The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-09 00:00:00

RUBEN'S HALL, BOLD STREET.

Tug AUTOMATA.—In the entertainment at the Queen's
Hall, Bold•street, there are some very curious automata
exhibited, and a word or two on the subject of these
curious contrivances, may not be out of place just now.
Automata—a word which signifies machines which have
the power of motion within themselves—have always
enlisted the attention of the scientific, as well ar the
unscientific, world; and the extraordinary powers
exhibited in some of these machines, have excited wonder
in the extreme. Automata may be divided into three
classes—simple, •compound, and fictitious. The first com.
prises insulated automata, whose movements are produced
by mechanism alone; the second, such as are moved by
machinery and human agency; and the third, 'such as are
directed and controlled solely by the assistance of a con-
cealed confederate.

The most remarkable automata in the world are
attached to the cluck of Strasbourg Cathedral. These
were made by two ingenious artists, named Dasipodius
and Walkinstenius, in the year 1671. This clock has a
great many movements, and numbers of figures which
indicate the various changes of the moon, earth, the
appearance of comets, &c.
In the fourteenth century, James Dondi constructed a
clock for the city of Padua which was long considered
one of the wonders of the age. The clock at Lyons was
a most ingenious production it was constructed by
Lip pius Basle, and was repaired in the seventeenth century
by Nourisson. The royal apartments at Versailles once
contained a most remarkable automatonic clock. Auto-
matic figures were constructed by the ancients. Mention
is made that:Arehytus, of Tarentum, who lived 400 years
before Christ, constructed a pigeon that would fly. The
French have been celebrated for their automata, and we
believe that the clown performing at Queen's Hall is of
French manufacture.

There was a Frenchman, named Maillardes, who wag in-
genious, and directed his attention to producing motion in
in figures of beasts and birds, some of which are said to
have been most true to nature. John Muller, of Nurem-
burg (a city at all times famous for its production of toys,
&c.). constructed an eagle that flew up in the air to meet
the Emperor Maxirniliae. About a century and a half
ago a mechanician, named Precher, constructed an
automaton for Lou's XIV., which represented an opera,
with the actors complete. This monarch had constructed
for hire a little easels drawn by two horses ; there was a
lady inside, and behind were a servant and a page—the
horses moved their legs in the most natural manner—and
when the coach stopped the page got down, opened the
door, and the lady stepped out, presenting the king with a
petition, after which she made an obeisauce, stepped into
her carriage, which was then driven off. This was made
by M. Cannes, who published a description of his work.
Vaucauson was a celebrate] automaton maker. A duck,
constructed by him, was considered a perfect wonder. It
not only eat food, but is said to have digested it ! A flute
player made by him excited the admiration of the scientiflo
world, as well as the lovers of the marvellous. He also
constructed a pipe and a tabor player that created an
equal degree of delight as his flute player. Maillordet, of
whom mention has been made, constructed a piano-forte
player, which would continue playiug for an hour; and
also a soothsayer, which created great astonishment by
its predictions. Maelzal, investor of the metronome,
made a most ingenious automaton, representing an
Austrian dragoon trumpeter, which executed several
marches with an astonishing effect. The automaton chess
player, as it was called, made by DeKempelen in 1769,
excited an immense sensation at the time it was produced ;
and it was not for some time before the ingenious impos-
ture of it was discovered, and the confederacy of the
skilful player who was shut up in it, discovered.
Having thus mentioned some of the most remarkable
automata that have been constructed, we may
draw attention to the clown exhibited at Mr. Hoff-
man's entertainment. This little figure is put on a
swing, on which he performs a variety of evolutions,
tourbillons, and gymnastic exercises—at times appearing
simply to sit on the bar without holding on to it, while at
others he swings to and fro in a most wonderfully graceful
manner. It is certainly well worth seeing, and Is a most
ingenious little figure, as not only exciting surprise, but
amusement, by its very comical attitudes, and the ease
with which it goes through its evolutions.

LONG TALKED OF COMING AT LAST-THE LION

SLAYER AT HOME.