Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-07
THE GREAT AND LITTLE
Extremes in Mechanism at
the st. LOUIS u Fair.
so
SOME FREAKrtW ATCHES
FRENCH JEWELRY EXHIBIT MOST
EXQUISITE EVER MADE.
Display of Diamonds Valued at Over
$1,000, o0o-Gold Dust From
the K1ondike.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record-Herald.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald. =
ST. LOUIS, September q, 1904.
In the center of the transportation build
Ing looming up over the crowded sections
around 1t, rs 1.-The Spirit of the Twentieth
Century, happy title for one of the most
striking living pictures at the exposition.
The Big Four Railroad Company has placed
a locomotive Weighing 16O tons upon an
electric turntable and has arranged 1t so
that 1t revolves slowly from dawn to sun
set. The wheels of the locomotive are NOV
ing at the rate of ten miles an hour upon
the polished rails. and the public Is thus
permitted to see an illustration of the most
advanced degree of railway science. One
can scarcely conceive of more accurate
representation of THE Spirit of the Twen-
tieth Century" and whoever suggested the
idea is an artist and poet.
If you want to see the other extreme of
mechanism go over to the French section
In the manufactures building where, in the
booth of Paris jeweler, you may find the
most minute machine that was ever made.
1t Is the smallest watch in the world, i'm
bedded, crystal, dial. works and all. in the
top Of ring, like seal or a jewel. The
entire watch, case and all, is less than half
an inch in diameter. A row of diamonds
encircles' it like frame. and at either end
are TWO Tiny figures Will SleuSeS III lucli
hands, Enthusiastically small. If you touch
a secret spring these little watchmen raise
their hammers and strike the hour upon
golden bells. The artist who made this
watch was compelled to wear powerful
microscopes in the place of spectacles. for
several parts of the works are too small to
be distinguished or identified by the naked
eye. 1t represents four years of labor, and
he did something upon 1t nearly every day;
but the strain upon his eyesight and his
nervous system was so great that he WAS
compelled to alternate with ordinary labor.
And yet the jeweler offers this, the most
marvellous piece of machinery in existence,
for the modest sum Of $3.50.
The watch and the turntable of the Big
Four railroad have several points in COM
mon Both are perfect pieces of machinery;
both represent the highest degree of adj
vancement that has ever been reached in the
sciences to which they belong; both move
with perfect accuracy and silence. The
watch weighs less than an ounce; the turn
table and its load weigh half million
pounds Yet it bears its mighty burden as
silently as If it were treading upon velvet.
Some Other Freak Watches.
There Is another watch which is almost
as remarkable. although It is not so minute
or complicated. 1t is the next smallest that
was ever made, and came from the same
factory and can be seen in the same ex-
hibit. The crystal, dial and works are set
in the center of a coin, a 100 franc piece
issued by the little kingdom Of Monaco. of
which Monte Carlo is the capital. 1t is
exactly the size of our $50 gold piece, and
approximately the same thickness and di-
ameter of a 5O-cent silver coin. 1t is more
remarkable than the ring watch, because it
is so thin, being less than an eighth of an
inch in thickness. 1t keeps perfect time,
but does not strike the hours like the other
watch. and you can order a duplicate for.
$3.50. The original has been sold.
like to compare this watch with travel
ing crane in the electricity building. which
will take load of forty tons in its arms
carry it to the other end of the building
and lay 1t down as noiselessly and as easily
a mother would place her child in its
cradle. You cannot imagine anything more
forceful, more modest or dignif1ed than this
mighty burden-bearer: yet 1t works as ST.
lently and as accura tely as the little watch.
There Is still another watch, indeed there
are two or three more, that are quite as
curious. One of them is in the form of a
locket, intended to be worn as a pendant
attached to necklace or a chain around
the neck. 1t Is about three fourths of an
inch In diameter, and the dial is of blue
enamel, surrounded by row of twenty-four
pearls. The price Is 81 500 There is still
another watch about two-thirds of an inch
In diameter. the exact size of silver dime,
which lies beside 1t In velvet case. You
can buy It for $500. - '.'s- H..
In the same case Is a facsimile of the
watch presented to Miss Alice Roosevelt
when she was visiting the exposition last
IL was Iudu6 at the same factory
and Is exhibited by the same mana most
unique souvenir In the form of an old-fash-
Toned lantern. one-half an inch square. with
top tapering like pyramid, and having
ring In the top. so that 1t can be worn from
a bracelet as a bangle. There are four
alais and 1t keeps accurate time. The price
There are several other freak watches
and other forms of jewelry.
Exquisite French Exhibit.
The French jewelry exhibit ia considered
the most novel and exquisite ever made
The American display is insignificant In
comparison In the mining building there
is the most complete and valuable collec-
ton OF gems ever made. 1t contains one or
more samples of every precious stone
known to science and the largest and finest
piece OF jade ever mined; also the first ex-