When Napoleon had decided that a stupendous fountain should occupy the
centre of the area where the celebrated state prison of the Bastille
stood, the several artists, employed by the government, were ordered to
prepare designs for the undertaking, and numerous drawings were in
consequence sent in for the emperor's inspection. On the day appointed,
he proceeded to examine these specimens, not one of which, however,
proved at all commensurate with the vast idea he had in contemplation;
wherefore, after pacing the chamber a few minutes, Napoleon suddenly
halted, exclaiming: "Plant me a colossal elephant there, and let the
water spout from his extended trunk!" All the artists stood astonished
at this bold idea, the propriety and grandeur of which immediately
flashed conviction upon their minds, and the only wonder of each was,
that no such thought should have presented itself to his own
imagination: the simple fact is, _there was but one Napoleon
present_!--_Communicated to Ireland by David._
This fountain was modeled in Plaster of Paris on the spot. It is
seventy-two feet in height; the _jet d'eau_ is through the nostrils of
his trunk; the reservoir in the tower on his back; and one of his legs
contains the staircase for ascending to the large room in the inside of
his belly. The elephant was to have been executed in bronze, with tusks
of silver, surrounded by lions of bronze, which were to spout water from
one cistern to another.