Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1900-04-20
PARIS EXPOSITION OPENED
TAKE A MONTH TO FINISH IT.
4 PieturesNss Sssas-PpesaAsns Lee.
bet IAsse-TAs weather Sas,-A
Holiday n Paris-Tsa0s Assanwe-
seass Are tsoos.

bet TAsse-TAe WsasAss Siso-A
heliAay II Parss-Tpaos Arrange
sseass Are Poor.
Paris. April lS.-Ths sxpositioa Of leee
IL opened, but it will b ct least . month
before anything but buildinss u 70 -
seen. The days ceremonies were pscs.
liar mixture of sumptuous splendos u
the Sslles Dss fstes. and widespread co.
fusion elsewhere. Nothing could have a.
cesied the picturesque stage setting il
the beautiful building in winch the ere.
monies were held. the gorgeous uniforms
OF the diplomatic and soldiers. the splsn.
did orchestra and chorus and mAgni6csnx
effect produced BY the grand staircase W
which President LOubet procsedsd 70 view
the exposition. lined with some z picked
men Of the Republic Guard, with Jack.
boots. white breaches. cleaning cuirAssss
and horsehair plumes streaming from
shining helmets. At the top Of this stAir.
way wss room. the interior VI which
could be secn from the Sslles Dcs Fetes.
and this was hung with priceless Gobeiins
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 al that could
be desired. l4.Oo0 guests having beea In
vited to the function, and they had, BE-.
cause OF tho fine weather. only the dus~
to endure. Had the day hscn wet the un.
rolled paths Of the sxposition grounds
would have been turned into Z mas q
mud.
The afternoon was . holiday In Parh
by general consent and host Of country
people crowded into the city 70 swell the
multitudes. who from an early hour
surged in the direction OF the exposition.
and took up positions along the route a
the presidential procession and at the ap-
prcaches to the grounds. The immenss
number OF guests practically swept tAs
central streets clean Of cabs, Of which a
nnbroken stream. several deep. driftsA
slowly toward the gates between uooa
and 2;30 p m.
| Omitted Ii the correct expression for Ne
rate Of progress, because the traffic ar.
rangements were 80 inadequate that hun.
dreds Of vehicles did not reach the sxposi.
tion at all, and the occupants were either
left stranded en- route or were obliged 70
abandon their carriages and proceed %
foot. This was the expedient ordinarily
adopted, even by several members Of the
diplomatic corps, and two gorgeously Al.
tired officials Of the Chinese embassy, after
hastily walking several blocks, arrived in
the SALES Des Fetes just in time to hear
the cheering at the conclusion OF the cere-
monies
The ceremonial within the SALES De-
FeteS was simplicity itself The recep-
ton to President Loubet at the entrance
lasted but few seconds, and on reaching
the presidential tribune. n. Millerand,
the minister OF commerce, Immediately de-
lisered his speech, handing over the expo
sition to the chief Of state, which sddrew
was couched in most eloquent terms and
read in resonant voice, heard through
out the vast hall
i NJ. Mllerandis perorstion was especially
hne, and II brought forth . storm q
plaudits
President IIoubet then replied, and ~
speaking part Of the function here sndeA
/ The spectacle that met President Lou.
bets eyes when. amid the resoundina
strains Of the "MArsellaise," he st<pps1
to the front Of the presidential dais O
his entry into the SALES De- Fetes. Va
probably never seen before within tie
wall. Of any building. The vast circus
was oiled with . ses OF human bsineu.
who overhowad the balconies juttins cut
from the sidea-
The decoration Of the interior was eer.
tainly . triumph Of artists skill, with q
handsome stained glasa dome, through
which the rays Of sunlight filtered dowp
upon the concourse below, and Q colas
scheme in mural painting with the stsik.
ingy executed frescoes Of appropriate 81.
legorics in brilliant relief.
The galleries and balconies were drspsl
with red plush, and the hall was proeussIy
adorned with tropics Of ti-colored dAss,
opening fan-liks from shields bearing tAs
letters "R. r."
Paris glowcd with the myriads Of dae
orstive hghts which shons from public
buildings. the exposition structures aaA
the boulevard resorts. Thousands Of
sightseers were riding through tho thos-
oughfares or walking along the bouls-
wards enjoying the perfect spring evening.
itinerant bands played muaic 10 the fes-
tiviiies while fAkirs amused the crowds
gathered in front Of the restaurapta Tie
cafes within the exposition grounds. which
are barred to the public until tomorrow.
present . scene brilliant and attractive.
Most OF the buildings have . row Of iights
running about the frieze which bring inAs
splendid view artistic bas reliefs, statuasy
and other effartive art results with which
they are decorsted. 1t was long past mid
night when the masses moved homsvsrd.
the day and the evening having bsea speat
- Parisians enjoy fetes.