Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 413 This is... Paris?
The following day, Parisian newspapers were almost entirely dominated by the same name.

The front page of Le Figaro was headlined "Thomas Edison lights up Paris," accompanied by a woodcut illustration of the 27-ton "monster" generator, the words brimming with reverence for industrial power.

The article claims that Edison's demonstration "not only captivated our eyes, but also our imagination of the future."

Furthermore, it was emphasized that the five-day declaration of light marked the transformation of the electric light from a "novelty toy for the rich" into a "practical invention that is about to enter thousands of households."

The Little Daily, with its more colloquial and provocative style, vividly portrayed the shock and ecstasy of the audience witnessing "another sun" rise in the Industrial Palace.

They devoted an entire page to an illustration of the "lighthouse" made up of 1,200 incandescent bulbs, the light seemingly bursting through the paper.

The report repeatedly emphasized the number "120 hours of continuous operation," portraying it as an undeniable symbol of reliability and implying that Edison's system would be the only option for Paris to become a "city that never sleeps."

While the Times' commentary was more cautious, the overall tone remained optimistic.

The article analyzes the potential social changes brought about by the Edison system—extending working hours, altering urban nightlife, and improving public safety…

They also believe that the French government should actively intervene and seize this opportunity presented by the technological leap.

Le Gaul went so far as to call for: "It's time to seriously consider incorporating Edison's patents into the national strategy! We cannot fall behind the United States in the race for electricity."

An optimistic mood permeated the city of Paris.

All day long, in cafes, salons, and stock exchanges, people talked about Edison, the light bulb, and the tangible light of the future.

Parisians are once again collectively captivated by novelties!

The rumors spread like wildfire.

Well-informed sources confidently stated that the judging committee of the International Electricity Exposition has reached a consensus to award the highest honor, the "Gold Medal," to Thomas Edison.

Even more surprisingly, rumors have been leaked from some ministerial offices that the French government is discussing spending a huge sum to acquire Edison's electric lighting system patents and to build France's first national-level central power plant.

Their goal is to make Paris the first city to be fully electrified.

Capital also keenly sensed the opportunity, and some bankers and industrial giants began to privately contact Edison's representatives to explore the possibility of cooperation.

Within just a few days, Thomas Edison stood on the threshold of conquering one of the most important markets in Europe.

Amid this almost unanimous storm of public opinion, only Le Parisien mentioned it in a report:

It is understood that "Sorel-Tesla Electric" has a booth in the east exhibition hall on the second floor of the Industrial Palace at this year's International Electricity Expo.

The exhibition area has been covered by a mysterious black cloth for over a week, and its contents will be revealed tomorrow.

Mr. Lionel Sorel will surely bring us a unique presentation unlike anything we've seen in traditional industry.

For most readers, the name "Lionel Sorel" is certainly a household name—after all, it has been less than three weeks since he garnered such acclaim at the Palace of Justice.

But a writer, a playwright, dabbling in electricity? It sounds more like a literary figure dabbling out of curiosity, or some kind of performance art.

Electricity belongs to names like Edison, Siemens, and Gram; it belongs to steel, coils, carbon filaments, and precise calculations… it is far removed from novels, plays, and aesthetic speculation.

Therefore, the news did not attract much real attention and was quickly drowned out by the wave of news about Thomas Edison and his "Tower of Light".

The day passed quickly, and the International Power Expo remained as lively as ever.

On the ground floor of the Industrial Palace, Edison's exhibition area remains the center of attention.

The enormous generator roared in a deep rumble, like a tireless heart, steadily illuminating the 1,200 incandescent bulbs above, making the entire exhibition hall feel as if it were under sunlight.

Visitors looked up, their faces filled with amazement and awe.

It has become a landmark, a miracle, and a declaration that "the future has arrived"!

In the relatively quiet second-floor exhibition hall, some curious citizens, after satisfying their curiosity about Edison's "monster," began to linger at other booths.

A few of them recalled the brief news item in Le Parisien.

With the mindset of "it won't hurt to take a look," they strolled over to the "Sorel-Tesla Electric" exhibition area.

In addition, some of Lionel's most devoted fans in the literary and artistic world are also waiting here.

They weren't there for the electricity, but to support their favorite author and see what new and exciting territory he was exploring this time.

A small group of people gradually gathered in front of the exhibition area, slowly forming a circle and completely covering the booth.

This booth is quite large, almost the size of a small house, but it's not even as tall as an adult's chest, and its surface is completely flat, unlike Edison's "Tower of Light," which is almost level with the second floor of the Industrial Palace.

Then, to their surprise, they discovered that it wasn't just Lionel Sorel himself who was standing in front of the exhibition area, ready to give a presentation.

Beside him stood a small, highly influential "art salon": Émile Zola, Guy de Maupassant, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet... These illustrious figures in their respective fields were gathered together at an electricity exposition filled with copper wires, insulating porcelain insulators, and machines, making him seem like an exhibit in himself.

