Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-11-16
scRlseLlNe ON elFFsL TOWER.
Names. Puns. Verses and Sentiments Of
Many Sorts In Many Languages.

Names. Puns. Verses and Sentiments Of
Many Sorts In Many Languages.
Big as the Eiffel tower is, it is too cir
:umscribed for the people who insist
upon writing their names and recording
their impressions on its iron framework.
They have used up all the available
space. All the girders. beams, protection
rails and rivet heads within reach bear
the literary contributions Of many thou
sand visitors. The over is a gigantic
cosmopolitan registry of names. Be
tweep $1,000 and 10000 people ascend it
every day. and most Of them consider it
their duty to add to the collection. The
Figaro newspaper keeps a visitors book
at its printing Office on the second floor
t o accommodate visitors who have not
the desire or who cannot find the space
to scribble on the ironwork.
The writing left is in as many Ian
guages as there are nationalities among
thu. visitors. but the most interesting
contributions come from the native
French. A Frenchman grows naturally
into the opinion that France is the foun-
tain Of progress. civilization and every
thing else. This opinion remains his
principal article of faith through life
especially when his life is confined to
France. When he mounts the Eiffel
trwer, by means of American elevators,
he is more than ever convinced Of the
universal supremacy Of France. He
bursts out into uncomfortable fits of pa
trjotism.
Glory to the noble France" writes
one after his name. Honor TO French
grnius, says another. Having mounted
the Eiffel tower, | am proud of being
French" writes NJ. Mason. Il will
name my mex daughter Eiffeline," says
a Bordeaux engineer. One, NJ. Gouloux,
ap~ostrophizes thus: French genius,
thou wilt always be the first in the
world!' and a patriotic Marseillais left
this record: Long live la grand France,
the birthplace Of civilization of the en-
tire world"
Some Of the visitors drop into poetry.
and perpetrate bad puns al the expense
Of the tower. What height is the tailor
who has forgotten his measure and sits
down on the third platform Of the tow
err is a common calembour which one
left. The answer, of course. is that he is
sitting sans metre, or at cent 400 metres.
This next. of the same style, was address
ed To the silk weavers If Lyons: The
Lyonese may content themselves, for as
often as they ascend the Eiffel tower
they will see all Paris en- pas de soie-in
silk stockings, or underneath, as pas de
sole usually are. The punsters, as they
would say, sometimes rise to the situa-
ton, but puns and bad poetry are not
improved upon by translation.
NJ. SELLER, of the Grand Opera, writes:
II wish that my voice rose as high as the
tower" Isidor Goldschmidt. a presti-
~digitateur: Il have found my master
pour les tours" for tricks), and an Italian
cOnfesses that lat 1000 feet / can find
nothing to write which would be up to
the situation-Aquello empego." A
Dutchman leaves this neat compliment
behind him: The tower is not so high
as our esteem for France" and a Span
lard says: The Tower of Babel separat-
ed peoples by the confusion of tongues,
and the Eiffel tower reunites them"
More than one thinks this very clever: II
never thought | wouldoccupy such a lofty
position in life"
The tower makes a favorable impress
sion on lovesick Orlandos, who scrawl
sentimental messages to their Rosalinds
whenever they get the chance.
To her who hasn't come. Paul
JEANNE, ma ch-rie; from the top Of the tower !
send thee a kiSs-AlphoDse-
think Of thee. Adeo aide.
These are samplesof the messages left
They are all written in the second per-
son-the usual French lovers style.
Catholic priests are not above record
ing their impressions. They write in
Latin.
20, altitudo!" exclaims the cur Of
Villeparisis. in Seine-et-Marne.
"Magnificat ANNA mea Dominum,'
says "A priest from the Mouse.
Another excels them all with his "Glo-
ria in excelsis Deo."-New York Sun.