The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-11-30
SEEING THE BIG SHOW,


SEEING THE BIG SHOW.
Edgerton Representative Tells of the Sights
PARIS, FRANCE Nov. 9Th, 1900.
ED. REPORTER: arrived in the
Universal Exposition" city Wednesday,
October 24th, at p. m. A good time to
land in the heart of large city. We
found our way to an exposition hotel,
situated within one block of an entrance
to the big show, and put up for the night.
1t is indeed big show. But generally
speaking, it not so large as our Worlds
Fair at Chicago. 1t is, however, well
worth the name it bears. The Eiffel
tower is part of the exposition, being
situated inside the grounds and illumin-
ated IN the evening and carrying passen-
gers day and night to the top floor. 1t
was our good fortune to make the trip
twice. On reaching the second floor,
where we made our first stop, we met
one OF the greatest surprises of our life.
Here we obtained magnificent birds
eye" view of the whole city and the ex-
position grounds and the mighty frame
and bars of the tower beneath us. 1t is
dizzy height and yet the main shaft
towers far above us. Here, too, one re-
allies for the first time the real magni-
tude of the work. 1t is hard to believe
that human hands and mind could ever
accomplish so great task We took
the elevator for the top floor and as we
enter the cage we get shock. What If
the bottom should fall out of the cage
or the cage itself should 60 down. We
almost held our breath and stared out
the window with open mouth and eyes.
In about five minutes we reached the
top floor and stepped out of the cage in
to an inclosed room. We walked around
and took long breath and mustered all
of our courage to ascend the stair to the
lookout. The railing is breast high but
we. hardly dared touch it. And as we
look down we feel some one pulling at
our heels, more than anxious to give US
boost. This floor is fifty five feet square
and one thousand feet above the ground.
The third floor is one hundred and thir-
ty-fve feet square. The base from out
side corners is four hundred feet and the
bases are each ninety feet square. We
saw no steel plate in the tower SO much
'asone half inch in thickness. 1t is in
deed a grand monument to human skill
and perseverance. 1t must be seen to
be appreciated " @'T
The Art Hall contains the largest col
lection of paintings and sculpture we
have ever beheld. Beneath the great
crystal dome is wilderness of statues.
1 Nothing like it was ever seen in Amer
lea. France is the home Of many sculp-
tors. The city is everywhere full of
their handiwefk.s-~So~~m much of .itehave
we seen that we are tired of looking.
tFhe paintings are, without doubt, one of
the finest collections that the world has
ever seen. Some are so wonderfully life
like it would be hard to detect them
from the original were they placed side
by side. A day here is not sufficient to
glance them all over, but with us it had
to suffice.
|3 The ancient agricultural implements
afthe French are on exhibitionand such
q curiosity. Many of the implements
are made entirely of wood and are of
crude design. Contrasted with those
they now use it must have taken an age
to bring about the change. The exhibit:
ton OF automobiles is another surprise.
The display consists of bicycles, tricy-,
cles and every form of carriages and
buses. Many are vapor motors. All of
the different kinds seem to be practical.
The automobile is much used here in
the city and they all make good time.
The electrical fountains and cascade
together with the illumination of the
Eiffel tower and surrounding buildings
and park are the attractions of the
evening. The cascade deserves special
mention. Beneath grand arch of the
electricity building is waterfall some
thirty feet in height; from it's foot to the
basin far below are many terraces over
which the torrent of water flows. In
the basin are ten clusters of fountains
each containing seven streams. The
center one squirting much higher than
the surrounding ones. All is illuminat-
ed with ever changing colors of light,
making a novel and brilliant spectacle
indeed. Another very beautiful electric
| display is little crystal palace built
upon little hill and reached by wind
ing stair. All is aglow with yellow light
and we did climb the golden stair, but
were obliged to return. A Ferris wheel
is here and as large as the one in Chi
cago, but from the top of the Eiffel tow
er it looks like, a child's toy. A moving
sidewalk mile in length is also running
carrying passengers to different parts of
the grounds. The many shows on mid
way. with few exceptions, are poor.
As write the grounds are magnif-
Gently illuminated; | see it from my
window and long to be there. In fact it
is hard to find time to write but know
ing that friends at home will be glad to
receive the little offering make the
sacrifice. We are working hard but our
hearts are ever buoyant with the excite
ment, and we are always ready for the
task. Respectfully yours,
j, T. PoMERoY.