d then spring also。 Inall this change of seasons the Dryad looked toward the region where；at night； Paris gleamed with its bright mist far on the horizon。
Forth from the town rushed engine after engine； train after train；whistling and screaming at all hours in the day。 In the evening；towards midnight； at daybreak； and all the day through； came thetrains。 Out of each one； and into each one； streamed people from thecountry of every king。 A new wonder of the world had summoned themto Paris。
In what form did this wonder exhibit itself？
〃A splendid blossom of art and industry；〃 said one； 〃hasunfolded itself in the Champ de Mars； a gigantic sunflower； from whosepetals one can learn geography and statistics； and can bee aswise as a lord mayor； and raise one's self to the level of art andpoetry； and study the greatness and power of the various lands。〃
〃A fairy tale flower；〃 said another； 〃a many…coloredlotus…plant； which spreads out its green leaves like a velvet carpetover the sand。 The opening spring has brought it forth； the summerwill see it in all its splendor； the autumn winds will sweep itaway； so that not a leaf； not a fragment of its root shall remain。〃
In front of the Military School extends in time of peace the arenaof war… a field without a blade of grass； a piece of sandy steppe；as if cut out of the Desert of Africa； where Fata Morgana displays herwondrous airy castles and hanging gardens。 In the Champ de Mars；however； these were to be seen more splendid； more wonderful than inthe East； for human art had converted the airy deceptive scenes intoreality。
〃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。 〃MasterBloodless〃 here moves his limbs of steel and iron in the greatcircular hall of machinery。 Works of art in metal； in stone； inGobelins tapestry； announce the vitality of mind that is stirring inevery land。 Halls of paintings； splendor of flowers； everything thatmind and skill can create in the workshop of the artisan； has beenplaced here for show。 Even the memorials of ancient days； out of oldgraves and turf…moors； have appeared at this general meeting。
The overpowering great variegated whole must be divided into smallportions； and pressed together like a plaything； if it is to beunderstood and described。
Like a great table on Christmas Eve； the Champ de Mars carried awonder…castle of industry and art； and around this knickknacks fromall countries had been ranged； knickknacks on a grand scale； for everynation found some remembrance of home。
Here stood the royal palace of Egypt； there the caravanserai ofthe desert land。 The Bedouin had quitted his sunny country； andhastened by on his camel。 Here stood the Russian stables； with thefiery glorious horses of the steppe。 Here stood the simplestraw…thatched dwelling of the Danish peasant； with the Dannebrogflag； next to Gustavus Vasa's wooden house from Dalarne； with itswonderful carvings。 American huts； English cottages； French pavilions；kiosks； theatres； churches； all strewn around； and between them thefresh green turf； the clear springing water； blooming bushes； raretrees； hothouses； in which one might fancy one's self transported intothe tropical forest； whole gardens brought from Damascus； and bloomingunder 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 seemedto wander at the bottom of the sea； among fishes and polypi。
〃All this；〃 they said； 〃the Champ de Mars offers；〃 and aroundthe great richly…spread table the crowd of human beings moves like abusy swarm of ants； on foot or in little carriages； for not all feetare equal to such a fatiguing journey。
Hither they swarm from morning till late in the evening。 Steamerafter steamer； crowded with people； glides down the Seine。 Thenumber of carriages is continually on the increase。 The swarm ofpeople on foot and on horseback grows more and more dense。 Carriagesand omnibuses are crowded； stuffed and embroidered with people。 Allthese tributary streams flow in one direction… towards the Exhibition。On every entrance the flag of France is displayed； around theworld's bazaar wave the flags of all nations。 There is a humming and amurmuring from the hall of the machines； from the towers the melody ofthe chimes is heard； with the tones of the organs in the churchesmingle the hoarse nasal songs from the cafes of the East。 It is akingdom of Babel； a wonder of the world！
In very truth it was。 That's what all the reports said； and whodid not hear them？ The Dryad knew everything that is told here ofthe new wonder in the city of cities。
〃Fly away； ye birds！ fly away to see； and then e back andtell me；〃 said the Dryad。
The wish became an intense desire… became the one thought of alife。 Then； in the quiet silent night； while the full moon wasshining； the Dryad saw a spark fly out of the moon's disc； and falllike a shooting star。 And before the tree； whose leaves waved to andfro as if they were stirred by a tempest； stood a noble； mighty； andgrand figure。 In tones that were at once rich and strong； like thetrumpet of the Last Judgment bidding farewell to life and summoning tothe 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 sunshihere。 But the time of thy life shall then be shortened； the line ofyears that awaited thee here amid the free nature shall shrink tobut a small tale。 Poor Dryad！ It shall be thy destruction。 Thyyearning and longing will increase； thy desire will grow morestormy； the tree itself will be as a prison to thee； thou wilt quitthy cell and give up thy nature to fly out and mingle among men。Then the years that would have belonged to thee will be contractedto half the span of the ephemeral fly； that lives but a day： onenight； and thy life…taper shall be blown out… the leaves of the treewill wither and be blown away； to bee green never again！〃
Thus the words sounded。 And the light vanished away； but not thelonging of the Dryad。 She trembled in the wild fever of expectation。
〃I shall go there！〃 she cried； rejoicingly。 〃Life is beginning andswells like a cloud； nobody knows whither it is hastening。〃
When the gray dawn arose and the moon turned pale and the cloudswere tinted red； the wished…for hour struck。 The words of promise werefulfilled。
People appeared with spades and poles； they dug round the roots ofthe tree； deeper and deeper； and beneath it。 A wagon was broughtout； drawn by many horses； and the tree was lifted up； with itsroots and the lumps of earth that adhered to them； matting wasplaced around the roots； as though the tree had its feet in a warmbag。 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 asan ornament to the city of French glory。
The twigs and the leaves of the chestnut tree trembled in thefirst moments of its being moved； and the Dryad trembled in thepleasurable feeling of expectation。
〃Away！ away！〃 it sounded in every b