174 Reminiscences of 



spring, which I followed in due season. It was my 

 first trip abroad, and my sensations when I arrived in 

 Paris in the evening hour were of an exciting character. 



As I was carried through the principal boulevards, 

 so brilliantly illuminated, to the Grand Hotel, the 

 lively and glittering presentation exceeded my ex- 

 pectations, and it seemed as if I had reached a new 

 land of enchantment. The exposition buildings were 

 already completed, and many of the departments were 

 already occupied. 



The main building of exhibition, situated on the 

 large open space on the Field of Mars across the 

 Seine from the main part of the city, was oval in form 

 anh over a mile in circumference. The structure was 

 of iron and glass, surrounded by annexes for machinery, 

 agricultural implements, minerals, and various heavy 

 articles. It was intended by the Emperor Napoleon 

 and the French Government to have this world's 

 exhibition surpass any ever before given, and it most 

 certainly did. Napoleon was then in the zenith of his 

 power and France in the height of prosperity. 



The American commissioners, a large number, 

 were already there, but the American department 

 was entirely unoccupied. A large number of Ameri- 

 can exhibitors were there, chafing under the delay in 

 having their various quarters assigned. N. M. Beck- 

 with was the United States Commissioner General 

 and Sam'l B. Ruggles, of New York, was the second 

 in rank following the chief. Mr. Beckwith had lived 

 with his family in Paris for many years, and pri- 

 marily in India, from which he had retired with a 

 large fortune. He was a man of singular indecision, 

 lacking executive ability. In vain the exhibitors ap- 



