Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-09-12

Cne SOuLn. lne manufactures which
fill the galleries Of Che Champ de Mars
have grown up in the course of GEN.
turies of civilization, in constant vicis-
situdes and struggles for existence
which taxed to the utmost the powers
of an inventive race. No leading in
dustry can be mentioned which does
not owe much to France.
The captive - balloon is a great
success, except on windy days, when
no ascensions are allowed. Another
innovation is the floating restaurant;
a salon steamboat, that leaves Paris
in the morning for st. Germain, and
returns in the afternoon; the single
journey lasts 8 l-2 hours. The specu-
lation is in the hands of the French
restaurateurs at the Exhibition. The
tourist can breakfast on board and
return to Paris by rail, or rail to st.
Germain and dine on board, during
the return journey, with electric lights
at masthead. Several sights are point
ed out along the Seine, the most veg
abond of rivers in its course; there
is the out-fall of the city sewer, and
the heights of st. Cloud; the spot
where Bilboir placed the remains of
his cut-up mistress; the Grenonillere,
democratic bathing pool for both
seas; and the new prison of Nanterre,
in the la I'd of rosieres, to suggest to
the fair sex that, if virtue be ever re-
warded, vice shall never be left un-
punished-if the police can help it.
/ The Trocadero building, referred
to in one Of my former letters, is con-
sidered n marvel of economical con-
struction under most difficult circum-
fstances, being based on the hollow
site Of an old quarry, with materials
most carefully selected for durability
and good effect. The acoustical az
rangements are curious. Behind the
grand organ is a large conque, or re-
iieCtor, and the occurrence of an echo
is prevented, or supposed TO be pre-
vented-for many declare that il ex-
ists-in the following manner: Sound
travels at thesrate of $40 metres per
second and, as the quickest ear can
not discern two distinct sounds unless
there be an interval of the tenth of q
second between them, felt is employ
ed in every place where there would
be any danger of echo. The ceiling,
which is suspended from the roof tim
bers, is formed of peculiar felt only
one-fifth of an inch thick, so that the
whole does not weigh more than 40
pounds per square metre. The VEN
tilation of the immense Sale des Fetes
is declared perfect: well, more than
l6 feet in diameter, was sunk into the
ancient quarry beneath, which has an
extent of about seven acres, and with
its pillars present large cooling sur
face. The air is drawn into that space
by means of a steam screw fan, and
driven by the same means up into the
Sale, where it is distributed above at
the rate of five feet per second, which
is quickly reduced to four or five
inches.
The number of medals awarded was
largely increased-the gold from L.
600 to 2,600, silver from 1000 to
400, bronze from 5000 to 10000,
and the honorable mentions from s.
900 to 10, 800. 1t seems quite unne-
cessary to limit ;ne last named awards
In all, 20, 500 distinctions are to be
distributed amongst 50, ,O05 exhibit
ors; that is, in round numbers, one
mccall for every third exhibitor and
ah honorable mention for one in five.
The grand medals Of honor are in ad-
dition.
No less thar ll2, ,G12 persons visit
ed the Champ tie Mars and Trocadero
last Sunday. The official rehearsal
of French Music, which was to have
taken place in the grand hall, was put
Off until next Thursday, as it has been
remarked that the attendance at these
e concerts is less on Sundays than on
week days. The concert given by the
Upsala students on the previous after
noon was most successful. ALPHA.