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

seen through o veil of morning rain-a
palace of Aladdin ablaze with all the glories
and beauties that art and industry can ac-
cumulate and display in the capital Of a
people who possess the finest conceivable
instinct for art-these are the elements OF
the story the cable dispatches deal with in
our columns to-day. There is but one Paris,
and there never was and never will be Its
equal in those scarcely describable peculi-
arities of great city which appeal by their
beauty, their quaint character and their
picturesque spirit TO the admiration and
sympathy of the stranger. And II
the stranger is from the United
States the appeal is the more ire
'sistible for the charm that scenes with
a romantic history have for the native OF q
country where nearly all Of life is markedly
and mathematically practical; and the
stronger also for the sentiment that cannot
but exist toward France in the hearts OF all
Americans who appreciate that "blood Is
thicker than water whenever a thought
comes up of our relations to our early and
only ally. But if to the fascination that Paris
has for the stranger, and for the American
above all other strangers We add the dazzle
and the glory of well ordered exhibition,
the effect can scarcely be less on the mind
than that of any scene of enchantment ever
conceived by the poetical imagination.
BY the elaborate and vivid story of the
Inauguration which We present to our read
ers it will be seen that no untoward incl
dent married the happy fortune Of the day,
but all the formalities of the occasion
went forward in their predestined order,
while the glow Of popular enthusiasm over
the great occasion gives good augury OF the
spirit in which the people Of Paris well
coined the first conspicuous attempt of the
new Republic to minister to their love of
great displays. as we'll as to promote
the interests of Partisan trade. That the
exhibitors have not completed their prepa-
rations tor the exposition Of their treasures
is only what was to be expected and what
always happens. No worlds fair is ever al
together ready by the day designated, and as
the day is commonly from eighteen months
to two years in advance this incom pleteness
Of preparation is not consequence of want
Of time but Of the dilatoriness and indie
cision which is an extensive human charac-
tcristic only least manifested in the most
disciplined races. 1t would not be other
wise, therefore, if the day were originally
appointed month or two later, or If even
when preparation is fairly undertaken the
day were deferred. In the sections allotted
to French industry the readiness is not
greater than in foreign departments ; and,
driven their last nail and arc complete in
every detail are the most remote of all
China and japan. Although from the nature
Of the case the exhibits Of these remote
peoples are on far less extensive
scale than those of the nations Of Europe
generally, and have presented, therefore, o
less formidable labor, it is still clear that
there arc some points in Oriental system
from which the unready people of Western
countries might derive useful lessons. But
the Western nations cannot point ut one
another on this score. 1t was the same in
London, in Vienna, at Philadelphia, and
always formerly in Paris. In the number
Of nations not up to time VIC are
ourselves to be found but it appears
that our forwardness compares favora-
bly, with that Of other nations, and
that though We started late we have
moved with characteristic energy. Our
chronicle notes Of the Russian exhibition
fact Of the same nature, that while for
some time behind. it has suddenly gone
forward with such rapidity as to startle OBJ
servers Russia's appearance and energy and
Turkeys non-appcarance tell the story ofthe
difference in the results of war in countries
Of different civilization. In Oriental coun-
tries war destroys all industry, spirit, hope,
and the Moslem, overwhelmed in his wild
struggle, has no courage left to put in a
holiday appearance in Paris.
In the multitude of fertile and poetical
fancies that in our day have grown into in
situations Of commanding consequence we
may count as especially admirable the
notion Of gathering together in one place
to be easily seen and compared in short
time the products Of the widely separated
industries and arts of the world. That a
man may sec i'll one day enough to give
him an ampler acquaintance with the in
dustries and arts practised by all the ma
tons than he could have gained genera
ton since in half q lifetime of travel is q
Characteristic result of the spirit Of the
age-a product Of that boldly imagin-
alive ingenuity that has made the
electric cable vital with the throb-
bing of our daily life, and that drives
the train and tho steamship with the re-
sistless energy OF volcanic forces submitted
to mans will. In single view to see the
quaint native of far away Japan present his
dainty worries and his lustrous lacquer
to see the looms Of Lyons and the mills of
Manchester in operation; to see Italy.
England, Germany, Austria and the two
American continents displayed in their