The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-08
From our Regular Correspondent


Streets lighted by electricity
(From our Regular Correspondent
PARIS. June -, 1878,
/ Yesterday Americans in Paris were able
to see pageant. common enough in Eu-
rope, but, such as happily cannot be seen
on our side the Atlantic. Sixty thousand
troops. cavalry, infantry, and artillery, were
reviewed at the Bots de Belogne, large
park just without the walls OF the city.
1t was an impressive spectacle both Oh
account of the large number in line and
the excellence of their drill and equip
ment. Further than this, but little can be
said 10 praise, The men were not fine
specimens physically. With here and
there an exceptional individual the infantry
would be called little men in America. and
| if, as is urged by military theorists. the
success of military operations In the future
will depend much upon the intelligence of
the common soldier-judging from ap-
pearances, France has little prospect of re-
achieving her lost prestige. 1t may have
been all in the eye, but it was impossible to
| look at these long columns of neatly
dressed, red pantalooned. blue coated. little
soldiers. without imagining signs Of the
deficient moral, mental and physica
stamina that enabled the Prussions to hu
them with such ease from the Rhine upon
the city of Paris. They would not DO it
with the same case to-day, because there
| is much serious determination 10 these
soldiers, with all their French coDceit.
They explain their defeat upon the theory
that they were sold out by their generals,
and when we remember that Bazaine sur
rendered 10000 men, without the first
attempt to cut his way through, there
would seem to be some plausbility in their
explanation. The French cavalry, about
Paris, are fine looking picked men
splendidly mounted, wearing brass he.
| NETS. and breast plates, and high top
| boots, They are armed with heavy sabres
| but do not think there is any doubt that
| Sheridan or Wade Hampton's cavalry.
armed with Spencer rifles, could over
| throw twice their number OF these men. Il
the issue depended on square charge Of
| course the American cavalry would be
worsted. But, with the long range re-
peating rifle many horse is disabled before
| those gllttering fellows could get within
sabre length. The marshal president was
very CONSPICUOUS at the review. by a
| brilliant staff. He makes "a pretty good
| appearance on horseback, though his face
Is rather weak, his stomach a little large,
aud his legs somewhat slim. Mcmahon is
not very popular in Paris, but thousands
OF people stood in the Champs
| Eiysee and along the boulevard
| des Italians to see him return
| from the review. Finally be came IN a
large open carriage drawn at "a smart trot
| by four black horses, the two rear horses
being ridden by post!i ions IN glove fitting
jackets, white, glove fitting pantaloous and
| high top boots. Two horsemen uniformed
| like the Positions trotted behind the car
rage.
Notwithstanding the large number of
| people that lett the city 10 attend the re-
view. there was no diminuton OF the
crowd that went to the exhibition, which,
considering the impulse that will have been
given to commerce aud industry, and the
cans, quent development of public wealth.
may henee1orward be considered Il cum-
plete success. The total expense Of con
sructing and preparing the exhibition
amounts to IS 100000 r. 1t is estimated
| that the receipts will reach 81, 100000 fr
| 1t must be remem bered that the enterprise
will increase the income derived from the
indirect taxes. The government expects
an excess OF revenue Of 100000 fir. but
it is probable that this sum will be below
the reality.
| The international congress of agrieul-
| ture has closed. and it will be followed by
a series of other International congresses
that will be held 10 the Trocaders palace
lD the following order: Congress for the
| unidcati0n of the numbering of cottons,
congress of charitable and providence III
| stitutions, congress of demography, con-
Rress of photographic sciences congress
for the study aud Improvement OF means
of transport, congress of architec-
ture, congress for the discussion of
sanitary measures. Congress of civil en-
| gineers congress OF anthropologicai science.
congress OF commerce and industry, con-
gress of meteoro!ogy, congress of geology,
congress for the discussion Of patents,
trade marks, labels, etc.
The feasibility of lighting streets by
electricity is having very thorough test in
Paris at present. Fer more than d mon, h
the avenue de rOpera has been Illuminated
ID this way, and thousands of promenaders
are nightly attracted By the beautiful white
| light that makes the gas lamp appear like
tailoW candle The effect of the light is
mt c0mparahlp tn any other that | have
seen; 1t is luminous and steady, something
like the light of the moon, but brighter.
These lamps on the avenue are placed
about three times as far from each other
as it is customary to place gas lamps, and
the illumination, would guess. is at least
four times as powerful. The electric
lights have been adopted in some theatres.
a thing that recommends them for warm
weather is that they generate no heat.
G. A. S.