The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-05
on THE MOVING SIDEWALK.
Curious Sensations and sights ON n
New Partisan Institution.

or what In London would ne calieu
square. Trspezium would be the right
word but square ts the more popular.
The longest side measuring three-quarters
of a mile and containing the avenue OF
the nations Is formed ny the river. The
next longest is formed by the Champ &c
Mars Palaces and the third and shortest
by the Palaces OF the InvaHdes section.
The fourth side, open 10 the city. Is bound
ed by the Avenue de la Motto Picquet- IL
Is obvious that under ordinary circun-
stances a -isitor intending to pass, say,
from the Invalides TO the Champ de Mars
must. without specially contriyed means
Of communication. traverse a large block
OF streets avenues aud boulevards The
rolling platform. "trott1ir roulant.' IS the
special Continuance. II is not a detached
structure like railway train, arriving at
and passing certain points at stated times.
In the "trottoir rou.ant' there is no break.
In engineers language Il rs an endless
floor. The "trottoir roulsnt" Is a narrow
ribbon OF a floor raised thirty feet above
the level OF the ground. ever and ever
gliding along the four sides OF the square
"a wooden serpent with it's toll in its
mouth
The rolling platform rs about two and
a quarter miles in length. There are ten
entries 20 II. and as many exits from IL,
distributed over the river face, along the
never stops for passengers; you step on to
II or OF Il as YOU do on or of a London
bus in motion. but with the important DIFF
ference that the rolling platform is only
two inches above the level Of your shoe
soies. and that it's rate OF motion is slower.
As II turns the corners Of the huge
trapeziuin. or swerves rightward or left
ward At some point on one of tts sides. its
motion resembles the sinuous crawl Of
snake
Thirty feet overhead, supported upon a
forest Of scaffolding, are lad tire steel
RATE upon which revolve the dwarf wheels
OF the "trustoir roulant." Upon the two
and a quarter miles are chngresated two
and a quarter miles OF more or less idly
curious humanity ribbon OF humanity
as a French journalist calls IL. Multi
tuaes or Parisians rrovincials. Americans.
cockneys, Germans hut principally the
first two. glide overhead on the back Of
this sinuous monster. 1t Is odd to witness
when a shower comes. the sudden shiny
appari,fon Of the long ribbon OF urbrel
lns. The monsters voice sounds unceas-
ingiy the day long, and half the night
Sometimes II resembles the din made by
the lids Of twenty million Brohingnagian
kettles from which the steam II escaping,
sometimes the roll Of the massed drums OF
the entire French army. At other times
IL concentrates itself In n high pitched,
fierce iron scresch.
How docs this Internal muttering. groan-
ing, growing. rafting. scrceching affect
the dwellers OF the Avenue de Ia Bour-
donneis the Avenue de la Motto Pfcquet.
the Rue Fsbert. in front OF whose thr,-
story windows the 'trottoir'' rolls pact with
its lead of humanity In London. where
people make a fuss about organ grinders
and tho tambourine girls OF the Salvation
Army. II would | fancy, cause an insur-
rection. hut have heard Of no Wild pro-
test in Paris-not wrathful face have
I seen In all those half miles Of windows
What shopkcepers and professional people
have done IL to seize this rare opp1rtuaty
Of advertising themselves. The most strik-
ing advertisement Is the figure OF doll
meant for a newly born baby. stuck in
a window bearing the sign OF Mime
Poussin, Accoucheuse" That baby OF
flannel and sawiust with it's prernature.y
wide awake smile. everlastingly holds
out its spuds Of arms to the ribbon of
humanity that glIdes past everlastingly
alike.
For the man OF business, intent upon
prompt transfer from this to that region
OF the exposition, and the idle locker on
caring most for the summer air and
smoke. the "trpttojr rnulant" Is "A conven-
lent, comfortable and ingenious device. In
the first place, the aerial structure II not
all moble II IL divided into three lougi-
tudinal parallel sections the first station
AIRY. the second moving ut sthe rate OF
about three miles an hour. the third Mt
about six. II your want to make the cir
cult quickly you stand on tho third. and
n you are in a great hurry all you have
To do is to stride ahead and 20 add your
individual movement 10 that Of the ''trot-
toir roulant" If YOU want to take fl easy
and look lelsurely about you. Won simply
step doan two inches 20 the aecund sec
ton. or IL YOU want to come 10 dead
stop the two inches to the stationary
strip. You will often do this In order TO
admire some stree view or glimpse 81
the slnit river or beautiful building in
the Avenue Of the Nations or on the on
rsosite bank Of the Seine the cluster Of
steep roofed old Paris Going on the
"trott,ir roulant' is easy az walking hat
for NIL that scores Of people come 10
grief quite harmlessly and concailr when
hrst they try II. In Ccckaync no sane
person gets face To the rear out OF m
omnibus. or attempts 10 enter 4 with his
Silly back turned toward the horses Many
try Il on the "trotto'r roulent-" II l. great
fun. A stoutish ioiy looking woman
has done It. and tho result - that she has
cRnnoDed again q somebody who cannons
against a third. who pitches against The
stomach OF a fourth. whom the unexpected
shock Temporarily depTives ~ his nmhrel
la and Ms hat. innocuous disaster often
happens whom persons foot becomes en-
tangled behind the caE 81 the other ieE
each leg bes,pmcs as unnSs NJ -eahle as q
towel whipped rcaud the leg % a table.
EnrnAred thus wise. he person maniissts
nm uncontrollahie tendency - spin round
ike a teeiot0m. After long and l"isurely
observation. 7 am inclined 20 think that
- IN attitudes on the "trottoir roulAn"
-, %. 49,. fa-ra