Chapter 220 The World's Fair



The sun had just begun to rise over the city of Paris, casting a golden glow over the rooftops and the streets below. As the first light of day illuminated the city, crowds of people began to gather at the gates of the World's Fair, eager to witness the grand opening of one of the greatest spectacles of the modern age.

The air was filled with the sound of excited chatter and laughter as people jostled for position, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the grand entrance. And there it was, the centerpiece of the fair - the Eiffel Tower - rising high into the sky, its intricate iron lattice shining in the early morning sun.

The President of France, Marie François Sadi Carnot, stood at the head of the crowd, waiting for the moment to begin the ceremony. He was flanked by his cabinet members, foreign dignitaries, and other important guests. As the clock struck 9 am, a hush fell over the crowd, and the president stepped forward to deliver his speech.

"My fellow citizens, and esteemed guests from around the world," President Carnot began, his voice carrying over the quiet murmurs of the crowd. "Today, we stand here, witnessing the opening of one of the greatest exhibitions of our time - a testament to human ingenuity and progress."

As the president spoke, the crowd listened intently, their eyes fixed on him. The air was electric with anticipation, and everyone knew that they were about to witness something truly historic.

"As we look around us," the president continued, "we see the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. The Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Machinery Hall - these are just a few of the many wonders that await us inside the gates of this great fair."

The president's words were met with cheers and applause from the crowd, and he smiled, knowing that his message had been well-received.

"Let us remember," he said, his voice rising above the noise of the crowd, "that this fair is not just a celebration of our achievements, but a call to action - a reminder that we must continue to strive for progress, to work towards a better tomorrow."

As the president finished his speech, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause once again. They knew that they were a part of something historic - a moment that would be remembered for years to come.

And so, with the president's words ringing in their ears, the crowd surged forward, eager to explore the wonders that awaited them inside the gates of the World's Fair. They walked past the Eiffel Tower, marveled at the Palace of Fine Arts, and gazed in awe at the Machinery Hall, where the latest technological marvels were on display.

And on that Machinery Hall was the company staff of the Axelsen & Nielsen Company. Poul, Jonathan, and the engineers they brought to Paris introduced them to a variety of inventions. The electrical appliances, the latest steam locomotive devices, and one that caught all of the attention of the people passing by the automobile. 

People kept staring at the automobile, wondering how they work. Others thought that it was some sort of a display to attract more visitors to the fair. Poul and Jonathan, seeing the fascination of the crowd, decided to give a demonstration of how the automobile worked.

"Okay gentlemen and ladies, gather around as we will do a demonstration on how this beauty works," Poul walked forward, waving his hand as he greeted the visitors. 

"Let me introduce myself, my name is Poul Nielsen, one of the founders of the Axelsen and Nielsen Companies that I wouldn't bother to name one by one due to their numbers but, we are actually looking into starting a new type of enterprise, a one that revolves around this beauty of art," Poul explained as he walked around the automobile. 

"I'll have my partner to demonstrate, Mr. Axelsen, please enter the vehicle. We don't want to keep our visitors waiting too long," 

As Poul introduced Jonathan, he walked towards the front of the automobile and lifted the hood. He then pulled out a metal rod that was tucked under the front of the vehicle.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is how we start the automobile. Just this simple hand crank," Jonathan said, holding up the metal rod for the crowd to see.

He walked towards the front of the automobile and inserted the metal rod into a small opening on the engine. Jonathan then gave the crank a few turns, and the engine sputtered to life.

The sound of the motor caught the attention of the crowd, and they gathered around to watch the demonstration. Jonathan got back into the driver's seat and shifted the gears, getting ready to showcase the automobile's maneuverability.

Slowly, he drove the automobile around the Machinery Hall, turning left and right, showcasing its speed and agility. The crowd was in awe, and they cheered and clapped as the automobile passed by them. 

"Amazing, how can it run without something pulling it?" one of the visitors asked.

"Must be like a steam engine, but I don't see any smoke billowing out from the chimneys. Wait there's no chimneys…how is it running?" 

"You stupid, there's no way a steam engine is running that car, it will need a huge boiler. There's no boiler so it must be something else," the other visitors said.

Jonathan heard the visitors' discussion and decided to explain. He slowed down the automobile and rolled down the window, gesturing to the curious onlookers to come closer.

"Excuse me, folks, but this is not powered by steam or horses," Jonathan said, smiling. "This is a gasoline-powered automobile, one of our latest inventions."

He stepped out of the vehicle, allowing the visitors to see the interior. As the visitors gathered around the automobile, Jonathan began to explain the inner workings of the gasoline-powered vehicle. He pointed out the engine and the various components that made it run.

The visitors were fascinated, and they bombarded Jonathan with questions about the automobile. They asked about its top speed, how far it could travel on a tank of gas, and how much it cost.

Jonathan answered each question with a smile, clearly enjoying the attention. He explained that the automobile could travel at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and that it could travel up to 200 miles on a tank of gas. As for the cost, he said that it was still being determined, as the automobile was a new invention and the company was still figuring out how much it would cost to produce.

As the demonstration came to an end, Poul stepped forward to address the crowd once again. "Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you have enjoyed this demonstration of our latest invention," he said. "We are proud to introduce the world to the gasoline-powered automobile, and we hope that it will revolutionize the way we travel."

The visitors clapped and cheered, and many of them approached Poul and Jonathan to ask more questions or to express their admiration for the new invention. Poul and Jonathan were both pleased with the response, and they knew that they had something truly special on their hands.

However, one individual noticed that one section was surrounded by a crowd of people. Curious, he headed towards there.