Year: 1867

eNnlDlb1On bOOk DltACb JOsutys lubEb was no
ceremony or pageant of any kind; no addresses
or replies; no official costumes. The Emperor
and Empress merely visited the building,
spoke a few words to the representatives of the
various foreign commissions,who wore evening
dress in honor of the occasion, and left as they
came, in their open carriages. 1t was little
more than mere formal visit, except that
the building was cleaner and certainly much
emptier than il has often been before. For
some daVs past it has been known that the
opening would not be made a great public
ceremony, and the knowledge of this fact has
told most seriously bhe sale of season tickets.
Up TO the last IT was believed that M. Play
would yield, and allow foreign countries and
France itself little grace in point of time to
get themselves into tolerable order. Not until
Friday last was it for an instant believed that
the building was really meant to open to-day,
and when the fiat was given out on Saturday IL
produced only the sort of indifference Induced
by the absolute despair of being ready. With
the exception of Russia, England, Sweden, and
perhaps also Denmark, absolutely none were


The positive announcement that the opening
to the public would really be made this day was
received with nota little gloom by all but the
Russian, English, and some few French courts,
though OF the latter only very few were even
toleraby ready. BY far the great majority of
th emselves with closing their entrances and
aftixing the notice, "EHtTee inteTdite," for not
only were the Courts themselves unfinished,
but even the small number OF the goods which
had yet arrived were not unpacked. With such
state of things, Of course anything like
ceremonial was out OF the question. Even for
the Emperor and Empress themselves it would
have been impossible to clear q fair passage
through the mass of bales which in heavy
stacks, like piles of rough deals, cumber the
spaces reserved for most foreign nations Sun
day was the last day allowed tor work-in fact,
it was decisively announced at first that no
work would be allowed on that day at all, as it
was to be given up entirely TO cleaning the in
terror. OF course, however, this rule was
laXed, and such a scene of confusion as the
building presented yesterday was probably
versant with the horrible uproar and
hurry of the last days work in these
than from $4,000 TO 10000 people had re-
ceived tickets of admission, so that in some
parts the radlal avenues were literally blocked
up with dense crowds OF loungers, who only
congregated where the work was busiest, and
where, therefore, as matter of course, their
presence was least desired and most obsUruc-
tive. IL was not till towards evening that
these throngs gradually abated, and the sweep
ers and laborers got fair chance to make
things look If not in disorder at least in less
disarray than usual Scaffoldiugs were pulled
down, screen broken away with hammers or
last efforts only ceased when darkness came
on. All, however, was in vain, and half the
foreign countries and more than half of France
was still blocked with ladders, poles, and frame
work of every shape and kind.


CONDITION OF THE BUILDING.


At least another month will be necessary to
and at least two months TO make the Park pre-
senlable. Just now 1T is in most cases mere
litter Of planks and poles, and eXoavated paths
about to be filled in with gravel, and parCerres
wanting both their soil and flowers The at
tendance OF visitors to-day was, as have said
not very large, and except in the seats in the
picture galleries there were very few ladies'
indeed, of the whole assemblage, there were
scarcely more than a fourth of the fairer sex
present. and by no means small percentage
was made up of workmen who were employ ed
in the building till the last moment, and
who managed to remain and what was
the formal opening. Two o'clock was the hour
fixed for the arrival OF the Imperial family, and
almost TO the very second the Emperor and
Empires alighted at the entrance of the Nesti-
bule. They came to the building in the private
style in which they as a rule, drive about Paris,
in an open carriage and four. Following that of
the Emperor were the carriages of the chief
members rer 0I 6ng eSS S tbe M
Orange, the Count of Flanders, and the Baron
James Rothschild.


Maiesties, as his health is not yet sufficiently
re-established allow him to take even aformal
part in any public ceremony, In plain truth,
he is still very far from well, and as yet does not
leave the palace, nor is he expected to do so for
some few days to come. Everywhere the I'm.
the most profound Difference and respect, bnt
there was very little cheering. A few stray
but as q rule the French do not cheer, and the
carriages moved on amid the waving of hand
kerchieis and uncovered heads only.


RECEPTION OF THE EMPEROR.


At the vestibule their Majesties were received
by NJ. LIE Play and the other members of the
Imperial Commission, and almost instantly
ascended the staircase which led to the raised
gallery running round the machinery annexe,
or rather circle. The Emperor wore plain
evening dress, with the grand Gordon and star
tired in the simplest of walking costumes, and
wore dark veil which she never raised while
narty through The exhibition may easily be fol-
lowed. The building is arranged in a series of
concentric rings orgalleries. each OF which Is de-
voted TO a certain class of subjects. Thus the
outermost ring of all is allotted to the display
OF machinery, at rest and in motion, while one
of the innermost rings forms succession of
picture galleries. The Emperor and his party
went round the editice twice, namely, in those
two rings which may be said TO represent all
that is most fine and all that Is most useful in
the arts. Entering at any door of the building,
the visitor will at once hnd himself in the
midst of machinery but the arrangement at
the chief door of all is such that on the one
hand he will find the French, and on the other
the British show. Down, indeed, the whole
the chief doorway TO the central gar
den, and cuts passage through the
conGentriG galleries the same arrangement anger
gallery, you mud yourself IN France; follow IL
in its course round the build ng. and you pass
through a succession Of countries, until at last
when you complete the circle, you find your.
self among the products OF Great Britain The
gallery set apart for machinery mas pecu-
iiarity; it hasa raised continuous gangway from
end to end that goes over all the machines, Sc
that visitor can see them from above Arm
in-arm the Emperor and Empress assembled the
gangway on the French side the Imperial


Commissioners preceding them. CrOWds col


1ected among the machines below TO see them


as they passed, and at various recesses alone


the gallery bands of regiments were ready


TO strike up the national air as they came in


sight the band-masters gesticulating in all 6


Frenchman's anxiety that the first combina


tion Of notes should come not one moment too


late, not one moment too soon. At fixed points


the commissioners of the various countries


who were presented To him and the EN- press


In passing over the French section of the gal


leries their Majesties had the satisfaction o


seeing considerable number of the machine,


In molon, Dut they could scarcely find a simi


partmenJ unIll Ihey came to the British end @