It is singular how differently terror affects women from what it
does men. The former are usually rendered more eloquent by its
influence――while the latter are often reduced to silence. So it was
with our hero now. Deeply impressed with the wonderful event,――his
fair friend ascending to the skies, while he stood still upon the
earth,――his mind agonized at the idea of separation, and a thousand
creeping fears rushing through his heart at the recollection that
they were in that wild wilderness――London――so dangerous to wandering
love-lorn lasses; thinking and feeling all this, still John said not
a word. Insensible to the shout of laughter that burst from the two
audiences, the one above and the one below――he gazed and gazed, and
said nothing. At last, some one who was standing near, explained the
matter to him, and the ladies above, pacified Hannah. So this part of
the exhibition was closed.
Among the spectacles of the Colosseum, there was a very interesting one
representing the scenery of the Alps in Switzerland. This exhibited
the snow-covered mountains; the craggy cliffs topped with the cottages
of the Swiss villagers; the dark and deep ravines, shadowed with
evergreen trees; and the sparkling rivulets, leaping down the rocky
precipices. By means of machinery, the figures of men and women were
seen to move, and the ruffling action of the water, with even its
flashing in the sunlight, was admirably represented.
Perhaps the most interesting and wonderful exhibition was that which
was got up last summer, consisting of a field of artificial ice, made
of crystal salts, principally soda; and having not only the glassy
look, but the slippery effect of real ice. The Skating Club of London
were invited to try it, and they pronounced it excellent. Accordingly,
the exhibition was opened in mid-summer, and the spectators, sitting in
an atmosphere of eighty degrees, could be amused with seeing a party
of skaters before them, gliding about with all the activity and ease
attending such a display in winter. In order to render the illusion
more perfect, and the scene more picturesque, the surrounding scenery
consisted of snow-capped hills and mountains, bearing all the wild and
savage aspect of the Alps in winter. The effect was admirable――the
deception complete. The spectator, in July or August, coming from a
view of Regent’s Park, decked in all the gorgeous livery of summer,
in the space of thirty seconds found himself transported to an Alpine
scene in the season of the sternest winter. Before him was an icy lake,
and skaters were gliding over its surface; while the distance displayed
all the chill and ghastly features of Switzerland, in January.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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