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wondrous airy castles and hanging gardens。 In the Champ de Mars；
however； these were to be seen more splendid； more wonderful than in
the East； for human art had converted the airy deceptive scenes into
reality。
〃The Aladdin's Palace of the present has been built；〃 it was said。
〃Day by day； hour by hour； it unfolds more of its wonderful splendor。〃
The endless halls shine in marble and many colors。 〃Master
Bloodless〃 here moves his limbs of steel and iron in the great
circular hall of machinery。 Works of art in metal； in stone； in
Gobelins tapestry； announce the vitality of mind that is stirring in
every land。 Halls of paintings； splendor of flowers； everything that
mind and skill can create in the workshop of the artisan； has been
placed here for show。 Even the memorials of ancient days； out of old
graves and turf…moors； have appeared at this general meeting。
The overpowering great variegated whole must be divided into small
portions； and pressed together like a plaything； if it is to be
understood and described。
Like a great table on Christmas Eve； the Champ de Mars carried a
wonder…castle of industry and art； and around this knickknacks from
all countries had been ranged； knickknacks on a grand scale； for every
nation found some remembrance of home。
Here stood the royal palace of Egypt； there the caravanserai of
the desert land。 The Bedouin had quitted his sunny country； and
hastened by on his camel。 Here stood the Russian stables； with the
fiery glorious horses of the steppe。 Here stood the simple
straw…thatched dwelling of the Danish peasant； with the Dannebrog
flag； next to Gustavus Vasa's wooden house from Dalarne； with its
wonderful carvings。 American huts； English cottages； French pavilions；
kiosks； theatres； churches； all strewn around； and between them the
fresh green turf； the clear springing water； blooming bushes； rare
trees； hothouses； in which one might fancy one's self transported into
the tropical forest； whole gardens brought from Damascus； and blooming
under one roof。 What colors； what fragrance！
Artificial grottoes surrounded bodies of fresh or salt water；
and gave a glimpse into the empire of the fishes； the visitor seemed
to wander at the bottom of the sea； among fishes and polypi。
〃All this；〃 they said； 〃the Champ de Mars offers；〃 and around
the great richly…spread table the crowd of human beings moves like a
busy swarm of ants； on foot or in little carriages； for not all feet
are equal to such a fatiguing journey。
Hither they swarm from morning till late in the evening。 Steamer
after steamer； crowded with people； glides down the Seine。 The
number of carriages is continually on the increase。 The swarm of
people on foot and on horseback grows more and more dense。 Carriages
and omnibuses are crowded； stuffed and embroidered with people。 All
these tributary streams flow in one direction… towards the Exhibition。
On every entrance the flag of France is displayed； around the
world's bazaar wave the flags of all nations。 There is a humming and a
murmuring from the hall of the machines； from the towers the melody of
the chimes is heard； with the tones of the organs in the churches
mingle the hoarse nasal songs from the cafes of the East。 It is a
kingdom of Babel； a wonder of the world！
In very truth it was。 That's what all the reports said； and who
did not hear them？ The Dryad knew everything that is told here of
the new wonder in the city of cities。
〃Fly away； ye birds！ fly away to see； and then come back and
tell me；〃 said the Dryad。
The wish became an intense desire… became the one thought of a
life。 Then； in the quiet silent night； while the full moon was
shining； the Dryad saw a spark fly out of the moon's disc； and fall
like a shooting star。 And before the tree； whose leaves waved to and
fro as if they were stirred by a tempest； stood a noble； mighty； and
grand figure。 In tones that were at once rich and strong； like the
trumpet of the Last Judgment bidding farewell to life and summoning to
the great account； it said：
〃Thou shalt go to the city of magic； thou shalt take root there；
and enjoy the mighty rushing breezes； the air and the sunshine
there。 But the time of thy life shall then be shortened； the line of
years that awaited thee here amid the free nature shall shrink to
but a small tale。 Poor Dryad！ It shall be thy destruction。 Thy
yearning and longing will increase； thy desire will grow more