The onlookers looked at each other, exchanging puzzled whispers.

"Mr. Zola? What's he doing here? Is he going to incorporate electricity into his new work?"

"Monet and Renoir! Good heavens, am I in the wrong place? Is this some kind of Impressionist exhibition?"

"What's going on? This is an electricity expo! Are they trying to generate electricity with novels and paintings?"

The whispers spread like a pot of water about to boil, and the news spread rapidly like oil dropped into the water.

Reporters who were originally gathered in the Edison booth or other technology booths keenly noticed the unusual sight here—the collective appearance of cultural celebrities at a technology exhibition was news in itself.

They immediately rushed over with their notebooks, and some visitors who were just there for the spectacle followed, resulting in a considerable crowd gathering in front of the "Sorel-Tesla Electric" exhibition area.

In the ground floor exhibition hall, Thomas Edison is surrounded by a group of French, British, and German engineers, who are praising the stability and practicality of his direct current system.

He was elated and enjoying the moment of victory.

At that moment, an assistant hurried through the crowd, came to his side, whispered a few words in his ear, and briefly reported the situation on the second floor.

Thomas Edison curled his lip, revealing a disdainful expression.

He didn't even lower his voice, wanting everyone around him to hear his assessment: "Artist? Writer? Electricity is science, engineering, the result of precise calculations and reliable materials!"
Why are you using paintbrushes and quills to join in the fun? It's just attention-seeking!

He waved his hand, as if shooing away an annoying flying insect buzzing around his halo of victory.

In his eyes, the exhibition on the second floor, which was attended by literati and artists, was nothing but a farce, or even a desecration of the spirit of industry.

He firmly believes that to ultimately determine the direction of the market and technology, one must demonstrate overwhelming industrial power, just as he has!

Meanwhile, in front of the second-floor exhibition area, Lionel calmly swept his gaze over the crowd gathered in front of him, nodded slightly, and then walked directly to the exhibits covered by a thick black cloth.

The crowd fell silent on its own, and all eyes—curiosity, doubt, and anticipation—were focused on him.

Lionel began: "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. These past few days, we've all been talking about electricity, about the changes it brings, about the future."

Yesterday, Mr. Edison brilliantly demonstrated to us how dazzling the light of electricity can be, making us believe that an electric world is indeed irresistibly approaching us.

But how can electricity be delivered efficiently, stably, and economically to every remote corner that needs it?

Whether it's streetlights in the neighborhood, machines in the factory, or the ceiling in our homes... these are the real problems that the electric age needs to solve!

Today, at Sorel-Tesla Electric, we are demonstrating not just whether a light bulb can light up, but how electricity can better serve cities and people.

As he spoke, he stepped aside, placed his hand on the edge of the drooping black cloth, and then pulled hard—the heavy black cloth slid down with a sound, like a theatrical curtain rising.

In an instant, a gasp of surprise and admiration rose from the crowd, forming a small wave of sound.

What appeared before them was not the strangely shaped machine with exposed coils and sparks that most people had imagined, nor was it an enlarged version of a light bulb or switch.

It was a huge miniature landscape model, not only exquisite, but also incredibly detailed!
It occupies almost the entire 50-square-meter exhibition area, with undulating mountains, winding rivers, and crisscrossing roads, making it a precise miniature replica of the entire city of Paris!
The plaster and fine wood are used to cleverly recreate the familiar undulating terrain of the 12th arrondissement of Paris, with a "Seine" river intricately inlaid with silver foil running through the center of the model.

The river glistens, spanned by numerous miniature bridges, each designed to be a faithful reproduction of its predecessor.

The main streets, famous squares, and iconic buildings of Paris's various districts—Notre Dame Cathedral, the Pantheon, the Arc de Triomphe, Les Invalides, the City Hall, the Opera House…

Even the industrial palace they were in at that moment had been miniaturized and painted, making it incredibly lifelike.

This is a real Paris that has been shrunk by magic!
The audience craned their necks, as if trying to press themselves against the model to see every single detail, and even hoped to find their own neighborhood.

Exclamations of amazement rose and fell, making the audience behind them scratch their heads in frustration.

At this moment, Lionel made an unexpected move. He quietly took two steps to the side and pulled the Tesla, which had been "hidden" in the back, out and brought it into the center of people's sight.

Just as Tesla was filled with panic, Lionel said to everyone: "This is the creator of this masterpiece, the chief engineer of 'Sorel-Tesla Electric,' Nikola Tesla!"
I think it's his turn to press the switch on this special day!

It was only then that everyone noticed a waist-high pillar standing in front of the miniature landscape, with a red button on it.

Lionel turned to Tesla, his tone encouraging: "Nikola, this is your moment."

Nikola Tesla was so excited he almost cried; he never expected Lionel to give him such a prominent opportunity.

He stood next to the button and pressed it down with trembling hands...

(End of second update for today)
(End of this chapter)