The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-07-08
PARIS.
THE EXPOSITION AND THE OPENING
A GossIpy Letter from Our own Corr
respondent.

InhaDlbantS, IS behind liS. Paris, with It's
grace, It's sunny air, It's vivaGious people, it's
Exposition, is before us. Having got rid Of
the annoyance OF custom house officials, and
SO forth, our first outlook was for hotel.
We drive hopelessly at first from one to
another, receiving always the same answer,
"Ze last of de apartments ces tax, Paris is so
FOOL" at length we are fortunate enough 30
secure rooms at
DOUBLE THE ORDINARY EXPENSE.
We give ourselves UP to the luxury of o.
French dinner, not succession of mixtures,
spiced and seasoned to the highest point,
through the different courses, from the soup
to the quatres mendiants, but dinner in
which the natural taste of the viands is pre-
served by an art as ingenious as that which
enables the French student to attain an en-
| riah1e reputation in the beanx arbs.
Refreshed and invigoFated by the said din
ner and good nights rest, we sally forth on
tour of exploration. Space will not permit
us to dilate on the beauty-nay, the magnif-
Cenee-of the twelve avenues and bouleyards
lined with new and handsome buildings, that
terminate at the Arc de TriOmphe de fEtOile.
This latter, permanent monument of Napo-
leonic ambition, was commenced by BOnapaFte
on his birthday and finished by Louis Phil
lippe 1t cost 81 300 600, and Is certainly one OF
the sights worth seeing. Having passed it
we soon find ourselves In the Champs de
Mars. where the Exposition is now being
held, as 1t was in 1867
Perhaps it Is Hs we'll to remind the reader
OF few OF those remarkable events which
have rendered the Champs de Mars famous.
Here Louis XVI, three years before the bloody
tragedy Of the guillotine left France klngless,
solemnly renounced the absolute authority
arrOgated by his predecessors, and pledged
himself to employ the powers delegated TO
him by the people according to the Constitu-
tiOnal laws OF the state. The 100000 spsCta-
tors who witnessed the ceremony repeated
audibly after him the oath, and
CHANTED THE TIE DEUM.
Here too, Napoleon |, on June /, 1915, in the
magnifcence of restored power, took the oath
of allegiance to the new constitution. June
10 found him fugitive.
To-day the place does not look as II the
voices Of 100000 people had risen to protest
against the tyranny OF generations. The deep
silence, the breHthless stiffness, the expectant
quietude that must have regned when the hap
less Louis bowed TO the sovereign will OF his
people, is replaced now by the gay hum Of the
multitude moving through the broad gray
elled walks OF the Exposition grounds. A
frame or twenty cents, admits us to
every part of the Exposition. The grand
fountain, which we pass on our
way to the Trocadero buildings. attracts
universal attention. This consists Of
o stream Of water flowing over marble ter
races, and finally emptying itself, In thefOrm
OF q cataract, Into the basin below. On either
side of the descending stream, and on the
bosom Of the basin, delicate spray Is thrown
up Csaselessly, soft as summer shower,
while here and there bolder Jets refresh the
air. The central column OF water must ex-
eeed fifty feet in height. Gilded statuary, q
bull, o horse, an elephant and rhinocsroS, In
the act Of partaking OF or departing from the
cooling waters, beautify the borders of the
fountain.
The Trocadero building is spoken of as the
future Crystal Palace OF Paris. It's present
incomplete state leaves the imagination to
picture what it may be when finished. It
bears little resemblance to the London Crys-
tai Palace The pillars supporting the roof
are capped by arms and Colors embleruatic Of
different nations; and at their bases are
ranged statues exhibiting the peculiar physi-
ognomy Of each race modified and softened,
however, by the
SKILL OF THE ARTIST.
The SONS of the Celestial Empire are repre-
sented true to life, with high cheek bones
small oblique eyes and high recedihg fore
heads. Britannia rules the wave, and stands
crowned queen Of the sea, bearing O. trident
while above floats the royal banner Of st.
George, and Italy, the land Of poesy and song,
is wreathed with flowers.
The most conspicuous object In the Eng
lish section Is an equestrian statue TO the
of his visit to India. Here are also the gifts
presented during his progress by the native
princes. We're we to enumerate these, space
would fail ns. There are boxes Of many sizes,
shapes and devices OF sandal wood, gold and
silver, all exquisitely carved or wrought. One
particularly, in ebony and gold contains tea
service marvellous for beauty Of design and
traeery There are buckles ornamented with
figures Of different Eastern animals, each
figure being composed Of rubies, erneraids and
la mr. GpiTnitnpE a
swords, the ieweled hilts Of which might
each be princely fortune. helmet, the
richest gift Of all, Is a mass Of precious stones.
We forbear mentioning such trifles as chased
gOblets, hunting horns, etc.
We are sure Indian fabrics will become the
rage, since many Partisan belle fingered
lovingly near garments literally Of purple
and gold, crimson and gold, white and gold,
some delicate as c0bwebs, others richer than
velvet; in all these the beauty of mauufac-
ture cannot be too much extOlIed.
By the way, the Prince OF Wales is better
known In Paris than the Marshal President,
and personally stimulated by his presence
the preparations for the present Exposition,
Much curiosity has been displayed with re-
gard to
THE CROWN DIAMONDS,
or English regalia, brought here at his re-
quest. 1t is guarded night and day. No one
Is allowed to see it without presenting name
and address. No wonder. Fancy the great
within the grim walls Of the London Tower!
AS to the English display it Is characterized
by that neatness and wealth Of material pc
culiar to the country, and we must say, far
surpasees the American section, which Is as
yet incomplete. Indeed, the opening Of the
Exposition on the fifteenth Of May has been
thought a great mistake. Nothing seems fin
ished. Canada has scarce made a commence
ment and American wOTsmen are still busy
We propose in our next to speak at length
Of the French department.. From the similar
ity in the customs of New Orleans and those
Of Paris, one acquainted with both places
cannot fail to comprehend why
SOCIETY IN LOUISIANA
differs FROM that of any other State In the
Union. Not only is the manner Of living
much the same, but the grace, sociabiIity and
vivacity Of the people OF New Orleans are as
much ike the same qualities in Parisians as
some Of the architecture In the older portions
OF the Crescent City is like that of streets
undistur5ed by revolution in the capital Of
France.
--a$ .
Salaries and Wages.