The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15

PARIS April 6-The Ofhc.a Inaugural
lion Of the Universal Exposition begins IN
the immense hall Of fetes upon the Champ
de Mars. April "A. and Easter Sunday
will be the first day OF general admission
TO the public. and the monumental
"Grande Porte" OF entrance. with It's triple
arch. admitting 1.oio people every minute
or 60 400 per hour will be taxed TO It's
utmost capacity. This great display of the
worlds products worthy crown Ct the eN-
pirins century, viii surpass in numbe. and
variety, all previous exhibitions Of an in
ternational character. The official cata-
logue fills twenty-eight or thirty volumes.
while that Of the Paris Exposition Of 1889
filled but nine volumes. The number OF
exhibitors who will remain with the great
show, from start to finish, viii surpass
seventy-six thousand. and. including those
who will make temporary -splays. the in
tending exhibitors will not fall short Of
one hundred thousand. OF the ssventy-siN
thousand or more furnishing permanent
exhibits. France and her coIones supply
forty thousand. the remainder being dl-
Vided up among foreign countries.
The space devoted TO exposition purposes
comurises the Champ de Mars. the TroCa-
dero. and their approaches. the Quai dor
say the Espanade Of the lnVa-ides- the
Ouai de la Conference. the COurs-la- kelne,
the ground formerly occupied by the Palais
de llndustrie and the land adjacent TO A.
altogether covering a superficial area OF
about one million and eighty thousand
square metres, that is to say. some Two
hundred and sixteen acres. This estimate
does not include the space occupied b. the
annex TO the exposition at AInccnnes.
where are to be shown the automobiles,
agricultural products, particularly Of the
United States and Great Blitain. Germany,
and other countries; a notable exhibit Of
American lumber and other features OF in
terest. Neither does it include the eX-
hibits OF means Of transportation which
cover considerable space.
OF the million and more square metres
OF ground, mentioned above as devoted
TO the main exposition, four hundred and
sixty thousand square metres are covered
by buildings. In a comparison with for
mer years il appears that this exposition
OF 1900 covers twenty-siX more acres Of
ground than did that Of 1889. and il is
Just six times the size Of the first mi
versal Exposition Of 1850.
The principal entrance to the cXposi-
ton. known as the Porte MOnumentale,'
rises majestically at the entrance Of the
Cours-la- Refine, and about five hundred
feet from the Egyptian obelisk Of the
Place de la Concorde. known to all for
mer visitors as the most spacious and
beautiful place in Paris, and one Of the
most superb in the world. This imposing
entrance structure rises TO a height Of
about one hundred and thirty feet, and IS
surmounued by a golden cupola. open
on three sides. through spacious arch
ways, the front arch is 1anl7ed on either
side by lofty minarets. bearing on their
submits powerful electric light projectors,
which will cast q flashing radiance far
and wide
Inside the triple arch. and along the
whole facade the coloIed enameled cas-
ings and polychrume tints Of this re-
markable architectural work OF NJ. Binet
viii rival the palaces OF the Arabian
Nights, through the dazzling radiance OF
innumerable incandesCent lights. thus set
ting forth its Oriental. OF fairy-like SPLEEN
der.
After entering the visitor admires the
exquisite gardens that surround the first
buildings reached. buildings that are
destined TO outlsst the exposition and
which are worthy to remain as a me-
mortal Of this consummation Of the labor
and thought OF six years.
The Petit and Grand Palaces.
The first. on the right hand, is the Petit
Palais, richly ornamented and bearing,
above and at the entrance, fine groups Of
statuary. The front facade is particularly
effective with its long rows OF beautiful
columns. AT the close Of the exposition
the Petit Palais becomes the property Of
the city OF Paris In view Of this acquis-
tion, the municipal council voted 20 100000
francs for exposition purposes. During
the progress Of the fair. this building viii
contain a retrospective exhibition of
French art, from the earliest times TO the
wear 1900 There will be here a depart
meut OF sculpture. showing the work OF
Jean GonjOn Hondon. COuston, ClOdiOn.
Carpeaux. Rude. etc. The painters Of the
former French school Will also be repre-
scented, Largilliere. Vatican. Fragouard,
lie Main brothers. Boucher Gros, Troyol,
de Newville Corot and others. Articles
Of decorative art. tapestries. hangings.
carved wood and wrought metal and even
relics Of prehistoric times will be repre-
scented here. and the building Will finally
be converted into municipal musee. In
designing this building NJ. Girault. the
architect, sought to bring it into general
harmony with the Place de la Concords
and the Hotel des Invalides.
Facing the Petit Palais is the Grand
palsis. a noble structure. its principal
Roman style. Other parts OF the building
are purely renaissance. or Of the order Of
the Louis XIII or xiv period, while some
Of its features recall the Chateau OF Yer
saillas The Grand Palais is devoted TO the
centennial exposition Of painting and
sculpture and to 500 works Of contempt
rary masters. Consequently it offers a
comprehensive study Of the artistic prog
ress OF the nineteenth century. After the
al a.
will shelter the annual Salon; the Con-
Cours Hippique and other exhibitions viii
be given here. IL supplants the Cd Palais
ie TIndustrie. removed 10 make room for
these buildings more worthy Of perma-
nence This Grand Palais was erected from
plans approved by architects sifted out
from two competitions. Between the
Grand and Petit Palaces runs a new ave-
nue. ninety metres wide which, crossing
the Seine by the new and famous bridge.
Alexandra III" extends from the Champs
Elysees to the Esplanade des Inyalides.
The cornerstone of this bridge. Alexandra
III was laid by the Gar Nicolas II at the
time OF bis memorable visit 10 Paris. in
the autumn OF 1896.
Having crossed the Seine the visitor ap-
proaches the palaces OF National Indus
tries on either side OF the EsDlanade O,
The Iuvalides They are similar by motives
Of architecture and in their circular por-
flcos, forming two pavjlIOns Of entrance.
With their pilastcrs. their balconies and
the sculptures OF their arches these payii-
ions present a very beautiful aspect Be
y0nd the porticos are magnificent terraces. |
from where the view extends uuon the
gardens. This double series OF palaces IS
devoted to she decoration and furnish
ing OF public buildings and o. dwellings
which constitute Group Xii from class 90