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Show The Great Eastern has been sold again for 26,000. She does not decrease in value with age, for twenty years ago she brought 25,000. The construction of the huge vessel began in May, 1854, so that s e already belongs to a past generation. genera-tion. Like elephants of a literal sort, she has eaten off her head many times during the thirty-one years, and except ex-cept for laying a cable or two, carrying a few , regiments of troops and an occasional load of cattle, she has been a complete financial loss. Isambard Kingdom Brunei, who built her, was said to be an engineer of the French tvpe always anxious to dosome5-thing dosome5-thing unsurpassable, without regard to whether it would be profitable or not. As the fashion wears out more apparel than the man, so the engines and build of such a steamer are sure to become obsolete ob-solete in a few years, ending in a premature prema-ture and inglorious old age. The Great Eastern is" 680 feet long, and will carry 20,000 tons of coal. |