The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-17
THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
1T Is FORMALLY OPENED BY THE
PRESIDENT or FRANCE
WITH GREAT P0MP AND DISPLAY.
Magnificent Scene I'm the Sale deS
Fetes - Brilliant Decorations Pic
turesque Costumes of Representa-
from the Grand Stafrcase-Inspectio
from Decks Of Steamers Along the
hiver The American Salute.
PARIS EXPOSITION .THw;oyg,,

PARIS EXPOSITION .THw;oyg
Paris, April 1.-THE exposition of 1900
has opened, but it will be at least a
month before anything but buildings
is to be seen. The days ceremonies
were peculiar mixture of sumptuous
splendor in the Sale des Fetes and
widespread confusion elsewhere. Moth
ing could have exceeded the pictur-
esque stage setting in the beautiful
building in which the inaugural cere-
monies We're held, the gorgeous uni
forms of the diplomats and soldiers,
the splendid orchestra and chorus and
the magnificent effect produced b. the
grand staircase, up which President
| Loubet proceeded to view the exposi-
! ton, lined with some 200 picked men
| of the Republican Guards, with jack
| boots, white breeches, cleaning cui-
| raSSes and horse hair plumeS streaming
from shining helmets.
The afternoon was a holiday in
! Paris by general consent and a host
| Of country people crowded into the city
! to swell the multitudes who from an
early hour trudged in the direction of
! the exposition and took up positions
/ along the route of the presidential pro-
| cessiOn. and at the approaches to the
! grounds. Hundreds of vehicles did not
| reach the exposition at all, and the
occupants were either left stranded en-
| route or were obliged to abandon their
| carriages and proceed on foot. This
was the eXpedient ordinarily adpoted,
! even by several members of the diplo-
! matte corps
THE FORMAL OPENING.
The ceremonial within the Sale des
| Fetes was simplicity itself. The recep-
! ton of President Loubet at the en-
| trance lasted but a few seconds, the
| presidential tribune, NJ. Millerand, the
minister of commerce, immediately de-
! livered his address. President Loubet
then replied. and the speaking part of
the function here ended.
a MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE.
The spectacle that met President
Loubets eyes, when, amid the re-
sounding strains of the Marseillaise,
he stepped to the front of the presiden-
tial dais on his entry into the Sale des
! Fetes was probably never seen before
| within the walls of any building. The
| vast circus was filed with 81 sea of hu-
man beings who overflowed balconies
jutting out from the sides The decor
! aticn of the interior was a triumph OF
artistic skill. with a handsome stained
glass dome through which the rays of
sunlight filtered down upon the con-
course below and a color scheme in
mural painting with the strikingly eX-
ecuted freScoeS Of appropriate allegor-
les in in brilliant relief. The galleries
and balconies were draped with red
plush and the hall was profusely
adorned with trophies of tri-color flags,
opening fan-like from shields beLring
/ the letters ''R. F.
PICTURESQUE ATTIRE OF FOR
EIGN REPRESENTATIV
The group among the great assem-
bly, which was the most attractive was
the body of foreign representatives in
picturesque attire. Since Victoria's jul
bilee or the cars coronation no such
congress of strange and gorgeous ma
tional costumes has been seem In a
mass together were tUrbaned
Arab SheikS in flowing white robes
mass together We're turbaned chiefs
Hungarian magnates in magnificent
dolmas trimmed with valuable furs,
with green breeches and top boots and
wearing fur toQueS Surmounted by
waving aigrettes: Chinese and other
Oriental embassy officials in charac-
| teristic silk garments; tall CoSsacks in
| sumptuous cloaks with bandoliers
| Slung across their chests from which
emerged the polished brass cartridge
cases and trailing heavy sabres. All o.
| these outlandiSh figures rubbed Shoul-
derS with the wearers of the not less
splendid but better known European
uniforms.
On the conclusion of President Lou
bets speech the procession formed,
and amid the strains of La Marche
Hereique" rendered by the Republican
band proceeded across the Sale des
FNetes between a hedge of guards with
! fixed bayonets to the grand staircase
which the party ascended, the cuiras-
, sieurs lining the steps, saluting. This
was the moment when the climax OF
enthusiasm was reached within the hall
which rang with shouts of "Vive Lou
! bet"
On reaching the summit of the stair
way. President Loubet gave a last look
| at the scenes about him and then en-
tered the salon of honor. where the
ceremony of presentation of commits
sioners or foreign nations was gone
through.
This salon is the locale OF the Amer
lean electrical exhibit, and here a body
of fifty American guards was drawn
up The guards made a very fine ap-
pearance, in a navy blue uniform with
silver and white helmets and wearing
an American shield on the collar of
the tunic. They saluted President
Loubet. and he acknowledged their
greeting, while n. Delaunay Belleville,
director general of the exposition,
turned to United States Commissioners
Peck and thanked him for the advane-
cd condition of this exhibit
PROCESSION THROUGH THE
GROUNDS.
The presidential cortege then de-
scended into the grounds, emerging in
to the Champs de Mars at the Chateau
Eau, and the picture from this point
up through the Eiffei tower TO the COL
oniai section with the Palace Trocadero
towering up in the back ground in 6
semi-circle was one of the finest in the
: whole tour. The splendid exposition
| buildings on either side were abun-
dainty decorated with bunting and
: flowers. A double rank of infantry
. ranged along each flank. leaving a