Etzler, J. A. (John Adolphus). Paradise within the reach of all men
This is one of those instances in which the individual genius is found
to consent, as indeed it always does, at last, with the universal.
These last sentences have a certain sad and sober truth, which reminds
us of the scripture of all nations. All expression of truth does at
length take the deep ethical form. Here is hint of a place the most
eligible of any in space, and of a servitor, in comparison with whom,
all other helps dwindle into insignificance. We hope to hear more of
him anon, for even a crystal palace would be deficient without his
invaluable services.
And as for the environs of the establishment,
“There will be afforded the most enrapturing views to be fancied, out
of the private apartments, from the galleries, from the roof, from its
turrets and cupolas,—gardens as far as the eye can see, full of fruits
and flowers, arranged in the most beautiful order, with walks,
colonnades, aqueducts, canals, ponds, plains, amphitheatres, terraces,
fountains, sculptural works, pavilions, gondolas, places for public
amusement, etc., to delight the eye and fancy, the taste and smell. . . .
The walks and roads are to be paved with hard vitrified, large
plates, so as to be always clean from all dirt in any weather or
season. . . . The channels being of vitrified substance, and the water
perfectly clear, and filtrated or distilled if required, may afford the
most beautiful scenes imaginable, while a variety of fishes is seen
clear down to the bottom playing about, and the canals may afford at
the same time, the means of gliding smoothly along between various
sceneries of art and nature, in beautiful gondolas, while their surface
and borders may be covered with fine land and aquatic birds. The walks
may be covered with porticos adorned with magnificent columns, statues,
and sculptural works; all of vitrified substance, and lasting forever,
while the beauties of nature around heighten the magnificence and
deliciousness.
“The night affords no less delight to fancy and feelings. An infinite
variety of grand, beautiful and fanciful objects and sceneries,
radiating with crystalline brilliancy, by the illumination of
gas-light; the human figures themselves, arrayed in the most beautiful
pomp fancy may suggest, or the eye desire, shining even with brilliancy
of stuffs and diamonds, like stones of various colors, elegantly shaped
and arranged around the body; all reflected a thousand-fold in huge
mirrors and reflectors of various forms; theatrical scenes of a
grandeur and magnificence, and enrapturing illusions, unknown yet, in
which any person may be either a spectator or an actor; the speech and
the songs reverberating with increased sound, rendered more sonorous
and harmonious than by nature, by vaultings that are moveable into any
shape at any time; the sweetest and most impressive harmony of music,
produced by song and instruments partly not known yet, may thrill
through the nerves and vary with other amusements and delights.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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