The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-10-12
Of the Democratic Advocate.
PARIs. SEprEMnrn 2a 1eze

correspondence OF the Democratic Advocate
PARIS, SEPTEMBER &c, 1873.
Let us finish to-day our tramp aud ram
bles on Champ dc Mars, so pleasantly be-
gun and described in my last letter. The
first house we visit contains the exhibit of
the English Navy. Not a single engine
or boiler Is to be seen; not one of those
gems OF engineering which propelled the
little steam launches Of their navy under
charge of jolly British tars, and Haunting
Under British bunting; in fact they have
scarcely any naval exhibition whatever,
while the marine exhibits of France are
superb. What England shows may be
summed up in few words, series of mod
els, and very beautiful models, by the Gu
nard, White Star and Inman companies.
aud two or three ship-building companies
and firms; one anchor, one screw propeller
and one boat-lOwering apparatus models,
and few pleasure boats. And this is
the naval collection of Great Britain
This pitiful exhibition is all the more
conspicuously small from the extent of the
crowded French annexes, which cover an
area of at least a hundred times the extent
of the British naval shed, covering nearly
the whole extent of the river side.
The enormous French Annex, which
Hills the British side of the berge, is appro-
priated to the special exhibition of the
Chambers of Commerce and ports of
France. Each port exhibits separately its
principal imports and exports, the packa-
ges in which they arrive, marks, and other
commercial characteristics and local peeu-
liarities, charts, plans, statistics, engineer
ing, and other reports and drawings. 1t
is commercial museum on a scale never
before attempted, and the arrangement is
as simple, and, consequently, as sensible,
as could be conceived. 1t is an exhibition
worthy of the Government and local au-
thorities of great nation.
Passing beneath the dry arch of the
Jena Bridge another annex of the same
size as the preceding is reached This
Is divided into three sections, devoted re-
spectively to means of saving life from fire
and water and navigation, and all are as
well filed as possible The last and most
important includes several engines, boilers
aud other ship machinery of large size,
and small apparatus and fittings innumer-
able; and there are some very curious
models of eoast-protectors, floating bat
teries, and special vessels built for speed,
and to draw little water, double cigar
boats, and several other curious forms,
one of these is lettered "Havre ct New
York"
Ali the immense annexes, which run
the whole length of the Champ de Mars
on the French side, which occupy nearly
all its width, proved insufficient, for Just
beyond the nautical annex is an additional
one of considerable size, for pumps and
other hydraulic apparatus in motion; and
there almost every imaginable kind of
pump, lifting, forcing, centrifugal, revolv-
ing and chain pumps, garden engines, &c,
are to be seen in action, bringing tons of
water out of the Seine and pouring it
back again.
At this point the watertide is blocked,
but by ascending large flight of wooden
steps, which pass over the Avenue de Ia
Bourdonnaye into the Agricultural Sec
ton, or, if possessed of 4 season ticket, by
passing out of one gate and entering that
opposite, you arrive at the Office aud wharf
of the little steam fly boats that run from
here to Paris, and then little further on
the salt water aquarium is reached 1t
occupies a large space, but except with
respect TO oyster breeding and cultivation,
which has been prosecuted with much skill
and some success in France, the aquarium
possesses scarcel y any interest," few cells
and small fish are all it contains. The
oyster beds Of AFcachon and other PLACES,
the mode of planting them, and the pro-
cesses employed in the beds are well illus
trated.
Returning over the bridge, or through
the gates, the French division of the hor-
ticultural portion lies facing us. Its ar
engagements are identical with those of the
other side, which / described in my last
letter, and it is, | need scarcely say, fully
as yell stocked and as brilliant, including
grand fountain, splendid lawn, and su-
perb flowers. At the sides, also, are two
large buildings, but they are not devoted
to the general Exhibition, but to the
flower and fruit shows, which occur every
fortnight, and retaih their attractions for
some days. These shows are always in
| teresting.
There remain but the separate buildings
in this angle of the grounds to be describ-
ed. An excellent French restaurant and
cafe of the highest class occupies the po-
sitiOu corresponding with that of the Bel
gian establishment already mentioned
Behind the former is the exhibition of the
Government tobacco factory, where a mum
Der of young women are engaged in cigar
cite making, &c. A little further on is a
collection of the castings of the famous
foundry of the Val d'0sne and some small
ler exhibitions. Thon comes large bull
ding belonging to the great iron and ma
chinery works of Creusot, with model of
a very large steam hammer in front; exhi-
billions of the productions of several other
large manufacturing establishments; one
of the great gas company of Paris; a hand
some pavilion, containing the collection of
the Minister of Public Works, including
all the building materials employed
marble, terra Gotta, plain aud decorative,
and a number of fine illustrative maps and
models, in relief, of mines and quarries.
contained In building which itself forms
part of the Exhibition, and all arranged
and ticketed with the precision which
characterizes our friends here.
Very near the preceding Is little tenn
pie built of terra-cotta and containing q
good collection Of busts, statuettes and or
namental work, in the same material. 4
few steps further is the exhibition of other
great iron works, those of St. diamond;
then large bnilding containing an i'm
mense collection of every kind of stove
aud apparatus connected with heating and
lighting; and then a glass house, which
brings US nearly up to the corner Of the
terrace of the "iron palace" itself. Here
will be found 4 busy little establishment,
making aud selling the much loved gaurres
of the Parisians
Before going home let US brush away
our mental tears, fasten magnifying glasses
in our eyes and take a solid look at the
diamond show in the Exhibition building.