A LADY'S IMPRESSIONS OF THE FRENCH EXHIBITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1943, 23 March 1868, Page 5

A LADY'S IMPRESSIONS OF THE FRENCH EXHIBITION.

(KKOM A OORKKSI'ONDENT.) I beg to submit a aliort extract from a letter by n lady of quality who paid a •visit to the French Exhibition, and who takes a great interest in the welfare of this Province, in whoso affairs she is kept • conversant through receiving the papers . and an occasional letter from your obedient servant:-—

Since I last wrote, I have made a visit to the French Exhibition. I did not expect to care for the Exhibition itself • quite so much, having seen two already in London, and that nothing would surpass them in the way of building und external decoration, &c. But this year's, though nothing in respect of exterior, certainly contained much tnat was wonderful, and very different from the others. I made nine visits to it during the three weeks that I spent in Paris, and every time was more and more struck Avith the wonderful aiTangement and system of tho whole. Euch class and each -country was so well represented, and everything set out to the best advantage, and at any rate in the month of October, never anything like a crowd, or anything to annoy or inconvenience in any part. There seemed no end to the people either; but from the manner of placing-the goods, and the style and arrangement of tho building, a crowd or stoppage seomed impossible. It was then very cold weather; but I could fancy, in heat of summer, tho ventilation ■would be perfect, there being such numerous outlets to tho ceutro garden, to which all tho circles in tho building converged, and which could bo reached in $. minute's time from any part. There was an immense collection of machinery of every sort and kind, easily seen and got at; besides raw material, antiquities, pictures, statues, jewels, manufactures of every species, cloths, toys^ in short, something to suit every tasto. It seemed to me so many more nationalities were i-epresentcd than in our Exhibition, not only with their goods, bufc in person. In many of the departments there were

moat life-liko figures, dresßed op in all the various costumes of the countries; all the different specimens of the peasantry of the Northern European countries— Denmark, Sweden, and so on ; and then the various American costumes from Mexico, Paraguay, &c. But besides, there were real Jiving representatives of »o many countries, eastern and western, that made a constant amusement: and I suppose-never such a collection before — Chinese, Japanese, Russians, Austrians, Turks, and many more. All made a most gay scene, and many of them selling their own goods. You could eafc the food of many of these people after their own p.tyle. The Russian tea was one of the best things I tasted ; served to you by most fine looking men and women, gaily dressed in their special costumes, boiling hot in tumblers quite clear like beer, and slices of lemon instead of milk, made a moßt refreshing drink. One could spend a day from early morning till night in the precincts of the Exhibition, and command everything I may almost say necessary to life, instruction, and amusement, anything a human being could want—in short, everything but a bed could be procured, and prices by no means exorbitant. Paris certainly is a wonderful city to enjoy life, everything is so clean and bright and gay ; and all seems wonderfully easy to the traveller. No doubt they have their faults; but the good humor and civility of the French people, down to tho very lowest class, and the utter absence, on thesurfaco, at any rate, of anything to offend tho eye or ear in the way of drunkenness or disorder, leaven a most pleasing impression. Though, of course, there are some things to regret, in spite of its orderliness, to s^e the gay crowds flocking to the Exhibition on Sunday, with fanners, bands, and processions headed by the clergymen, and so much public work going on, as busy as other days. I attended one of the principal Protestant Churches twice, and heard some of the most celebrated French preachers, and was m ach struck with, the devout earnest appearance of the congregation, which seemed to embrace the moat intelligent working people of all classes. There is a nice little .Scotch Church, too, under the Bame roof. The Emperor seernß very liberal in that way to all denominations.