The fountains and _jets d'eau_ are entitled to special notice, although
in extent and variety they are far exceeded by those of Versailles. The
arrangement of the principal cascade is well contrived, and I had the
good fortune to be present at the moment the water commenced flowing,
which continued but a short time. This struck me as a singular piece of
mimicry, and compared with those truly-sublime spectacles--the cascades
of Nature--the boasted works of St. Cloud seemed mere playthings, like
the little falls which children contrive in running brooks; or at best
resembling hydraulic exhibitions on an extensive scale. The playing
commenced by a jet bursting from a point almost secluded by trees, which
appeared on a level with the first story of the palace; the stream then
fell into stone basins, and by turns threw itself aloft, or gushed from
the mouths of numberless marine animals, and descended by glassy falls
into a basin, whence it found its way into several vase-shaped forms,
and again descended by magnificent cascades, discharging themselves into
a large, circular tank or basin, with two strong jets throwing their
limpid streams many feet high. In the sculptured forms there is some
display of classic design; and the effect of many mouths and forms
gushing forth almost instantaneously was altogether that of magic art,
not unaided by the lines of trees on two sides being clipped or cut into
semi-arched forms. The most powerful of the fountains is, however, a
grand jet, characteristically named the _Geant_, or giant, for the
incredible force with which it springs from its basin, and rises 125
feet high, being more than the elevation of Napoleon's triumphal column,
in the Place Vendôme, at Paris. An uninterrupted view of these
exhibitions may be enjoyed from the river, which runs parallel with the
road adjoining the park. Crowds flocked from all directions to witness
the first gush of the fountains; but their attention soon became
directed to a royal party attended by footmen, from the palace, who came
to witness the sights of the fair, and appeared especially amused with a