There was a great Exhibition at Paris in 1890. I had read about its
elaborate preparations, and I also had a keen desire to see Paris.
So I thought I had better combine two things in one and go there at
this juncture. A particular attraction of the Exhibition was the
Eiffel Tower, constructed entirely of iron, and nearly 1,000 feet
high. There were of course many other things of interest, but the
Tower was the chief one, inasmuch as it had been supposed till then
that a structure of that height could not safely stand.
I had heard of a vegetarian restaurant in Paris. I engaged a room there
and stayed seven days. I managed everything very economically, both
the journey to Paris and the sight-seeing there. This I did mostly
on foot and with the help of a map of Paris, as also a map of and
guide to the Exhibition. These were enough to direct one to the main
streets and chief places of interest.
I remember nothing of the Exhibition excepting its magnitude and
variety. I have fair recollection of the Eiffel Tower as I ascended
it twice or thrice. There was a restaurant on the first platform,
and just for the satisfaction of being able to say that I had had my
lunch at a great height, I threw away seven shillings on it.
The ancient churches of Paris are still in my memory. Their grandeur and
their peacefulness are unforgettable. The wonderful construction of
Notre Dame and the elaborate decoration of the interior with its
beautiful sculptures cannot be forgotten. I felt then that those who
expended millions on such divine cathedrals could not but have the
love of God in their hearts.
I had read a lot about the fashions and frivolity of Paris. These were in
evidence in every street, but the churches stood noticeably apart
from these scenes. A man would forget the outside noise and bustle
as soon as he entered one of these churches. His manner would
change, he would behave with dignity and reverence as he passed
someone kneeling before the image of the Virgin. The feeling I had
then has since been growing on me, that all this kneeling and prayer
could not be mere superstition; the devout souls kneeling before the
Virgin could not be worshipping mere marble. They were fired with
genuine devotion and they worshipped not stone, but the divinity of
which it was symbolic. I have an impression that I felt then that by
this worship they were not detracting from, but increasing, the
glory of God.
I must say a word about the Eiffel Tower. I do not know what purpose it
serves today. But I then heard it greatly disparaged as well as
praised. I remember that Tolstoy was the chief among those who
disparaged it. He said that the Eiffel Tower was a monument of man's
folly, not of his wisdom. Tobacco, he argued, was the worst of all
intoxicants, inasmuch as a man addicted to it was tempted to commit
crimes which a drunkard never dared to do; liquor made a man mad,
but tobacco clouded his intellect and made him build castles in the
air. The Eiffel Tower was one of the creations of a man under such
influence. There is no art about the Eiffel Tower. In no way can it
be said to have contributed to the real beauty of the Exhibition.
Men flocked to see it and ascended it as it was a novelty and of
unique dimensions. It was the toy of the Exhibition. So long as we
are children we are attracted by toys, and the Tower was a good
demonstration of the fact that we are all children attracted by
trinkets. That may be claimed to be the purpose served by the Eiffel
Tower.