The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-05-09
THE FINEST EXHIBIT AT THE PARIS
EXPOSITION.

An interesting feature of a number OF
the foreign sections at the Paris ENhibi-
tiOn was the soldiers who had been sent
there by their respective governments,
nominally to guard the exhibits. though
principally as a sort of ornament. they
being simply required 10 stand round
and be looked at by curiOsity-seekimg
visitors. Some economical governments.
thinking that wooden soldiers would
answer the same purpose at a less eN-
pense, accordingly displayed figures rep
reSenting soldiers in the various uni
forms. and people in the various COS
TUNES Of the country. These figures
were sometimes quite well made and
were placed in such positions as often 10
appear very life-like. We have more
than once seen people open their mouths
TO ask the way Of one of these wooden
soldiers: and we ourselves on one occa-
sion deeply apol0gizcd TO wooden CHI
nese mandarin. whom We had Carelessly
ran into and almost thrown of his bal
ance.
Sergeant Cones. Of the United States
Marine Corps, had doubtless witnessed
similar laughable mistakes. and this Is
probably what suggested 10 him the idea
Of playing a little trick at the expense Of
the visitors.
At all events. one fine afternoon. as
we were passing through the American
Section, we found the Sergeant standing
perfectly still. near one OF the show
cases. Rather PeTpleNed at this atti-
tude and AT the seriousness of his eL-
preston, we sought a post of observation
and waited.
For while no one noticed him. but.
as he continued immovable. some one
presently stopped before him and stared.
Then u-D braA fpr1r -, f17.-- 81 ..r.r....T
TO see what the first idler was laakiu-at.
There stood the Sergeant. grave. silent
and mOtiOnless, An inCredUlHu- -Iuii-
appeared on the faces of the observers.
and their number doubled. tTeblti.
quSdTupled. The Sergeant had not
moved. Some one yentUrcd tn touch
his hand. another followed. presently a
dozen curious people were feeling him
from head To foot Not ii muscle relax
ed-he had not 50 much a. wiukcd. An
exhibitor who was dustiug tIe contents
of his showcase what was Up. SaUnter-
ed carelessly along and carefully busted
of the Sergeant. This settled the gueS-
tiOn beyond a doubt il was "a statue
There were now about 300 people of all
nationalities gathered about this marvel
Gus piece of workmanship,
''C'eSt hieu me statue -
''QUrl merueilleUN travail ,''
"Awh. weally. now. Eou know. tlaH.
Yankees are jolly clever people -
Wal. l reckon there ain any thing
can beat this In the whole show -
''Chin ting chop stick Young hysuu
pekiHg yang tSe kianC -
''Amiodo naga SakitO iio veGdn .''-
''Stamboul maho metaH "a tIue lou-
blOu 80 came from three hundred tlrosts
III twenty different languages.
These last three eNclamHtious. as yOu
VIII readily understand. dear reader arc
expressive of the utmost wonder and ad-
miration in the Chinese. JaTaLe-e and
Turkish languages. ! might multiply
these expressions Of delight To am unlim-
tied extent. and give YOU high opinion
Of my linguistic powers. But / believe
that modeSty is a NiTtue-to he proud of
The last man had hardly opened his
lips to have his say. when the look ui
admiration suddenly departed from the
three hundred faces. and the three hun
dred thrOats simultaneously sent out a
guffaw which fairly shook the vast edi-
flee. and attracted hundreds OF visitors
from all sides.
The statue had turned on its heel and
quietly marched Offs. Nirbolos fo7
1prtL