The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-09-10
EUROPEAN LETTERS.
THE EIFFEI. TOWER AND THE
GREAT EXI'OSITION.
North Carolina Gems iIl the Amer
lean Services at ii Rus
sian Church-The Galleries OftIIe
I.OuVre-SmaII Meals, Etc.
PARIS, August %, 1889.


most unlike what one would expect in
sunny France-vcrv variable, showers OF
rain, and uncomfortably cool So when
we, in company with ten thousand other
idiots, on Yesterday ascclldcd the famous
Eiffel Tower we were quite satisfied with
our experiment upon reaching the second
Etagc, or about half way up, and found
that it could rain there quite as hard as
any place we ever saw, while the floor
was so badly drained that the waite,
stood two inches deep. Owing to the
crowd we could neither go up nor down,
and never remember to have ;.asscd Il
longer half hour than while awaiting our
turn to descend.
This is indeed most marvellous StruC-
ture, and one appreciates its immensely
best, at the first floor, probably 800
feet above the ground, where is found
quite little village, including a re3tau-
rant, while on the next, or 600 feet high,
is a publishing house, and the Daily
Figaro is regularly issued.
Under the circumstances attending our
visit the view was by no means SatisfaC-
tory, and we regretted having wavcred
in our original intention not to visit the
Eiflel Tower.
A second day at the exposition grounds
gives much more favorable impression
than was gained at first, but yet we think
that in some respects it falls far short OF
that at Philadelphia. So far as we have
been able to see the grounds donot at all
compare i'll beauty with ours, nor do we
like so well the general arrangement OF
the buildings. Here they are too much
sub-divided by small galleries, and VIC
miss the grand view we had of the whole
main building at the American Centen-
nial.
The dome over the chief entrance comes
nearest to it and is the most attractive
portion, both on its own account and be-
cause ornamcntcd with the wonderful
tapestries that are made here. 1t is i'll
deed hard to conceive how these can be
the product of looms. They look so like
the very best oilpaintings. Even the per
spective is admirably preserved, and
landscapes, flowers, birds, animals, por-
traits and statuary are reproduced i'll Il
manner marvelously natural.
So far as we have vet extended our in
spection, we give the palm to Russia as
having the best exhibit, especially at
tractive in its assortment of silks, NAL
achitc and furs, the latter particularly
comforting this cold day; while those
from Norway are well selected and most
tastefully arranged, comprising several
prottoes, showing i'll natural size the va
rious animals and birds of that northern
cline.
Frances exhibit, of course, is most ex-
tenSive, and we note some wonderful pro-
ductious of glass, especially ball of ma
terial for watch crystals, as clear aS Il
soap bubble, but six feet i'll diameter.
Also pane so absolutely transparent
that we attempted to walk through it.
measuring twenty-six feet high and four
teen feet wide and weighing about 5000
pounds.
Outside of the mechanical 'partmcnt
the United States seem very poorly repre-
sentcd. Mr.. Edison and Thompson &
Houston have marvclS of elcctrictv
The phonograph of the former and the
welding machine of the latter are both
miracles. We cannot vet see much prac-
tical good of the phonograph. ltSsuund,
while distinct, is distinctly mechanical,
with brassy effect that is diSagrccablc.
But the welding machine is destined to
rcvolutionize mechanical works. Only
rchsct that we saw two pieces of iron
two inches in diameter, in less than one
minute welded as fast as if it had never
been severed, and without the expendi-
turc of particle of heat orlahor beyond
what was needed to place it i'll the ma
chine.
Tiffany & Co. seem to have tried to re-
deem the character of America, and pre-
sent a very creditable display in silver
ware and gems. Among the latter we
IoI 10 r0l @ lDl lN1la ii
as from North Carolina, and theCOunticS
of Mcdowell, Alexander Mitchell, AShc,
Macon and Clay are areconspicuously repre-
sented.
This is our first Sunday in Paris, and
we decided to attend service at the Rus
sian church, which proved most attract
i've, both from the novelty and the great
socmnity which attended it throughout.
. 1t seemed very strange to be i'll a church
without chairs or any kind OF seats. The
congregation stood during The whole,
which only extended over an hours time
The singing was exquistcly sweet and
the intoning of the gospel by the priest
was exceedingly impressive. Thccongre-
cation took no part i'll the service farther
than by very frequent boMings and cross.
ings OH the breast. In fact, every one
except ourselves seemed to be doing this
almost continually. The vestments Of
the priests were extremely rich, being
chiefly made of silk and gold. Altogether
it was service to be remembered for Its
impressiveness, although performed in a
Language of which we could not under.
stand a single syllable.
Our next modification OF the spirit is
to visit the Louvre, and its stupendous
galleries OF paintings. Oh! how we long
to be able to appreciate these things, but
we cannot and it is useless to try any
longer. Ifit were not for the high art
we might stand it, and i'll time learn tc
enjoy it, but the naked men and women
which the lovers OF art stand before il
rapture, become to us perfectly, absolute
ly munotonouS, weariSOme and disgust
ing. We know this is heresy, but candoi
compels us to acknowledge it. So ever
the magnificent rooms of this granC
palace are quickly left for more congcni3l
scenes, which we find by walk through
the gardens of the Tuilleries, and pasSeC
the lovely fountains of the Place de Con
corde. Thence cab carries us alon,
that truly royal drive. The Champ
Elysees which brings us to the arch o
triumph, which we stop to examine ant
to admire, commemorating as it doe
the wonderful victories of the first Napo
leon. Ands on we drive to and through
the Bois dc Bolougne.
In this latter we are somewhat disap
pointed while very beautiful i'll some re
spect, the trees and underground are al
lowed to be too thick, keeping out tn
sunlight and giving to all damp, darl
appearance. On the whole we do not lik
it half so well as our Central Park.