BUILDINGS OF THE FRENCH EXPOSITION OF 187R. 
VOL. XXXV. No. 7. 
WHOLE No. 1412. 
[Entered according to 
NEW YORK CITY, FEBRUARY 17, 1877,__ 
Act of Congress, in tho year 1877, by the Rural Publishing Company, In tho office of tho Librarian of Congress at WaHhimrton.] 
IMIH'I 
ilX ('ENTS. 
EK V E A It. 
BUILDINGS OF THE PROSPECTIVE 
FRENCH EXPOSITION. 
“ They do those things better in France,” was 
a remark made by LAtmiracE Stf.une upwards 
of a century ago. and frequent repetition Las 
rendered tho saying an adage since then. Twice 
already, during the years of specious prosperity 
tinder “The Nephew of his Uncle/’ have the 
perennial charms of the gay capital of France 
been supplemented by the attractions of filter- 
national Expositions. In tlioso Imperial days it 
was t he ambition of the restlietioiil Parisians that 
their “World’s Fairs” should excel those of 
neighboring monarchies, but now Republican 
Franco is about to exhaunt, all her marvelous 
resources, and invites contributions from tho 
world at large, to enable her, in the tlrst decade 
of her existence, to eclipse tho F.xhibition that, 
commemorated the Centenary of her sister Re¬ 
public on this side of the Atlantic. Will Ameri¬ 
cana, nay, even Pbiladelphiaus, be forced to 
acknowledge that “ they do those things better 
in Franco ?" Tim© may bring such a confession 
from the reluctant, lips of unprejudiced vi. itors 
from this country, but little is risked in assorting 
that the last few moments of Eternity ahull 
never extract oven an affirmative nocl from the 
proud head of a critic from the Centennial City. 
It is an impressive proof of the wonderfully 
recuperative power of France that scarce half-a- 
dozen years after the devastations and exactions 
of a disastrous foreign war, and tho destruction 
and demoralization of a hitter civil coullict, sho 
should already reel justified m challenging com¬ 
petition with the most prosperous nations in all 
the products of human science, skill, and indus¬ 
try. So long as the Latin race has a representa¬ 
tive so fnll of energy and vitality, so spirited 
under disaster, and so prompt to recover from 
it, the grim vaticinations of tho seers of evil who 
assert its decadence and predict its speedy ruin, 
are likely to find weight only with those whose 
antipathy renders them credulous. 
During tho period necessary to prepare exhib¬ 
its for our Centennial Exposition, tho energies 
of that nation were so concentrated on internal 
re-organization and recuperation that the display 
made by her citizens fell lamentably short of the 
variety and excellence 1 hat generally distinguish 
their productions. Owing to tho access of en¬ 
ergy developed by her misfortunes, however, and 
her bold determination to reassert tho prominent 
portion aho had long held in tho artistic, scien¬ 
tific, and industrial world, her display at tho »q>- 
proaohing Exposition is likely to transcend all 
her former efforts. Preparations for this great 
Fair are already far advanced. The architecture 
of the buildhtgs differs widely from that of the 
Paris Exhibition of 1B07 and that In Philadelphia 
last year. 
Tho main building, in the Champ do Mara, will 
extend from tho Ecolo Militairo to tho river 
Seine, at the bridge of Jena. Crossing tlio 
bridge brings one to tho beautiful gardens of 
tho Trocadero, a view of which, as it. will appear 
in the summer of 1H7H, from tho bridge, is given 
in the illustration below- There are to be other 
subsidiary buildings and offices erected on the 
grounds, and a grand central hall for fete3, etc., 
will stand on the higher ground at tho further 
end towards the Bois do Boulogne. 
Tho two crescent - shaped sido structures, 
which, as will bo soon, are to ho of groat extent, 
will be devoted to the historical collections of 
pictures, contemporary paintings being exhibited 
elsewhere. The fountain and cascade will bo 
very attractive features, and will show how ar¬ 
tistically tho French arrange tho water displays 
which ornament so many of their parks, gardens, 
and other public resorts. The oascado is ICO 
feet wide, falling in several descents to a lake, 
from which tho different shrubberies and parks 
will be watered. The palace of tho Trocadero 
is, from one pavilion to tho other, about 1,330 in 
length, tho pavilions at tho extremities being 
connected with tho groat central rotunda, from 
tho foot of which flows the cascade, by galleries 
forming segments or a semi-circle, fn the groat 
hall of tho rotunda an immense organ is to ho 
placed, and concerts will he givon on tho grand¬ 
est scale. It. will seat «,000 people. Round the 
concert room, outside, giving access to the 
boxes, are doublo galleries, closed from the 
1 weather, arid affording to promenaders a splen¬ 
did view of tho city. On either sido aro peri¬ 
styles opening on the Place flu Trocadero, ou tho 
sido of the Reis do Boulogne. Above them aro 
the offices of tho managers and committees ; they 
also servo as vestibules to the t wo great curved 
galleries that, run from tho central rotunda to 
t he pavilions. Those galleries are in ft succession 
of halls; before each is a light, covered portico, 
running the whole length. 
From all parts of Paris will he visible the two 
immense towers, 2G0 feet in bight, flanking the 
Trocadero. A flight. Of seventeen broad stopH 
conducts to tho palace, before tho portico of 
which a wido terrace stretches from one extrem¬ 
ity lo the other. Tho principal entrance is at 
tho middle, and at each end aro two immenso 
domes in iron and glass, surmounted by lanterns 
and llagstaffs. Tho gardens stretch on either 
side of tho facade between tho palace and the 
avenues, and contain u. number of small build¬ 
ings, kiosks, model farms, cottages, cnJYs, green¬ 
houses, and tho like. Tho center in left unoccu¬ 
pied, for the bettor convenience of spectators. 
Beneath tho placid or turbulent waters of tho 
broad Atlantic exciting rumors of prospective 
wars are daily Hashed from the Old World to the 
New: yet there is something reassuring to civil¬ 
ization and progress, in tho sight, of tho most 
belligerent nation in Europe earnestly intent, 
amid those menacing complications, on a vast en¬ 
terprise whose success must mainly depend on 
universal peace. For the sake of humanity, 
therefore, success to the French Exposition ! 
