The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-08-10
BROADBRIM'S LETTER FROM PARIS :.


character Of the age that the two graudest
halls in the great Exposition should he de-
| voted exclusively To machinery. There are
mighty engines there carrying, III their
lItaEIc snews, almost lmitless power,
keeping in motion a world of wonderful
machinery, and surely there can be no
/ higher revolutions of the genius 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 ExpoSi-
hon building, lies before you; sentimels
I grim, bat polite, guard the entrance. and
/ beautiful works of art invite Won onward:
only few steps from the gate is a marvel.
/ Gus vase 10y GuStave Dnrc. 1t is of colos-
sal proportions and looks ia if it were
intended to tell the story of the Dcluge.
| Myriads Of little struggling forms cling to
ITS green encrusted sides, seeking to escape
the terrible death that threatens them. on
some of the faces is an expression o mortal
agony, while others seem almost paraiyzed
with fear. Here and there smile may he
seen lighting the faces of some little climb
or more fortunate than the rest, who has
escaped for the moment his impending and
seemingly inevitable fate But whatever
your desire TO examine this miracle of art.
the mighty voice 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 10 the door 4
crowd gathers about a machine which ex-
cites universal wonder: it IS giant palmer
under whose keen tooth the shaviurs ly
from solid iron plate as if it were only a
board. \ little beyond 4 mighty trip
hammer performs in few minutes the
work Of a hundred men. 1t is curious
ttlhEr and one of the most instructive
sights in the Exhibition to see its Titanic
stoFkeS, under which the great building
ribr.ieS and trembleS, guided by the hand
of a little child. Not far away the inren-
iouS sawyer turns out from the solid block
larry chairs and miniature furniture aud
All sorts OF intricate puzzles. The mystery
OF diamond polishing is unrayeled, and
!ou see all the mysterious processes by
winch the rough gems are Gu, and polished
and made iii 10 glitter in the crowns Of
h!ngs. But see how that crowd across the
hail struggles to get \ sight OF something
apparently of absorbing interest. There
are the wonderful mechanical swimmers,
who act their characters to the life. Ina
tank OF about four feet in circumference a
immature man and woman have plunged,
both clad in bathing suits of the most ap-
proved pattern. The man strikes boldly
out, and the woman follows him; he APP
proachcs the side of the tank aud looks
imploringiy up at the wondering crowd, as
much rs 10 say ''are you not going to help
me ont; are you goiGg 10 let fellow swim
about IN this miserable tub all day Il is
true 1t is only toy, perhaps invented TO
amusc children, and yet, from morning till
night, gray headed old men, princes and
dukes, grave senators and learned doctors
struggle and fight 10 get sight of tho
mechanical swimmers.
Among the mechanical wonders of this
Exposition there are perhaps few more de-
lIShtiul places than the bower Of singing
birds. have frequently heard a single
little mechanical singer whose encGaut
ing song has filled me with wonder
and delight, but here are a whole grove
of linnetS, nightengaes, hooking birds,
thrushcs, bull tinches, skylarks and caaa.
Tics, that make the air vocal with a ioCi
of melody such as seldom blosScs mortal
ears; they leap from bough to bough, they
twist their beautiful little heads. and look
up in your face as much rs to say, NOW
Keep your eye on me- They plume their
dainty little feathers with the most coquet-
fish OF airs, and end all Of sudden. making
the air tremble with a magnificent burst of
song, which rises, swells and thrills till the
vast hall, from one end to the other, seems
alive with singing binds While the ex-
h!bition of machiney is exceedingly
grand and instructive, there is no maguifi-
cent engine that oyertops all others as the
Co:!iss engine exceeded everything else of
the kind in the city Of Philadelphia two
years ago. Many of the printing presses
on exhibition are miracles OF genius,
OF from twelve to twenty five
impressions an hour.
The telephone has found its WAY here,
and now any countryman can carry one
home in his pocket for few sous The
too, has arrived, and in short
We are up in all the latest improvements.
Things are getting dull: it's a week since
have had
sensation. Our royal visitors have mostly
left Us and even our Shah has gone What
shall We do without our Shah? Apropos,
there is an amusing little story that has
Just got out which tells how fortunes are
suddenly won in Paris. Daring the recent
visit OF the Shah of Persia hc WAS invited
To grand dinner by one OF the cabinet
ministers. His Imperial ilishness is
understood 10 be a very healthy diner, and
the menu was of the most lavish and ye-isr-
Gle description.
When everything was ready, the distin-
guiShed Persian squared himself for the
task before him, and amazed the company
with the rapIdity with which the different
dishes Of the feast disappeared beneath his
imperial jacket. Oyster pitcs. calves head
jelly, troubles, mushrooms fried in oil,
pltes de f,ie grds picked lampries with 4
mountain of Persian conserves, provided
foi the occasion, one after another vanished
i'll rapid succession, and it is reported that
he royal follower of ZroraSter moisteued
the imperial clay with frequent libatious of
~herbct, alteFnated with the most delicious
rum punch. A. last he espicd bottle of
Batty'S pickles, and this was the rock on
which he spit. lie had not put himself on
the outside Of more than half-dozen gear
kinS, five or six onions and little nip of
cauliilower, when he began to feel serious
that something was wrong, aud
soon It became manifest that there was
commotion in the region of the i'm
perial epigastrum. 1t was three o'clock in