The Indianapolis journal., 1897-04-20
NEW ATTRACTIONS IN LIFE.

A Paris correspondent of a Boston paper
predicts that the feature of the Paris expo
sition in 1900 which will most distinguish
it from other worlds fairs will be the
glorfication of the horseless carriage, or,
as it is called there the AUTOMOBILES"
Have not the Parisians, he asks. already
been promised electric automobile cabs, to
be put on as soon as they can be con-
structed by three of the great companies?
1t is true, he adds. that up to the pres
ent moment only private turnouts are seen
on the~ streets-but in what number, One
no longer turns the head TO watch them
darting on. Positively, seriously. any read
er who is planning to take in this 1900 expo
sition may now promise himself. an ex-
ira inducement, the high novelty and ex-
element of continuously and habitually
rushing through the broad and brilliant
streets of the Ville-lumiere on swift and
tireless automobile cabs-at 20 cents
hour, L lay my hand upon my heart and
solemnly asesrt that when the companies,
foreseeing the great traffic, shall have put
on their thirty thousand or more Of these
splendid, shining, swift and elegant magt-
clans vehicles to replace the fifteen thou
sand broken-hearted and anaemic horses
OF to-day. the PariS-gone- -with-motion
will be the real 'clou;' the real fair will
be outside the exposition grounds, and all
around in a circumference of fifteen miles;
while the resulting zle-dazzle-unfore-
seen as yet by the Parisians themselves
will be in the nature of such an outrageous
pandemonium of gayety and gladness that
the whole world will stand aghast"'
This enthusiastic writer reckons without
proper consideration of American enter
prise. 1t is true that the French have
taken the lead in the production and use
of these horseless vehicles, but it is safe
TO say that before 1900 they will. If found
of practical value in Paris, be with various
improvements, in common use here. While
they may be more numerous in the French
capital than elsewhere they will at least
be no novelty TO American visitors.
The many modern improvements and the
recent discoveries of science have, by the
way, developed a new and curious reluc
tance on the part of many intelligent and
even pious people to depart this life. To
wish TO remain on earth as long as posi-
BILE indicates. of course. a normal and COM
mendabe state of mind, but the rapid
scientific development and the progress of
invention have created fresh bond be-
tween civilized man and the world he lives
in Nothing is more common than the re-
mark. II hope TO live twenty or thirty, or
fifty years longer. in order to see what the
inventions are and what changes come in
the manner of living" These changes
have been so many and so amazing in the
past twenty-five years that the public mind
has become expectant of greater and
more astonishing evolution-a feeling that
is. in fact, encouraged by the direct prom
ises of men of science 1t is only human
TO desire 10 share in the coming expert
ences but il is its own commentary on the
weakness of our beliefs in future life that
we are unwilling TO take the chance or
getting an advance and inside knowledge
of all these scientific secrets by passing
into another stage of existence. The spirit
is 50 intangible, and the world and the
flesh, with all their appurtenances. so de-
nghtfully real.