The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-04-19
PARIS EXPOSITION
FormIIy Opened. ...President Loubent
Threw Open the Great Show.
ALL NATIONS IN ATTENDANCE.
Exposition, a Mixture of Rubbish and
SpIendor--The UEioted States TAX
ing a High Rank In tn: Exhibits.

Paris. BY Cable-The exposition or
1900 is opened. but it will be at least
mcnth before anything but buildings
is TO be seen. The days ceremonies
we're a peculiar mixture Of sumptuouS
splendor in the SALES des Fetes and
widespread confusion everywhere.
Nothing could have exceeded the pic
turcsque stage setting in the beautiful
building in which the inaugural cera-
monies were held, the gorgeous uni
forms of diplomats and soldiers. the
splendid orchestra and chorus and the
magnificent effect produced by the
grand staircase up which President
Loubct proceeded to view the eXpoSi-
ton, lined with some 200 picked men
OF the Republican Guards, with jack
boots. white breeches. cleaning CUR
asses and horse-plumes streaming
from shining helmets. At the top of
this stairway was room, the interior
or which could be seen from the SALES
dcs Fetes, ard this was h:-ng with
priceless bobelins from the Louvre.
Into this splendid apartment PresiG INT
Lcubet entered and from there walked
down the avenue to his boat. This
part of the days arrangements was
perfect, but the rest was chaos.
The weather was luckily all that
could be desired. Fourteen thousand
guests mad been invited to the function
and they had. because Of the fine
weather, only the dust to endure. Had
the day been wet the unrolled paths
of the exposition grounds would have
been turned into a mass of mud.
The afternoon was holiday In Paris
by general consent. and host of peo-
pie crowded into the city to swell the
multitudes, who from an early hour
trudged in the direction Of the exposi.
tion and took up positions along the
route of the procession and about the
grounds. Hundreds of vehicles did not
reach the exposition at all, and the oc-
cupants were either left stranded en-
route or were obliged to abandon their
carriages and proceed on foot.
This was the expedient ordinarily
adopted, even by several members OF
the diplomatic corps and two gor-
geously-attired officials Of the Chinese
embassy, after hastily walking several
blocks, arrived in the Sales des Fetes
Just in time to hear the cheering ut
the conclusion Of the ceremony.
The ceremonial within the Sales des
Fetes was simplicity itself. The receD-
ton of President Loubet at the en-
trance lasted but few seconds, and on
reaching the presidential tribune, NJ.
Millerand, the Minister Of Commerce,
Immediately delivered his address,
handing over the exposition to the
chief Of state. The address was couch
ed in most eloquent terms and read in
a resonant voice, heard throughout the
vast hall. Mr.. Millerands peroration
was especially fine and it brought forth
a storm Of plaudits. President Loubet
then replied, and the speaking part OF
the function here ended.
A feature of the proceedings was the
series Of grandiose tableaux presented
to the gaze of the President and his
party by the wonderful spectacle in the
Sale des Fetes and the imposing
visits from the Palace Trocadero down
the Champs de Mars, to the chateau
D'Eau along the esplanade Of the Hotel
Des Invalides, from Napoleon's tomb
to the Champs Elysees, while the view
from the Seine along the embankment,
on which stands an irregular line ct
mul,i-colorcd national pavilions. pre-
senting every conceivable form OF
architecture, might have ueen a scene
from the Arabian Nights"