Electrical instruments exhibited at the 1881 Paris Electrical Exhibition; including a tramway, an electric boat and an electric chair. Wood engraving by A. Marie, 1881.

"The Electrical Exhibition at Paris. One of the chief objects of interest to the general public in the Paris Electrical Exhibition is the electrical tramway, which runs from the building to the Place de la Concorde--a distance of about a quarter of a mile. Some weeks since we illustrated the Siemens railway at the Crystal Palace. This car is constructed by the same inventor and is worked on precisely the same principle, save that the electrical current which sets in motion the electromagnetic machine on the car, by which the wheels are driven, is conducted from the stationary machine by means of overhead wires, instead of through the rails themselves. The contact is made by two projecting arms from the roof of the car. The reason for this change is the complete absence of danger to passing horses, who, in crossing the lines, might make contact, and be somewhat alarmed at the unexpected shock. Such an accident, we believe, did actually happen at Berlin. The photographic saloon is a very favourite resort of the curious, who crowd densely to watch the process of taking portraits by the electric light. The rays of a strong lamp are caught and reflected on the sitter by means of a huge concave parabolic mirror, and are somewhat equalised by various other reflecting screens. In the centre of the great hall stands the huge lighthouse which we illustrated some weeks since, and round the base, a circular moat has been formed, in which M. Trouvé drives his electrical boat. This little craft is the size of a medium rowing boat, and is propelled by means of a screw in the stern, the motive power being furnished by strong batteries. As the water is perfectly calm and still the boat moves at a very fair pace, but we do not know of what value the invention would be against a strong stream. There are various species of "electrical musicians " of which the two principal are an automati piano organ, which is ground by an electric motor, and a "musician proper," which plays the piano. This last consists of a set of numerous fingers, which press down the keys being worked by the pianist at any distance he pleases. Thus for the future Messrs. Liszt or Hans von Bülow can make pianoforte tours of the whole world without moving from their own homes. This is the instrument illustrated in our sketch, but we may mention yet another invention by which the music played can be noted down, so that an "inspired" rhapsodist can have his impromptus carefully registered for the benefit of future audiences. Our artist's sketch "Which is mine?" is one of the most characteristic humours of the exhibition. Bells and gongs abound in all the upper galleries, and can be rung at pleasure by visitors by means of little knobs lower down. The difficulty is as half-a-dozen persons are simultaneously ringing half-a-dozen bells, to find which particular instrument you yourself are setting in motion. In "Sparks " our artist has depicted a scene familiar in every lecture room, the machine being the old "cylinder" of our childhood, while in the "Electrical chair " he has shown a visitor "being electrified" in one of the most modern contrivances, much to the amusement of an admiring audience."—The graphic. loc. cit.