The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-04-21
PARIS EXPOSITION OPENED
TAKE A MONTH TO FINISH 1T.
A Picturesque Scene-Presidcnt Lou
bet There-The Weather Nice-A
Holiday I'm Paris-Tramc Arrange
ntents Are Poor.

before anything but buildings is to be
seen. The days ceremonies were pecu-
liar mixture of sumptuous splendor in
the Sales Des Fetes, and widespread con-
fusion elsewhere. Nothing could have ex-
ceeded the picturesque stage setting in
the beautiful building in which the cere-
monies were held, the gorgeous uniforms
of the diplomats and soldiers, the SPLEEN
did orchestra and chorus and magnifcen.
effect produced by the grand staircase up
which President Loubet proceeded TO view
the exposition, lined with some picked
men OF the Republic Guard, with jack
boots, white breeches, cleaning cuirasses
and horsehair plumes streaming from
shining helmets. At the top of this stair
way was a room, the interior of which
could be seen from the Sales Des Fetes,
and this was hung with priceless Gobelins
from the Louvre. Into this apartment
President Loubet entered, and walked
down the avenue to his boat This part
of the days arrangement was perfect, and
the rest was chaos.
The weather was luckily all that could
be desired, $4,000 guests having been in
vited to the function, and they had, be-
cause of the fine weather, only the dust
to endure Had the day been wet the I'M
rolled 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 country
people crowded into the city to swell the
multitudes, who from an early hour
surged in the direction of the exposition,
and took up positions along the route of
the presidential procession and at the APP
proaches to the grounds. The immense
number of guests practically swept the
central streets clean of cabs, of which an
unbrokcn stream, several deep, drifted
slowly toward the gates between noon
and 2;30 p. IN.
Drlfted Is the correct expression for the
rate OF progress, because the traffic ar
engagements were so inadequate that hun
dreds of vehicles did not reach the exposi-
> ton at all, and the occupants were either
lett stranded en- route or were obliged to
abandon their carriages and proceed ON
loot. This was the eXpedient ordinarily
adopted, even by several members of the
diplomatic corps, and two gorgeously at
tired officials of the Chinese embassy, after
I hastily walking several blocks, arrived in
U the Sales Des Fetes just in time to hear
the cheering at the conclusion of the cere-
monies.
The ceremonial within the SALES Des
) tetes was simplicity itself. The recep-
L ton to President Loubet at the entrance
0 lasted but few seconds, and on reaching
i the presidential tribune, M. Millerand,
3 the minister of commerce. Immediately de-
+ livered his speech, handing over the expo
sitlon to the chief of state, which address
: was couched in most eloquent terms and
read in resonant voice, heard through
out the vast hall.
NJ Millerand's peroration was especially
fine, and it brought forth a storm of
= plaudits.
s President Loubet then replied, and the
Q speaking part of the function here ended.
6 The spectacle that met President Lon
bets eyes when, amid the resoundinx
r strains OF the "Marsellaise," he stepped
q to the front of the presidential dais on
< his entry into the Sales Des Fetes. was
n probably never seen before within the
4 walls of any building. The vast circus
? was filled with a sea of human beings.
q who overlooked the balconies jutting out
from the sides
q The decoration of the interior was Ger
tainly triumph of artists skill, with a
= handsome stained glass dome, through
which the rays of sunlight filtered down
= upon the coneourse below, and a color
= scheme in mural painting with the strik-
- ingly executed frescoes of appropriate ell
= legories in brilliant relief.
= The galleries and balconies were draped
= with red plush, and the hall was profusel,
= adorned with tropics of tri-colored flags
- opening fan-like from shields bearing tn.
y letters "R. F."
- =. Paris glowed with the myriads of dec
~ orative lights which shone from publi,
= buildings, the exposition structures anc
Il the boulevard resorts. Thousands O.
sightseers were riding through the thor
~ =, oughfares or walking along the boule
=. wards enjoying the perfect spring evening
- ltinerant bands played music to the fes
% tivitles while falirs amused the crowds
III gathered in front of the restaurants. Tn,
ie cafes within the exposition grounds, which
10 are barred to the public until tomorrow
IL present scene brilliant and attractive
IL Most of the buildings have a row of light.
e. running about the frieze which bring int.
LII splendid view artistic bas reliefs, statuar,
III and other effective art results with which
e they are decorated. 1t was long past mid
night when the masses moved homeward
TC the day and the evening having been spen