Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-09-27
IT'S WONDERS.
WHAT THE "REcoRD-DHIoN coRRE-
sPoNDENT SAW AT
The Great Electrical Exposition in Paris
Wonderful Fair-Lightning on
Show in Captivity.
PARIS. September 4, 1881.

Elysee, after having served for international
expositions, for the salon, for the mechani-
cal arts, for the exhibition of horses and |
cattle, for flowers and other industries Of |
mau, has at present opened its doors to |
the greatest discovery OF the present CEN |
tury-to electricity. Long before the diff !
ferent savants of ether countries had packed |
their trunks and valuable instruments for |
the journey, their coming was heralded |
with great flourish for although they have
the speciality of keeping the secrets dis |
closed to them by Nature within their own |
circle, electricity has applied itself SO
vigorously to industry that it has attracted |
the attention of the entire public. The |
installation has been long and slow one, |
for it was necessary to erect particular |
machinery, and unpack and readjust in
struments, whose delicacy required the most |
dexterous handling and as each new won.
der was unfolded it was announced to
Parisians with many comments calculated
to awaken their curiosity. In consequence
anxious to be the first to witness these
marvels, and arrived long before the pre-
parations had been finished. The public,
treating with Indifference
THE GRAND PRINCIPLES
OF electricity and as important discoveries,
have expressed special desire to enjoy
representations of the Grand Opera and
the Theatre Francais far removed from the
scenes. The telephone is to them the one
great benefit produced by electricity, and
aware that they would in that find their
principal amusement, very great num-
Der have been established throughout the
building, which it is scarcely necessary to
add are in constant use. Although that
which reaches the ear is not heard by the
audience, in order that the answer may be
carried over so much space, the person at
the telephone is obliged to speak in rather
loud voice, and so as not to disturb visitors
in the same room, the instruments are
placed in glass box sufficiently large to
hold some five operators, who are comfort
ably seated in arm chairs reading or talking
while waiting the tinkle of the little bell.
The conversation carried on between per.
have nor perhaps never will, is supposed
to be quite confidential, for apart from the
above mentioned precaution, the visitors
who desire to converse enter box padded
on all sides as is also the door, and after
fastening themselves in, give expression to
those secrets they are desirous of COM
municating to a stranger. This arrange
ment is at the same time convenient
bn hasf
ate before others to address any one
without being first introduced. There
are, however, telephones whose in
struments are not covered by glass, and
although questions addressed to the oper-
ator are not heard by others, the answers
resound through the hall and their vibra-
tions produce unpleasant effects On the ears
of the visitors, for the gentleman appears
to have lost his senses to Judge by his
rambling idiotic remarks. That is the
amusing part of the entertainment, for the
rest is exceedingly serious, and one must
have some interest in science, some know
ledge of the principles of electricity, to
thoroughly enjoy the exposition. Yet
there are many pleasing things to see, for
every industry which has in the slightest
way called electricity to its aid is there
represented, and it is astonishing to per-
ceive to what practical uses this power is
put. Merchants have taken advantage of
this exposition to
DISPLAY THEIR WARES
To the public and then solicit customers
wares which seem utterly foreign. to the
subject, but which have managed to make
use of some electricity. however inappro-
pirate, as passport. Five times week,
from ii to II, lecture is delivered by
some person connected with the scientific
corps, on a particular branch relating to
electricity. Having brought from my ma
tive country a partiality for lectures, de.
cided on visiting the exposition in the
morning, so as to profit by the information
given by the learned gentleman. The
pedestal on which was placed the magnif-
cent statue of Marceau, the French Gen.
eral of the first revolution, is now used for
the benefit of the electric light, and in
stead of the noble rider on his spirited
horse, bronze group is seen, composed of
three nude figures gracefully interlacing
arms and holding aloft a large lamp,
through whose shade at night may be dis
cerned such fire as the Lightning is made of.
The entrance to the exposition is adorned
with immense bronze statues. There are,
besides, others scattered throughout the
building, as though to relieve the monotony
of the machines in fact tapestries and
paintings, as well, have been resorted to
to give color and brightness to the sur
roundings. The purchases made by the
Sous Secretaire des Beaux Arts at the close
of the last salon are still to be found in the
grand hall above the staircase, and as they
cover the entire walls, it is easy to imagine
on mounting the steps that you are about to
devote yourself to the study of the esthetic
instead of to that of the invisible but all
pervadiDg power of electricity. The lect
ures are given in the rooms of the upper
floor, and after inguiring my way l joined
the rather large crowd already assembled
and shared the Disappointment of the ma
jority, for
THE LECTURERS,
Although very learned men, are not all ac-
customed to address an audience, but ex-
press their views on paper, and have not
the voice sufficiently cultivated to make
themselves heard at even small distance.
The lecture that morning required the ex-
planation of machinery situated in differ
in hurrying from one room to the other,
tho crowd jostling and pushing each other
In their endeavor to arrive first and obtain |
aplace next to the speaker. They crowded |
SO around this last that garden was
obliged to accompany him and extend the |
circle for him to explain at his ease. As |
he stood upon a level with the audience, |
some of whom were taller than himself, |
the sound of the voice was cut off and |
could not reach those behind, who in de- |
spair deserted the field. So long as was
up stairs wandered through those rooms |
containing objects on exhibition, reserving |
for later day the wonders below. In the |
first large room leading from the hall may |
be seen the American flag and the familiar
eagle displayed with much brilliancy. One |
side of the wall is covered with a vast |
number of these flags. intermingled with |
French ones, and three American shields |
of enormous size, the eagle with its thun-