi.
nese lanterns taking their place among
the flags and flowers, the preparations
for the evenings illumination. In all
the little by-sreets even, from the attic