17

OPENING OF THE AMERICAN EXHIBITION.

There seemed to be no end to the Exhibition between two and four o'clock yesterday afternoon; and the crowds in the streets were thousands strong. Inside there were throngs of ladies and gentlemen, turn which way one would. The Exhibition building showed no signs of incompleteness, much less disorder, though, as was pointed out in yesterday's paper, the exhibits as a whole are unfinished. The most, however, had been made of the materials at hand, and a very bright and pretty show was the result. The grounds on the western side are extremely pleasant, many old fruit and other trees, remnants probably of a defunct market garden, giving an air of ripeness to the landscape. An abundance of chairs hare invited the visitors to enjoy the lovely May day, with only the fleecy sky for a roof; and the damsels belonging to Bertram and Company's army corps flitted from buffet to bar, and from bar to buffet, bright as butterflies with star spangled banners for sprons. One of the documents early placed in our hands was an almanac of American drinks, in which the refreshment contractors had entered a special concoction for every day of the year except Sundays, "Exhibition Bosom Caresser" being the fixture for May 9. In the saloon, which is ornamented with a magnificent collection of heads, horns, and bodies of beasts of the chase, a special set of guests partook of luncheon. The opening ceremony, however, took place in the main avenue of the Exhibition, in presence of an audience that stretched right and left, and to the furthermost bonnies opposite, far beyond the reach of the strongest voice. The Grenadier Guards' band began the programme with "Hail Columbia, " and a prayer was read by Archdeacon Farrar, with a peroration "to be repeated by all present." Then the band played "God Save the Queen," and this was succeeded by an era of speech-making. The first innings fell to the lot of Lord Ronald Gower, who, on behalf of the council, spoke a capital piece of welcome to the American guests.