Evening star., 1921-10-16
BY STERLING HEILIG.

A PAINTER fell from the Eiffel
~ Tower. When his body struck
~ the ground 1t sunk Ave feet
into a flower bed. Four moe
men should fall to complete the mini
mum toll Of the most dangerous
painting job in the world.
They paint the tower every six
years. All Paris is interested, be-
cause on it's paint depends whether
the gigantic mass of iron is to be the
glory or the eyesore of Paris.
| Its first shade. in 1889, was dead
| leaf" When the sun lit its hazy
golden, with effects of jewelers. fra
| immense discussion. they painted it
| orange. In strong sun it cleaned
| like FURNISHED copper. Oscar Wilde
declared it noble. Puvis de Chavan-
ened to blow it up with dynamite.
| In 1900 they made it sun color"
| which has always been repeated:
| Again the tower became a thing of
glory. This shows it's inartistic
| character" says the city architect.
The Pyramids are beautiful in their
1t did not CLEAN sun color long.
According to Camille Flammarion. the
| atmospheric electricity which such a
| mass of iron receives is incalculable.
Conducting tubes two feet in dame
| ter lead it down to fifty feet below
effects on paint are disastrous. The
Pa. It just disappears. @ .The electricity
| eats up the paint" they say.
1t is the towers way OF calling Tor
a special bunch of victims-painters!
! Every day it calls for voluntary
| victims. by whispering to visitors
| with thrills of that incalculable at
mospheric electricity to Jump"
Ion the upper platforms lounge men
~ who try to look like tourists, yet
these lazy eyes watch every new ar
rival. When they see tourist stand
immobile by the railing. deaf to re-
marks, oblivious of surroundings,
with eyes fixed on the abyss and face
lit up with a holy look; they move a
| little closer to the tourist.
! They are the body snatchers OF the
tower" AS the snake fascinates the
| bird, so the abyss calls to ten tourists
daily. while -, ELECTRIC ct soul.ooiss ahsa mur nnd
| saved. be sure-the snatchers have
| the habit.
Hundreds of others feel the deadly
| charm and break it off with energy;
! They chat with utter strangers. l
| down elevators hiding their face in
their hands. Those who may be
really ready to jump Will feel
strong. friendly human body bump
against them. with hearty apologies:
"A million excuses: How 1 am
clumsy"
your life. He will not let you jump.
He stands by you. whether you wish
! it or not. until you return to nor
malcy. But he never tells you what
he is or why he does it,
| Therefore. miss or madam. do not
mistake him for another. For there
lis another urge. up there. whisper
Of telluric- currents. which
sends sweet. troubled weakness
through the soul. 1t has saved many.
iyet some were almost indignant when
they meditated Of it later. 1t will be
rective, UP there. for jumping.
| Horrid sight. And yet few see it.
| On the ground by the west pillar is
a police room. Here are wheelbar-
rows. shovels and big pile of black
garden earth When a fascinated
Victim succeeds in Jumping few peo-
pie realize what has happened. Great
heights separate the platforms.
Crowds are parted in different eleva-
tors You cannot call down: Did
some one fall?"
The falling body makes a deep hole
or curious party can accomplish the
slow descent by elevator or stairway
the remains are piously wheeled to
the police room-and the hole Is filled
up, smoothed with new earth. and.
maybe. geranium OF green shrub
planted. Tourists round the base may
see the fall. with horror-but it is
soon over. Nothing remains.
THERE are no statistics Of those
= who jump. 1t is not a thing to
talk about-they're mostly visitors.
But there are full statistics of legit-
innate victims-psinters and inven-
tors of parachutes.
So fell Francis Reichelt.
II need height" he said. "In falling
my parachute continues to unfold, all
| by itself 1t is for aviators who have
| no time, you understand, to adjust
anything. A swimming gesture Of
the arms. you understand"
"Where is your dummy" where's
the suit?" asked dozen thoughtless.
reckless young reporters. Il have the
suit on me-" answered the inventor.
But all permits are understood for
dummies.
He looked into the abyss and turned
back in dread. He tore a newspaper,
| to try the wind. He looded down
again. and slowly his face illuminated.
His look of voluptuous longing
frightened the reporters. Before they