The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-07-12

iHie French Soldiers in hicc uniforms.
Spicadid gih-edged Crrairy. The man on
horseback and his brilliant suite. THE Er.
position likely 10 prore financial success.
What il cost and whdt Il ,cM bring. Mann
International congresses. Streets lighted By
Electricity.
Yesterday Americans in Paris were able to
see pageant, common enough in Europe.
but such as happily cannot be seen on our
side of the Atlantic. Sixty thousand troops,
cavalry, infantry and artillery, were review
ed at the Bois de Bologne, large park just
without the walls of the city. 1t was an i'm.
pressive spectacle both on account of the
large number in line aud the excellence of
their drill and equipment. Further than
this but little can. be said. The men were
not fine specimens physically. With here
and there an exceptional individual the in
fantry would be called little men in Ameri-
ca, and, if, as is urged by military theorists,
the success of military operations in the fu.
ture will depend mach 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 those long columns of neatly dressed
red pantalooned, blue-coated little soldiers,
without imagining signs of the deficient
moral, mental and physical stamina that en-
abled the Prussians to hurl them with such
ease from the Rhine upon the city of Paris
They would not do it with the same ease to-
day, because there is much serious determi-
nation in these soldiers with ali their con-
ceit. They explain their defeat upon the
theory that they were sold out by their gen
erals, and when we remember that Bazaine
surrendered 10000 men, without the first
attempt to cut his way through, there would
seem to be some plausibility in their expla-
nation. The French cavalry about Paris
are fine looking picked men, spendidly
mounted, wearing brass helmets, and breast
plates, and high top boots. They are armed
with heavy sabres; but do not think there
is any doubt that Sheridan's or Wade Hamp-
toms cavalry, armed with Spencer rifles,
could overthrow twice their number of
these men. If the issue depended on
square charge, of course the American cav
airy would be worsted. But with the long
range repeating rifle, many a saddle would
be emptied and many horse disabled before
those glttering fellows could get within sa-
bre length. The Marshall President was
Of hn 1 4
by brilliant staff. He makes pretty good
appearance on horseback, though his face is
rather weak, his stomach little large, and
his legs somewhat slim. McMahon is not
very popular in Paris, but thousands of peo-
pie stood in the Champs Elysee and along
the boulevard des Italiens to see see him re-
turn from the review. Finally he came in a
large open carriage drawn at smart trot by
four black horses, the two rear horses being
ridden by postillions in glove fitting jackets
white glove fitting pantaloons, and high top
boots. Two horsemen uniformed like the
ypostillions trotted behind the carriage.
Notwithstanding the large number of peo-
pie that left the city to attend the review,
there was no diminution of the crowd
that went to the Exhibition, which, consid-
ering the impulse that will have been given
to commerce and industry, and the conse-
quent development of public wealth may
henceforward be considered complete sue
cess. The total expense of constructing and
preparing the Exhibition amounts to 45, 300.
900 fir. 1t is estimated that the receipts will
reach 34,50O,00O fir. 1t must be remembered
that the enterprise will increase the income
derived from the indirect taxes. The gov
ernment expects an excess of revenue
Of lO,OOO,OO0 fir. but it is probable that this
sum will be below the reality.
The international congress of agriculture
has closed, and it will be followed by a Sc.
ries of international congresses that will be
held in the Trocadero palace in the follow
ing order Congress for the unifcation of
the numbering of cottons, congress of char
table and providence institutions, congress
of demography, congress of ethnographic
sciences, congress for the study and improve
ment of means of transport, congress of arch
itecture, congress for the discussion of sani-
tary measures, congress of civil engineers,
congress of Anthropological science, congress
of commerce and industry, congress of met
eorology, congress of geology, congress for
the discussion of patents, trade marks, labels,
etc.
The feasibility of lighting strees by elec-
trcity is having very thorough test in Par
is at present. For more than month the
Avenue del Opera has been illuminated in
this way, and thousands of promenaders are
nightly attracted by the beautiful white
light that makes the gas lamp appear like
tallow candle. The effect of the light is not
comparable to any other that have seen;
it is luminous and steady, something like
the light OF the full 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 illu-
mination, 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. AS.