The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-08-15
OUR PARIS LETTER.
Trocadero Palace--From the Time Of Ad-
am to Edison-Relics and Curiositles OF
all Ages and from all Countries-Anieri-
cans Abroad.

fARIS, July 2O, 1873. :
/. The right wing of the Trocadero Pal
ace, the annex to the main building, is
devoted to antiquities, which have been
so arranged as to give connected view
of the progressive development of the
arts, and form fitting introduction to
their present advanced condition. Even
the prehistoric relics of the human race
are displayedthere to complete the series.
The Exposition is thus not only of the
present, but of the past. 1t gives the
history of human labor in various coun-
tries from the earliest periods, and be-
comes to great degree an exposition of
mental development of the human race.
It is impossible to pass successfully from
the inspection of the implements of
stone, bronze, iron and finally of steel,
without recognizing progressive devel-
opment of humanity. The galleries of
the antiquities makes the Exhibition an
uuwritten history of civilization which
every one can read, of whatever nation
Or language. 1t attracts the peasant and
the scholar, and teaches history and phi
losophy by the contrast of the produc-
tions Of human labor of all periods and
countries.
The French exhibit is the most COM
plete as whole, and is divided bv parti-
tions into series of halls or apartments,
SO as to more distinctly mark the differ
ent periods. The prehistoric period is
brought boldly forward by the extensive
collections which have been made in va
rious parts of Europe during the past
ten years-such as implements of stone
from the bone caverns, peat bogs, and
from the lake dwellings of Switzerland.
The cases are filled with enormous spear
heads of hints, hatchets and other rudely-
made implements formed by chipping
and without polish. These occur in as
sociation with the bones and teeth of the
extinct cave-bear, the elephant and the
mastadon, and specimens of these are
displayed in the same cases. These
rudely-made implements are supposed to
belong to the first or earliest stone period.
A second or later period of the stone
age is indicated by implements of su-
perior fnish-such as were ground down
to smooth surfaces, and in some instances
polished. The next hall contains in
struments of the bronze period, extend
ing to the Gallo-Roman. The objects
consist chiefly of cutting instruments,
agricultural implements, lamps and OBJ
jects of ornament, such as bracelets of
bronze and of gold, rings, and pins. Of
the latter, a large collection contains
pins with q shield for the points, and a
spiral spring at the back, almost identi-
cal n2form with some of the patent pins
of the present day. The next hall is
devoted to the Celtic and Gallo relics,
and contains the remarkable golden
necklaces from the museum of Toulouse.
The representation of the work of the
middle ages is characterized by variety
of church ornaments and relics, such as
oak chests, seals, caskets, croziers,
bronzes set with masses of rock-crystal,
like those of China and Japan; ivory
carvings, illuminated missals of vellum,
swords and chain armor. The fifth hall
contains objects of the sixteenth century,
or Renaissance period. Here are found
curiously fashioned iron locks and keys,
cutting instruments, jewelry and few
nearly sperical watches. At the entrance
of the sixth hall, representing the arts Of
the seventeenth and eighteenth centu-
ries, curious collection of high-heeled
boots and shoes attract considerable at