in the very infancy of the Christian era; and in
memory of his first splendid campaign against the Dacians he carved
in the solid rock the letters, some of which are still visible, and
which, by their very grandiloquence, offer a mournful commentary on
the fleeting nature of human greatness. Little did he think when his
eyes rested lovingly on this inscription, beginning--

IMP. CAES. D. NERVAE FILIUS NERVA. TRAJANUS. GERM. PONT. MAXIMUS.

--that Time with profane hand would wipe out the memory of many of his
glories and would undo all the work that he had done.

On we drifted, through huge landlocked lakes, out of which there
seemed no issue until we chanced upon a miraculous corner where there
was an outlet frowned upon by angry rocks; on to the "Caldron," as the
Turks called the most imposing portion of the gorge; on through an
amphitheatre where densely-wooded mountains on either side were
reflected in smooth water; on beneath masses that appeared about to
topple, and over shallows where it looked as if we must be grounded;
on round a bluff which had hidden the sudden opening of the valley
into a broad sweep, and which had hindered us from seeing Orsova the
Fair nestling closely to her beloved mountains.

EDWARD KING.

THE PARIS EXPOSITION OF 1878.

I.--BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.

[Illustration: THE TROCADERO AND GROUNDS.]

It is customary to speak of things by comparison, and the question is
constantly propounded here, as it will be to returned Americans: "How
does the Exposition compare with the Centennial of 1876?" This is not
to be answered by vague generalities nor by sweeping statements.

It must of course be true that a great nation could not fail to make
interesting an object upon which it has lavished money and which has
obtained the co-operation of the principal foreign nations. So much
is true equally of Philadelphia and Paris, and the merits of each are
such that comparisons may be instituted which shall be derogatory to
neither.

The scale of each is immense, and the buildings of both well filled
and overflowing into numerous annexes. Fairmount had the advantage of
breadth of ground for all comers. The Champ de Mars is but little
over one hundred acres in area, while the portion of Fairmount Park
conceded to the Exposition was two hundred and sixty acres.

The Champ de Mars is simply crowded with buildings, and is hemmed in
by houses except at the end where it abuts upon the Seine