The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-11-02


OF this beautiful model Of the great
est Of modern battleships, this mode
which has in place it's turrets aut
armor seemingly SC impenetrable, it
huge guns, between decks, Lighted W
with tiny electric lamps, filled witt
tiny figures of its complement of 81,
hundred sailors; the Exposition gal
lery overlooking 1t is crowded with
spectators; they wear solemn faces
aid speak in low tones. How was
1t possible" is the question they ash
of each other. The model at which
they are looking is that of the Victo
ria, sent here as the pride of the
British navy, the perfection of me-
chanlcal skill, the greatest work OF
the greatest naval artisans of the
world, floating fort, which seemed
almost beyond the reach of injury
yet by an experiment-which sud
denly has placed the powers of the
ram intinitel y beyond all other mod
era destructive powers-sent to the
bottom of the sea within a short
quarter of an hour. What curious
transposition of inventions. This
model, sent to convince the world of
England's naval power, now that the
original lies bottom upward beneath
the waters of the Mediterranean,
serves as an object lesson before
which the officers of all navies come
to ponder and determine that the de-
velopment of naval construction has
been brought to reductio ad absur-
dunn.
Under the head of ''Iransporta-
ton" we find in one corner an exhi-
bit of rapid-fring guns, and in un-
happy juxtapositlon, the complement
Of this-a magnificent vehicle for
the transportation of bodies, gorg-
eously carved in ebony, splendidly
panelled, funerally draped with way
ing plumes. Near by, an exhibit for
the transportation of pleasure, a
Russian sleigh, supported on dol
phins which are exquisite produc-
tlons of ceramic art, in appearance
too beautiful and too fragile to trust
beyond the drawing room. Still an
other exhibit combines both pleasure
and usefulness; these are long gall
leries devoted 10 the highway-per-
vading bicycle. the workingman's S
| pleasure vehicle, the most recent step
in the progress towards putting the
poor man upon an equality with the
rich man.
And, by the way, it is worth while
rejecting, as train on the most
modern of electric roads rumbles by,
that there is steady advance in this
levelling of distinctions between the
poor and rich. Long before his
death, Mr.. Jay Gould had seen the
day when he could no longer ride in
his carriage from his home ON Fifth
avenue to his office on lower Broad
way. Invention, utilized by his hand,
had levelled the distinction in carri-
age between himself and the poorest
laborer OF New York. He could not
afford to spend an hour in rattling
over the rough paYing-stones of
Broadway, when with a minutes
walk to an elevated station he would
| be able to save two-thirds of his time,
to him so precious.
And, while on this subject, l must
allow myself to be diverted by anoth-
er thought. The electric railway
which traverses the length of the
Exposition grounds, is one of the
greatest delights of the entire Expo
sitions. Without smoke or cinders,
without the discomfort of closed
windows in hot weather. it swiftly
glides over well-constructed road
bed, the breeze tanning the passenger
into comfort in the warmest weather,
and the ride one of absolute pleasure.
1t will be incomprehensible if Mr..
George Gould, after visiting the Ex-
position, and seeing the perfect and
almost noiseless working of this ele-
waited road, shall not Immediately
discard the use of engines upon the
elevated roads in New York, no mat
ter how many millions may be tied
up in them. 1t is such question of
comfort to the community that its
consideration should not be delayed.
Two-thirds of the nuisance of the
elevated road would be removed for
those living along its route. A ride
in an open car from Harlem to the
Battery would be preferable to car
riage ride in Central Park, and the
cars, which now travel without pas
sengers for many hours of the even
ing, would be filled as completely as
are the top seats of the Fifth avenue
omnlbuses on very hot summer
night.
| Another interesting exhibit of