A Sportsman 181 



four or five steps, the whole covered with a crim- 

 son carpet. In the rear of the platform was an im- 

 mense extending canopy with the Imperial coat of 

 arms, and hung with Gobelin tapestry. This was 

 the dais designed and occupied by the principal 

 monarchs of Europe or their representatives gathered 

 by the Emperor to give e"clat to the recognition of 

 merit. This presented probably the most distin- 

 guished exhibition of royalty ever assembled. Cen- 

 trally seated were Napoleon and the Empress Eugenie, 

 and adjoining the American Ambassador, the Czar 

 of Russia, the Kings of Prussia, Austria, Denmark, 

 Sweden, Belgium, Spain, and other monarchies, the 

 Prince of Wales, the Shah of Persia, the Sultan of 

 Turkey, Bismarck, and other most prominent European 

 celebrities. The gardens and conservatories of Paris and 

 environs were denuded of flowers to grace the event. 



The great musical composition of Rosini to the 

 French people was rendered by a choir of twelve 

 hundred girls in white, with salvos of artillery ap- 

 propriately timed from the distant Champ des Mars. 



Forty thousand troops of the French army lined 

 both sides of the avenue from the Palace of the Tuil- 

 eries to that of the Industry, presenting arms on the 

 passage of the royal cortege from the former to the 

 latter. 



The exhibiting recipients of first prizes, and espe- 

 cially recompenses, by notice given, were gathered in 

 full dress, at a central position in front of the royal 

 assemblage. The opening was declared by the Em- 

 peror Napoleon, who advanced to the front and read 

 in a clear and comparatively sonorous voice the few 

 words of opening. This was followed by the French 



