Year: 1878

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The storm which had been threat
ening all the morning now burst up
on the assembled thousands with un'
relenting fury; the pitiless rain
poured down in torrents, and the
roar of heavens artillery drowned
the thunder of the guns that
greeted the President of the Re
public. The opening ceremonies
were a grievous disappointment to
almost everybody present. There
was no music, no grand anthem by
which France and the world should
remember the day. The entire ab'
sence of all enthusiasm in the most
enthusiastic capital in the world
was as marked as it was lamentable
to those who were naturally expect
ing one of the most splendid pa
geants Of ancient or modern times.
As q spectacle it was the deadest OF
all dead failures, as public cele-
bration, to whoever has seen the
DERBY or the boat race on the
Thames, the contrast would be the
most unfavorable; but for all this,
there are here gathered together
such an Exposition Of the worlds
genius and the worlds wealth,
as has never been witnessed
in any land before. Strong with
the prejudices of my own country;
glorying in it's past successes as I
do, I am still compelled to speak
with reverence and respect Of this
national undertaking
which in my estimation considering
the difficulties which surrounded
it, has had no parallel on the face
of the earth. As the shadows Of
night fell the enthusiasm which had
been wanting all day seemed to
awaken as if by magic. The place
de la Concorde and all along the
Champs ,Elysees and the boulevards
were crowded with a good natured
multitude. There were some faint
at Illumination, and the
shops on the various boulevards
were glittering with their precious
wares as usual, and so ended the
day of the Exposition OF
1878.


Though thousands were disappointr
ed in the pageant the Importance OF
this days work upon the permanent
welfare of mankind throughout the
world no living man can estimate.
It's influence reaches away into the
ages to come affecting the destiny
of millions yet unborn, in whose ex-
periences may be realized the golden
dreams of the prophet and the
sage when the children Of men in
every land shall join in the anthem
sung by the morning star.


Of the tremendous magnitude OF
the buildings, I have not yet had
time to speak, of the splendid COL
lections of art; the wonderful crea-
tions of mechanism, the gorgeous
beauty of the grounds, and the un-
told marvels that enmesh your
steps like the net of tabled
enchantress of these at the pre-
sent time. I can only make
passing mention. Its immensity
no mortal mind can grasp as a
whole, so weary and worn tonight,
I lay down my pen, but tomorrow
7 shall take it up again, and pro-
ceed to the fulfllment OF the task
which I laid out for myself two
years ago at the opening OF the
Centennial Exposition in Philadel-
phia and which, if I can fulfill to
the satisfaction Of my readers, l
shall esteem no sacrifice too great.
For the next six months, day by
day, I shall wander over these Won
derous halls, and endeavor to tell
as best I may the story of the mar
vels that I have seen. To me it
will be no less a duty than con-
tinuous labor Of love, and trusting
that the satisfaction which [ ex-
perience in seeing may be shared
by those who shall follow me in
these letters,


lam yours, truly,


BRQADBRIM.


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