The Portland daily press., 1900-04-16
American Exhibit Much
Praised.
President Loubet Makes Inaugu.
ration Speech.

has besn opened, but with the sxosp. IA
of buildings, IL will be at least = month
before thsrs will be much for the gsa-
sraI public to Gee. The csrsmonies today
we're "a peculiar mixture Of sumptuous
spleador in the Sale des Fstss and wide
spread confusion aud unreadiness else
where.
Nothing couli have exceeded the pic
tuIefque stage setting In the beautiful
building In which tbs inaugural oeremo-
MES were hell, the gorgeous uniforms Of
the diplomats and soldiers, the splendid
orchestra and chorus and the magnificent
feet produced by the grand staircase,
up which Preside mt Lounet prncseded n
view the exposition, lined with some
two hundred picked men OF the republi-
can guards with jaok-boots, white
hIeechss CLEANING cuirssses and hcrse-
hair pIumes streaming from shining he'll
NETS. At the top OF this stairway WAS q
room, the interior Of which Gould be seen
from the Sale des fstss and this was
hung with priceless Gobelins from the
Loasrs. Into this splendid apartment,
President Loutet entered and from there
he walked down the aveLue TO his boat.
This part OF the days arrangements Was
perfect. but the rest Was chaos.
The weather today was ell that could
TO DESIRED. Fourtesn thousand guests
they had, because of this weather, only the
dnst to endure. Had the day been wet,
the unrolled paths OF the exposition
grounds would have been turned into
mass OF mud.
The afternoon was . holiday In Paris
By general consent and host OF country
people crowded into the city TO aweu the
muitisudes who from an early hour
trudged In the direction Of the expedition
and took up positions along the route OF
the Presidential prooession and ~ the
approaches to the srcunds. The I'M
menss hunter of guests practically swept
the central streets elsan Of cabs, OF which
an unbroken stream, several deep, drift
ed slowly toward the gates between noon
and 30 .. m. Drifted 10 the correct ex-
preston for the rats Of progress. because
the traffic arrangements we're so lnAds-
quate that hundreds OF vehicles did not
reach the exposition at all and the occu-
pants were either left stranded en- route
or were obliged to abandon their carriage
aud procssd ON foot. This was the OK
psdisnt ordinarily adopted sven by several
menib srs Of the diplomatic corps and two
gorgeousiy attirsd oficals OF the Chinese
EN- Lassy, after hastily walking several
In. time to hear the cheering at the con-
clusion 70 the ceremony.
Tbs ceremonia within the Sale des
Fetes was simplicity itself.
President Loubst left the Elysse In an
open four horse landau escorted by a do
tachment Of Curassiers.. The Prssiden-
tial prooes zion was composed OF i've Ian
daus headed by the famous Outrider Mon
jirret. by the side OF President Loubet
sat ID. MalGeck- Rousseau, the prime
minister ana their progress through the
Champs Elyress across the Invalides
bridge to the avenue IsDotte Piqquet was
hailed with continuous cheers from toe
n ht0h n flGaQd aInDQ the
route.
On alighting from the carriage the
President was immediately surrounded
by the minister NJ. Millsrand. the
minister Of commerce stood Mt the en-
trance to resolve him; around him being
grouped Commissioners General fiquard
and other high expedition officials fresi
dent Loubet shook hands with NJ. Miller
and upon turning to III. Piquard
saiu be would tie happy to sign his dec
laration OF the grand cross OF the Legion
OF Honor. President Loubst then saiut-
ed the foreign ommissioners and entered
the hall where throng Of more than four
thousand persons formed q sea OF human
faces all turned toward the door. AS n
salso of artillery announced the Presi-
dents arrival there was q moment OF ex-
peotant silence, then the heavy red plush
curtains covering the door were thrown
aside and the President In evening dress
and wearing the broad red insignia Of
the Legion OF Honor across his breast,
stepped into the tribune which had been
tenn porarily erected for todRy's ceremony,
the Presidential gallery which is to serve
for all later ceremonies not yet icing
ready. At the same instant an orchestra
composed Of musicians Of the famed Re-
publican Guard struck up tns Marssillea.
The whole asss mbly uncovered and re-
mained bareheaded during the remainder
Of the prooeedinRs. Before the strains of
Francis stirring national hymn had died
away, . mi ghtyery arose OF 9vise Lou
bet. vivs LIS hepubiiqus. Vivs La
Pre- idsnt Loubst stood In the front OF
the tribune with NJ. Waldsck- Rousseau
N. Desc annsl, president Of the chamber Of
deputies and n. Del Case, minister OF
reign affairs, and all Of the ministers
except the MArquiss de Gallifet. the min
lister Of war. who was absent because of
indisposition.
The spectacle that met President Lou
bets eyes when, amid the resounding
strains NJ the Marssillaiss he stepped to
the front of the Presidential dsis on his
entry to the hall, was probably never
seen before within the walls Of any
building. The vast circus was iilled
with SEQ OF human beings who over
flowed the balconies jutting out from
the sides. The decoration Of the interi-
or was certainly a triumph Of artists
skill. with handsome stained glass dome
which the rays of sunlight Uttered down
upon the oonoourse of people and color
scheme In mural painting with the strik-
allegoriss In brilliant relief. Ths CALLER
les and balconies were drapsd In red
plush and the hall was profussly adorned
with trophies OF tri-oolor flags. opening
fan-liks from shields bearing the letters
AR. r."
The group among the great assembly
which was the most attraetivs was the
body Of foreign representatives In plctur
esque astire. Since VietoriA's jubilee
or tbs Czar'n coronation NJ such congress
Of strange and gorgeous national COS
tunes has heen seen. In mass together
were turbsned chiefs, Arab Shsikhs in
flowing white robes and VITA faces