The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-13 00:00:00

CIVIL ENGINEERS at the INVENTIONS

EXHIBITION,

Sir Frederick Bramwell, President of the Institu-
tion of Civil Engineers, and Lady Leonora Bramwell
gave a conversazione in the Inventions Exhibition on
Friday night, which was attended by a large and dis-
tinguished assembly, including representatives of both
Houses of the Legislature, the Diplomatic corps, and
the leading professions. With the sanction of the
Executive Committee, every part of the Exhibition
was thrown open to the guests, but as the air was
delightfully mild and clear, most of them preferred
to promenade the terraces and gardens. These
formed a scene of variety and splendour not
easily surpassable. The great conservatory and
the buildings on either side were outlined
by myriads of electric lamps, the water from
the fountains sparkled with the same light, and
even the foliage of the trees dazzled the eye with
ever varying hues lent them by innumerable dots of
incandescent globes hid high up in the branches, and
discovered every instant by the winds, which gently
moved the leaves. It was, on a different scale, such a
spectacle as Moscow presented at the Coronation of
Alexander 111., Czar of All the Russias, when the
ancient capital was illuminated in some fashion; but
any one who witnessed that national celebration
would without much hesitation give the preference
to South Kensington. Sickly tallow lamps cannot
compare with electricity in effect, and more artistic
display becomes possible with appliances like those
available at the Inventions. On Friday the lamps
were remarkably steady, and showed to great advan-
tage. The fountains were a centre of attraction
to all—the changes their jets underwent both in
form and hue, at one time divided into hundreds
of tiny sprays, and then thrown high into the air in
columns of water, now red, now green, and sometimes
a combination of all the colours in the rainbow and
out of it, forming a picture more easily imagined as
belonging to fairyland than to the fickle climate of
England, even in June. Close to these were the
music kiosks, each o3cupied by a band, while, beyond
all, the conservatory, also a blaze of light, was laid
out in lavish hospitality for the refreshment of visitors.
Along the walks and terraces ladies and gentlemen
promenaded for hours, the air so mild that not
a cloak or wrap was required for protection,
listening to the music of the Coldstream Guards
and Strauss's orchestra. Much interest was mani-
fested in the performance of the visitors from
Vienna, and their playing, especially of dance music,
commanded loud applause. Here, for two or
three hours, legislators, released from St. Stephens by
a happy count-out, members of the bench and bar,
engineers, men of distiguished position in all the
great professions, passed a most enjoyable time, which
midnight made all too short. The band of the Royal
Irish Constabulary played in the reception hall, and
was also the centre of a good deal of attention, its
performance often calling
,forth applause. In
addition, there were organ recitals by Mr. J.
Jeffreys and Mr. H. L. Balfour, and in the music-
room Mr. E. Terry, Mr. F. Laughlin, Mr. Howard
Reynolds, and Mr. J. Hamilton also conducted a
select performance to the entertainment of the guests.
From beginning to end the conversaziott was cf the
most successful description.