rocks at the foot of the tree, took compassion upon him, and,
climbing up, gnawed off the branch. As the man slowly and painfully
wended his weary way homeward, he said: 'This teaches me that creatures
to whom nature has given neither feathers nor wings should leave the
kingdom of the birds to those who are fitted to inhabit it.'"

Having told this story, Tsait'ien turned his back on the electrical
ship.

After the exhibition was finished, and amid the fresh outburst of
enthusiasm that followed, it was suggested that a proper way to wind up
the Congress and give suitable expression to the festive mood which now
possessed mankind would be to have a grand ball. This suggestion met
with immediate and universal approval.

But for so gigantic an affair it was, of course, necessary to make
special preparations. A convenient place was selected on the Virginia
side of the Potomac; a space of ten acres was carefully levelled and
covered with a polished floor, rows of columns one hundred feet apart
were run across it in every direction, and these were decorated with
electric lights, displaying every color of the spectrum.

Above this immense space, rising in the center to a height of more than
a thousand feet, was anchored a vast number of balloons, all aglow with
lights, and forming a tremendous dome, in which brilliant lamps were
arranged in such a manner as to exhibit, in an endless succession of
combinations, all the national colors, ensigns and insignia of the
various countries represented at the Congress. Blazing eagles, lions,
unicorns, dragons and other imaginary creatures that the different
nations had chosen for their symbols appeared to hover high above the
dancers, shedding a brilliant light upon the scene.

Circles of magnificent thrones were placed upon the floor in convenient
locations for seeing. A thousand bands of music played, and tens of
thousands of couples, gayly dressed and flashing with gems, whirled
together upon the polished floor.

The Queen of England led the dance, on the arm of the President of the
United States.

The Prince of Wales led forth the fair daughter of the President,
universally admired as the most beautiful woman on the great ballroom
floor.

The Emperor William, in his military dress, danced with the beauteous
Princess Masaco, the daughter of the Mikado, who wore for the occasion
the ancient costume of the women of her country, sparkling with jewels,
and glowing with quaint co