The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-15

hedge OF guards with flxed bayonets |,
the Grand staircase, which the party as
cended, the cuirassiers lining the steps
salutlng, AT the moment when the china,
OF enthusiasm was reached the hall rams
! with shouts OF ''vive Loubet."
! On the summit OF the stairway Presi.
/ dent Loubet gave last look at the scene,
! about him aud then entered the salon o.
\ Honor. where the ceremony of presenta.
! ton OF commissioners of foreign nations
| was gone through. This salon is the 10.
| Gale OF the American electrical exhibit ant
! here o body OF nifty American guards wal
4 drawn W.
! The guards made very fine appearances
| IN navy blue uniform with silver ant
/ white helmets and soaring an American
shield on the collar OF the tunlc. The,
/ saluted President Loubet and he acknowl
edged their greeting, while NJ, De Launa,
| de Vile. director general of the exposition
| turned to United states Commissioner
Peck and thanked him for the advanced
/ condition of this exhibit
! The presidential cortege then descende,
into the grounds, emerging into the
+ Champs des Mars at the Chateau d Ea,
and tho picture from this point up through
the Eiftel tower 10 tho colonial section
\ with the palace Trocadero towering u
In the background in semi-circle. wa
one of the hnest OF the whole tour.
The splendid exhibition buildings OF
! either side were abundantiy decorate'
with bunting and flowers. A double ranl
OF Infantry ranged along each flank, leav
ing broad passage between. througl
which the procession marched, Behind
these rows OF red trousered soldiers. will
fixed bayonete, MAS massnd the great
crowd OF the public and President I.oube
q md M m hop fo
lrkewarmness. He was cheered through
out the progress to tho bridge dLenn
where luxurious upholstered river steam
boats were waiting to embark the part,
for the trip up tho Seine 10 Alexande
bridge
a vast throng which tried to reach tn,
Champs de Mars in advance OF the presi
Dental party by pressing through on th'
ground door OF tho agricultural hall,
found it a discouragIng task, Pile
of plasters, loads OF timber aud untitled
excavations confronted them everywhere
Over these they climbed, almost sur
locating from the dust. Handsomely
gowned women In spring attire braved
the difficulties. but only at the cost o
practically running expensive costumes.
President Loubet aud the foreign com.
missionere entered the first barge at the
bridge d'Lena. and the encourage follow
ed in the other four. Reaching the
American pavilion the Stars and Stripes
We're dipped from the nagstai, and two
American marines, stationed on each side
OF Washington state, waved trl-coor
while the crowd OF Americans gathered
on the embankment IN front OF the pa.
vllon and gave President Loutet a ring,
Ing cheer. The president was greatly
pleased at this little courtesy and turn
ing to Ambassador Porter. who was be-
side him, on the boat, Ne remarked: "rhe
American always does right; this is a
magnificent building"
To many visiting Americans. however,
our National pavilion Is n distinct dis
appointment, IT is pretentious. almost
overpowerlng with It's big dome and start
ling frescoes over the entrance, but II
compares unfavorably with the beautiful
or even smaller powers, like Italy. Spain
and Austria, which are Its ne'ghbors along
the Seine.
Tonight Paris gIows with myrIads OF
decorative lights, which shine from pub
lie buildings, the exposition structuref
and the boulevard resorts. Thousands Of
sightseers are riding through the
thoroughfares or walking along the boule-
Yards enjoying the perfect spring eveu-
ing. Itinerant bands add music TO the
festivities while falsirs amuse the crowds
III lFuHt OF Tue TeAtduIHilLs.
II was long past midnight when the
masses turned their faces homeward, the
day and the evening having been spent
as Parisians enjoy fetes.
The Paris exposition was opened today.
The most favorable weather conditions
prevailed and lunumerable bright-colored
domes and minarets glistened In the sun
shine. Paris was early astir with people
vending their way toward the .-iysee and
in the direction OF tho exposition in tbs
hope OF witnessing the presidential pro-
cession at some part OF its journey.
All the public buildings aud numberless
private houses were decorated with
trophies of flags, chiefly the tri-color The
peclally gay With bunting, while most of
the pavllions themselves were surmountei
with floating banners.
Within the exposition grounds this
morning all was hustle and animation 10
a supreme effort 10 clear away all IN
slightly obstacles in order To leave an I'M
obstrueted foSd and an external appear
ance OF completeness to the place for the
presidential party IN their passage through
the grounds The finishing touches were
hastily given the magnificent Sale dss
Fetes. The aspect Of the exposition has
materially Improved from even that OF
It1ttEudf Guu niAuOAtA thy
OF exhibits has naturally undergone little
advance the external effects produced by
the incesssnt labor OF the past couple Of
days is already fine and decidedly Pic
turesque
The unfinished condition OF the exposi-
tion Oh Inauguration day is regretiable
and perhaps misleading. 1t must be borne
Ia mind that this is orly a passing phase
and on dts completion within three weeks
or a month from now the exposition VIII
indisputsbly be the most attractive and
magnificent yet seen.
Americans especially will be proud Of
their country's display at this Worlds
Fair. for tho United States stands second
only TO France herself in number Of ey-
bihitors which treble those OF any for
eign country. The following Is a table Of
exhibitors. which speaks eloduentiy OF
Americar snterprise: France, So:eooi
Unitsd States. 1864. Belgium. $500; Ger