stormy； the tree itself will be as a prison to thee； thou wilt quit
thy cell and give up thy nature to fly out and mingle among men。
Then the years that would have belonged to thee will be contracted
to half the span of the ephemeral fly； that lives but a day： one
night； and thy life…taper shall be blown out… the leaves of the tree
will wither and be blown away； to become green never again！〃
Thus the words sounded。 And the light vanished away； but not the
longing of the Dryad。 She trembled in the wild fever of expectation。
〃I shall go there！〃 she cried； rejoicingly。 〃Life is beginning and
swells like a cloud； nobody knows whither it is hastening。〃
When the gray dawn arose and the moon turned pale and the clouds
were tinted red； the wished…for hour struck。 The words of promise were
fulfilled。
People appeared with spades and poles； they dug round the roots of
the tree； deeper and deeper； and beneath it。 A wagon was brought
out； drawn by many horses； and the tree was lifted up； with its
roots and the lumps of earth that adhered to them； matting was
placed around the roots； as though the tree had its feet in a warm
bag。 And now the tree was lifted on the wagon and secured with chains。
The journey began… the journey to Paris。 There the tree was to grow as
an ornament to the city of French glory。
The twigs and the leaves of the chestnut tree trembled in the
first moments of its being moved； and the Dryad trembled in the
pleasurable feeling of expectation。
〃Away！ away！〃 it sounded in every beat of her pulse。 〃Away！
away〃 sounded in words that flew trembling along。 The Dryad forgot
to bid farewell to the regions of home； she thought not of the
waving grass and of the innocent daisies； which had looked up to her
as to a great lady； a young Princess playing at being a shepherdess
out in the open air。
The chestnut tree stood upon the wagon； and nodded his branches；
whether this meant 〃farewell〃 or 〃forward；〃 the Dryad knew not； she
dreamed only of the marvellous new things； that seemed yet so
familiar； and that were to unfold themselves before her。 No child's
heart rejoicing in innocence… no heart whose blood danced with
passion… had set out on the journey to Paris more full of
expectation than she。
Her 〃farewell〃 sounded in the words 〃Away！ away！〃
The wheels turned； the distant approached； the present vanished。
The region was changed； even as the clouds change。 New vineyards；
forests； villages； villas appeared… came nearer… vanished！
The chestnut tree moved forward； and the Dryad went with it。
Steam…engine after steam…engine rushed past； sending up into the air
vapory clouds； that formed figures which told of Paris； whence they
came； and whither the Dryad was going。
Everything around knew it； and must know whither she was bound。 It
seemed to her as if every tree she passed stretched out its leaves
towards her； with the prayer… 〃Take me with you！ take me with you！〃
for every tree enclosed a longing Dryad。
What changes during this flight！ Houses seemed to be rising out of
the earth… more and more… thicker and thicker。 The chimneys rose
like flower…pots ranged side by side； or in rows one above the
other； on the roofs。 Great inscriptions in letters a yard long； and
figures in various colors； covering the walls from cornice to
basement； came brightly out。
〃Where does Paris begin； and when shall I be there？〃 asked the
Dryad。
The crowd of people grew； the tumult and the bustle increased；
carriage followed upon carriage； people on foot and people on
horseback were mingled together； all around were shops on shops； music
and song； crying and talking。
The Dryad； in her tree； was now in the midst of Paris。 The great
heavy wagon all at once stopped on a little square planted with trees。
The high houses around had all of them balconies to the windows；
from which the inhabitants looked down upon the young fresh chestnut
tree； which was coming to be planted here as a substitute for the dead
tree that lay stretched on the ground。
The passers…by stood still and smiled in admiration of its pure
vernal freshness。 The older trees； whose buds were still closed；
whispered with their waving branches； 〃Welcome！ welcome！〃 The
fountain； throwing its jet of water high up in the air； to let it fall
again in the wide stone basin； told the wind to sprinkle the new…comer
with pearly drops； as if it wished to give him a refreshing draught to
welcome him。
The Dryad felt how her tree was being lifted from the wagon to
be placed in the spot where it was to stand。 The