The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-14
LIKE slough Of DESP(|ND
PARIS EXPOSITION OPENING WILL
BE RETARDED BY INCOMPLETE
NESS OF BUILDINGS
WEATHER PROMISE IS FINE
President LOubet Will Have Three
Grand Views When He Comes
to Officially Open the
Big Show. sa@'1

PARIS, April -13.-The exposition au-
thorities are making a strenuous effort
to prepare the show for the inaugura-
ton tomorrow, but an examination of
the grounds and buildings today shows
the task is impossible. The buildings
are filed with debris and the exhibits
are only partially installed. The Sale
des Fetes, in which the inaugural cere-
monies are planned to occur tomorrow,
has an army of men clearing the floor
space and arranging the seats. The
work will continue all night and close
to the hour when the invited guests ar
rive. The hall is a magnificent struc-
ture, beautifully decorated and is great
tribute to French architecture and dec
orative art.
The whole exposition space Is covered
this evening with Pickering lights and
hordes of workmen are busily engaged in
clearing away scaffoldings, packing cases
and debris of every kind which still lit
ter all the arteries of the exposition. This
work is only to- prepare a series of
tableaux for the president tomorrow, as
| he will not enter the exposition buildings
proper, but only inspect the ediflces from
the outside, for the excellent reason that
the buildings where finished are thus far
mere shells with scarcely any exhibits
in place anywhere. After M Loubet' 3
visit tomorrow these scaffoldings will be
rebuilt, and the interrupted work of in
stalling will be resumed.
The success of the Inauguration cere-
mony will depend largely upon the
weather which, happily, promises to be
fine. Otherwise the exposition grounds
will become a veritable slough of
| despond.
SPLENDID VIEWS.
! Despite the incomplete condition of the
exposition President Loubet will be able
| to enjoy three splendid views. The first
is the view down the Champs Mars, from
| the Trocadero to the Chateua d Eu, with
artistic palaces on either side, and with
| the center bestrode by the immense
arches Of the Eifel tower. The second
is the vista from the Champs Elysees,
across the new Alexander bridge to the
Hotel des Invalides, with the gilded dome
of the tomb of Napoleon ]. rising up at
the farther end, and hanked firstly by
an avenue of trees, and then by white
| facades of handsome edifices in which
! will be collected the exhibits classed
under the varied industries, these facades
being embellished by groups Of sculpture
and by huge and effective paintings of
| allegorical subjects. f.
The third prospect is the scenic look
along the Seine embankment, upon which
are erected the national pavilions of the
nations, each of which is a reproduction
| of some famous building, typifying the
national architecture of the country 1t
represents The bright colors and di-
versified styles of these structures will
present an unrivalled panorama view to
| the occupants of the presidents barge
on the voyage up the Seine from the
| Trocalero to the Alexander bridge
NJ Loubet has decided to celebrate
| the inauguration by pardoning all army
| and navy prisoners who are undergoing
sentences for minor offenses. All sail
ors and soldiers are to receive a special
ration of wine tomorrow.
A list of about fifty decorations of the
Legion of Honor, conferred upon French
exposition officials, has been promul-
| gated. M. Alfred Picard, the commits
sioner general. heads the list with the
grand cIoss.