NOL
Bubbles And Ballast, Being A Description Of Life In Paris During The Brilliant Days Of Empire

Chapter 29

VII. Food, fresh or preserved, cooked or uncooked.

Group VIII. Live stock and models of agricultural establishments. Group IX. Plants and horticultural tools and models. Group X. Objects exhibited with with the view of ameliorating the physical and moral condition of the working population.” The distribution of space to countries is as follows: " France occupies - nearly all the easterly half of the building and park, with the exception of corners to Belguim and Holland. Beginning at the western corner of the main entrance of the building, and in an easterly direction we see Great Britain and the colonies, Central and South America, United States, Tunis and Morocco, Persia, China, Siam, Japan, Egypt, Turkey, Rome, Italy, Prussia, Sweden 'and Norway, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Swit- zerland, Austria and the minor States of Germany and Prussia. Prussia, by being brought near to France, holds a place of honor, and faces Belgium.” Thus pass- ing all these national names, one might fancy himself making a tour of the world, without the expense of trav- eling, though with much of the bodily fatigue.
On our first visit, we availed ourselves of small one- seat carriager, or Bath chairs (as they were styled), drawn by a guide; — a mode of conveyance very convenient for invalids or lame persons ; yet, if we did make ourselves objects of curiosity, and tolerated the snail pace, we at least saved a vast amount of physical strength. The park or outside grounds contained much that was inter- esting, independent of the attractions of the interior. One space was assigned to Morocco, and the Palace of
Digitized byVnOOQlC
BUBBLES AND BALLAST.
57
the Bey of Tunis. Adjoining the American Restaurant, I recall a Tunisian Cafe which regaled us with a minstrel performance, and the sight of some acrobatic feats . A small fee admitted us into the Chinese and Japanese houses, where there was nothing specially interesting except a pretty Japanese woman seated on a gay colored rug, her fingers plying steadily at some fancy work. Then came the gardens of Persia, and an Egyptian Temple, abounding in beautiful and rare sculpture, said to be the fac-simile of the Temples of the Pharaohs. The English space furnished several large structures for “the exhibition and testing of building materials,” and France made a display of machinery, chiefly locomotives, which are insignificant in size, and inferior in work- manship and finish, compared with those of America. A Swiss-Italian pavilion by the beauty of its architecture, appealed to the eye ; also, a photo-sculpture building, furnishing souvenirs that will ever be associated with the great Exposition. A large metallic light-house was pointed out, whose revolving light is shed over all Paris by night, and a building not far from the Emperor’s pavilion, containing the choicest French Art Manufac- tures ; but a description of its colossal bronze statuary were better left to a masculine pen. Seeing a vast crowd collected around a statue on our right, our curiosity nat- urally led us to it. Two of the cent gardes gazing up at its towering height appeared dwarfed in comparison, al- though much above the average height. Is it the proud war-horse eager for the fray that most attracts, or the bold and fearless rider, sitting there like some chivalric crusader? The foot of the horse is raised as if threaten-
Digitized by VnOOQlC
58
BUBBLES AND BALLAST.
ing to trample down Prussia’s enemies, and King Wil- liam with heavy casque, and determined mien seems ready, if not anxious, to challenge the world in deadly conflict.
Once again in the interior of the Exposition we walked through some of the sections devoted to paintings and sculpture, and gazed in ecstasy at one faultless gem of statuary. The delicate and beautiful form was clad in a web-like drapery, and the face, so perfect in its classic loveliness, might have passed for that of an angel, had it not been Sappho. Referring indirectly to the angelic, I have caught a radiant view through memory’s glass of two figures which seem to belong half to earth and half to heaven. The subject is the Loves of the Angels , and such love there exemplified doth shame the coarse pas- sion of mortals. The figures, in gentle embrace, seem about to soar away to the upper world, whilst their feet scarcely touch the flowery vale below. The pedestal of the statue is wreathed in vines and tendrils that stretch towards the receding limbs, and mingle their beauties most harmoniously. A very fine bust was that of the Princess Alexandra ! From the look of tenderness in her eyes, there must be something dove-like in her na- ture. Gentle beauty is apt to strike more pleasurably than that of the spirited type. The chef d* oeuvres of art were numerous, but a description of the subjects by me might prove a sacrifice upon an altar which has no flame worthy to light them into just notice. Besides, it is twelve o’clock at night, and drooping eyelids bid me drop the theme. May my visions be of absent loved ones !
Digitized by VnOOQlC