Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-24
HE BIG MODEL OF The Earth.
The Marvellous Duplication in Miniature
of the Globe Upon which We Live.

Of the Globe Upon which We Live.
The practical combination of science
and art So much a feature oi French manu-
features has an interesting example M a
model of the earth. winch Is one oil the
features of the Paris Exposition. This
model Is a large globe. one millionth OF
the earth's size. and the design is carried
ont with such consImmate accuracy and
skill as to make the work "a marvel,
whether regarded from "a scientific,
artistic. or mechanical point of view.
The globe Is fOrty-tWO feet diameter,
built on skeleton of wrought IRON
forming a number of merldlnal rns al
tached at the poles to a central vertical
axis or shaft. The outside geographical
surface is handmade mlll-board. covered
with plaster. painted and laid on four hum
bred separate panels, but fitting so acc4-
ratrlv as to form au even surface and q
smooth aud beautiful sphere. All the geo
graphical dehneation and painting We're
done before the sheets or panels We're
fixed in their places. For the exhibition
of the globe a tWclyc-side non and glass
building covered with dome was erected,
and here the sphere Is turning on its axis
every day for the instruction and delight
of the world of visitors who flock O. see
il almost a. numerou,ly as To the ascent
of the Ethel cover TO look out from
that lofty perch upon the earth we lnhablt.
For a worlds fair this great glObc-thc
largest ever made-is a highly apprOpri-
ate exhibit, as well as most instructive,
and the arrangements for seeing IL are SO
perfect that the spectator cannot fan TO
be impressed. In the first place the sur
face-525 square feet-is of such size that
every considerable detail can be well shown
upon it. Lond0n EngmeuHg scientific
authority in an admirable description of
the merits and novelties of this superb
work, shows that not only are the forms
of countries and the contours of large
districts easy to he depicted, but even
cities may have their general form and size
drawn 10 scale, and some of the principal
thOrOughfares represented. For exam
pie the city of Paris on this globe is very
nearly a centimcter long and Occu-
pies "A SPACE large enough for the Seine,
and even the exhibition. 10 be fairly mark
ed. as well rs some of the principal streets
and buildings. Thus the actual proper
tions between the areas of great cities and
those of continents, oceans. and the earth
itself are for the first time accurately
shown, and as every one Is fairly familiar
with the SIZE of the city ia which he lives
he Is enabled 10y this model TO form tOle-
rably accurate estimate of the dimensions
of the great divisions OF the earth. Not
only are the dimensions of the seas and
continents altogether different from the
mental estimates one Is accustomed 10
make, but their position seems To take the
spectator by surprise. On the great globe at
Paris the relations Of things % each other
are shown at a glance, and the effect Is
invariably that of a wonderful revelation
to the mind. both as To distances and rela-
tive position of countries and continents,
land and sea. BY far the most surprising
fact that Is clearly illustrated by tins work,
according TO the EHGWe1iHg Journal, Is the
enormous size Of the Pacific Ocean. The
eve of the observer may have a cOnsidera-
ble range of position north and south and
east aud west of its central region. and yet
see 40 land in any direction, the whole globe
seen from points within this area being only
of water. where here aud there groups Of
small islands sprInkled. rs n were. over its
surface. Numbers OF steamer routes traced
on the map are seen 10 come from nowhere
and end in nothing. The striking feature
of the Paris globe accurately reflects the
proportions of the water of the oceans
and the laid of the continents, the five
oceans being 734 per cent, and the i've
continents 266 per cent. OF tire earth 5
surface. Many details too numerous to
report are noted in the Engineering Journal,
tending to add To the educational value
of this unique work of French skill
and science. One further observation
may be quoted. which Is that If the
model globe were rotated at the same an
eular velocity as that Of the diurnal rota-
ton Of the earth. it, surface motion would
hardly be visible. for APPOINT at the equator,
where the surface speed Is greatest, would
move ut the rate of only about an inch a
minute. While as the writer says,
there may be in this illustration of the
world nothing new 10 geographers. still IL
may be claimed that never before have the
form. dimensions, and physical features Of
the earth on which we live been so clearly
and accurately brought 10 tde Imagination
or in way better calculated TO leave a
lasting impression"