The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-08-10
OUR PARIS LETTER.

grandest halls in the great Expo
sition should be devoted exclusively
to machinery. There are mighty en-
gines there carrying, in their Titanic
sinews, almost limitless power, keep
ping in motion a world of wonder
Jul machinery, and surely there can
be no higher revelation Of the ge-
MUS of man and the power of mind
over matter than that afforded by
this magnificent display.
As you enter the Porte Rapp, the
grand avenue which exactly divides
the Exposition building, lies before
you; sentinels grim, but polite, guard
the entrance and beautiful works of
art invite you onward; only a few
steps from the gate is marvellous
vase by Gustaye Dore. 1t is Of
colossal proportions and looks as if
it were intended to tell the story Of
the Deluge. Myriads of little strug-
Cling forms clinging to its green en-
crusted sides seeking to escape the
terrible death that threatens them;
on some Of the faces is an expression
of mortal agony, while others seem
almost paralized with fear. Here
and there smile may be seen light
ing the face of some little climber
more fortunate than the rest, who
has escaped for the moment bis i'm
pending and seemingly inevi able
fate. But whenever you desil to
examine this mfrs Gle of art, the
mighty voices of hundreds of engines
call you back, asking you to pay
your tribute to that which is to-
day the ruling power Of the earth.
Close to the door a crowd gathers
about a machine which excites uni
yersal wonder: 1t is a giant palmer
under whose keen tooth the
shavings fly from solid iron plate
as if it were only a board. a little
beyond mighty trip hammer per-
forms in q few minutes the W ork of
q hundred men. 1t is curious
thing, and one OF the most instruc-
tive sights in the Exhibition to see
its Titanic strokes, under which the
great building vibrates and trem-
bles, guided By the hand of little
CHILD. Not far away the ingenious
sawyer turns cut from the solid
block fairy chairs and miniature fur
nitare and all sorts of intricate
puzzles. The mystery Of diamond
polishing is unraveled, and you
see all the mysterious processes
by which the rough gems are cut
and polished and made st to glitter
in the crowns of Kings. But see
how that crowd across the hall
struggles to get sight of something
apparently Of absorbing interest.
These are the wonderful mechanical
swimmers, who act their characters
TO the life. In tank of about four
feet in circumference a miniature
man and woman have plunged, both
clad in bathing suits of the most APP
proved pattern. The man strikes
boldly out, and the woman follows
him; he approaches the side of the
tank and looks imploringly up at
the wondering crowd, as much as to
say care you not going to help me
out; are you going to let fellow
swim about in this miserable tub all
day?" 1t is true it is only a toy,
perhaps invented to amuse children,
and yet, from morning till night,
greyheaded old men, Princes and
Dukes, grave Senators and learned
Doctors, struggle and fight to get
sight of the mechanical swimmers.
Among tie mechanical wonders
of this Exposition there are pehaps
few more delightful places than
the bower of singing birds. l have
frequently heard q single little me-
chanlcal singer whose enchanting
song has filed me with wonder and
delight, but here is whole grove
Of hnnets, nightingales, mocking
birds, thrushes, bull inches, sky
larks and canarles. They make the
air vocal with flood ofmelody such
as seldom blesses mortal ears; they
leap from bough to bough,twist their
beautiful little heads, and look up
in your face as much as to say, "now
keep your eye on me-" They plume
their dainty little feathers with the
most coquettish of airs, and all