Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-06-12
Finest Exhibit at the Paris Exposi.
ClOn. y icI,....-.. !: .-..-

An interesting feature of a number of
the foreign sections at the Paris exhibi-
ton was the soldiers that had been sent
there by their respective governments,
Normally to guard the exhibits, princi-
pally as sort of ornament, they being
simply required to- stand round and be
looked at by the curiosity-seeking visi-
tors. Some economical governments,
thinking that wooden soldiers would an
swer the same purpose at a less expense,
accordingly displayed. figures represent
ing soldiers in the various uniforms, and
people in the different costumes Of the
country. These figures were sometimes
quite well-made, and were placed in such
positions as often to appear very life-like.
We have moro than once seen people open
their mouths to ask their way of one of
these wooden soldiers; and we ourselves on
one occasion deeply apologized. to wood
en- Chinese mandarin, who we had care
lcssly run into and almost thrown off his
balance.
Sergeant Jones, of the United States
marine corps, had doubtless witnessed
similar laughable mistakes, and this is
probably what suggested to him the idea
Of playing little trick at the expense of
the visitors.
At all events, one fine afternoon, as we
were passing through the American Sec
ton, we found the sergeant standing per-
fectly straight; and absolutely still, near
one of the showcases. Rather perplexed
at his attitude and at the seriousness
Of his expression, we sought post of OBJ
servation and waited.
For awhile no one; noticed him; but
as he continued immovable, some one
presently stopped before him aud stared.
Then two, three, four, six idlers stopped
to see what the first idler was looking at
There stood the sergeant, grave, silent
and motionless. An incredulous smile
appeared on the faces of the observers,
and their number doubled, trepled, quad
rupled. The sergeant had not moved.
Some one ventured to touch his hand,
another followed, and presently dozen
curious people wore feeling him from
head to foot. Not a muscle relaxed-he
had not SO much as winked. An exhibit
tor who was busting the contents of his
showcase seeing what was up, sauntered
carelcssly along and carefully busted off
the sergeant. This settled the question
beyond a doubt; it was statue! There
were now about three hundred of all ma
tionalities gathered about this marvellous
piece of workmanship!
"C'test bien une statue!'
"Quel merveiIleux travailr'--
"Awh weally, now you know, those
Yankees are jolly clever people!'-
"Wall, reckon there amt anything
can beat this in this whole show!'
"Chin ting cdop stick young hyson
pekin yang tse kiang!''-
"Amiodo naga sakito kio yeddo"-
"Stambeul maho metal va tibe
loublou !''-came from three hundred
Threats in twenty different languages.
(These last three explanations, as you
will readily understand, dear reader, are
expressive Of the utmost wonder and ad-
miration in the Chinese, Japanese and
Turkish languages. 1 might multiply
these expressions of delight to an unlim-
tied extent, and give you a high opinion
of my linguistic powers; but I believe
that modcsty is a virtue-to he proud Of
The last man had barely opened his
lips to have his say, when the look of ad-
miration suddenly departed from the
three hundred faces, and the three hun
dred Threats simultaneously sent out a
guffaw which fairly shook the vast edifce,
and attracted hundreds of visitors from all
sides.
The statue had turned on it's heel and
quietly marched off.