Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-06-18

I
functions achieved under Z 2 present system, by
means of the admirable mechanical construction
70 the knee and ANGLE. Our philosopher had spent
years IN endeavoring TO obviate this great incOn-
vemencc and though he had undoubtedly made
greater progress than any body else, il was not
/ till now tt.t be believed himself completely mas
ter of the Great secret His first attempt to carry
! it into execution, was 70 be in the leg he was
about 10 make for Mynheer Won Nodenblock.
/ Il was onthe evening of the sixth day from that
4 to which have already alluded, that with his
magic leg, carefully packed up, the acute artisan
| again mad his appearance before the expecting
! end impatient WodenbloCk. There was a proud
twinklmg IN Turnmgyort gray eye, which seem
| ed TO indicate that he valued even the thousand
glineas. which he intended for Blanche's mari
age portion, less than the celebrity, the glory, the
| immortality. Of which he was at length so sure
He united the precious bundle, and spent some
hours in displaying and explaining to the delight
ed bureher the number of additions he had made
to the Internal machinery, and the purpose which
each was intended to serve.
The evening wore away in these discussions,
/ concerning wheels within wheels and springs.
When II was time TO retire to rest, both were
equally satisfied of the perfection OF the work;
and at his employer request, the artist consented
10 remain where he was for the remainder OF the
nioht. In order that next morning he might tit on
the limb, and see how it performed its duty.
Early the next morning all the necessary ar
! ranger',eDts we're completed; and Mynheer Won
Wodenbloc walked forth to the street in ecstacy,
blessing the inventive powers Of one who was
able 10 make SO excellent a hand of his leg Il
seemed. indeed, to act 20 his admiration, In the
merchant S mode of walking there was no Stiffness,
no effort. no consraint-al the Joints performed
their office without the and Of either bone or mus
Gle. Nobody. not even a counolsseur IN lame
ness. would have suspected that there was any
thing uncommon, any great collection OF accurate
Nv adjusted clock work under the full well sashcd
lpantaloons of the substantial looking buchanan.
Had it not been for a slight tremelous motion,
occasioned by the rapid whirling Of ~ small
wheels in the interior, and constant clicking,
ike that Of a watch, though somewhat louder
he would even himself have forgotten that be was
not in all respects as he used to be- before ne had
lifted his right foot to bestow parting beuedic-
! tion on his poor relation.
lie walked along in the renovated buoyancy of
his spirits. TIL he had come IN sight of the Stadt
House; and Just at the foot Of the fight Of steps
that led mp TO the principal door he saw his old
| friend Mynheer Fanoutern, waiting to receive
! him. lie quickoncd his pace, and both mutually
held out theirhands 20 each other, By way OF con-
graduation, before they were near enough TO be
clasped In friendly embrace. At last the merchant
reached the spot where FauOuteru stood; but
what was TINS mans astonlshment to see him,
Though he held out his hand, pass quickly by,
without toepmg even 10 say SLOW do you doi
Yet so it was but it was no fault Of our hero S.
His own establishment was a thousand times great
en- when he found that he hadno power to deter
mine either when, where, or how his legs were
to movel As long as his own wishes happened
Itocoincide with the manner IN which the machIn-
ery seemed destined to operate, all had gone on
smoethlv; and he had mistaken his own tacit
! compliance with It's Independent and apparently
self acting powers for a command over II which
| he found he did not posses. 1t bad been his most
anxious desire 10 stop to speak with Alynhecr
Vauouiern; but his leg moved on, and he was
under the necessity of following It. Many an
attenpt did ne make to sacken bis pace, butevery
latempt was vain. He caught hold Of rails, walls
and houses; but BIS leg ugged so violently that
me was afraid of dsiocating his arm, and was
obliged TO go ON.
/ lie began TO get seriously uneasy, as to the con-
/ sequences oftLis most unexpected turn which mat
GERS had taken; and his only hope was, that the a-
mszing and unknown powers, which the compli-
Gated construction of his leg seemed TO possess
would speedily exhaust themselves; of this, how
ever. he could rs yet discoverno symptoms. He
/ happened TO be In the direction Of the Leydeu
canal. and when he came in sight of Mynhecr
! Tmnngyou's house he called loudly upon the ar.
| tfcer to come to his assistance. The artifcer
! looked out from his window with face of won.
|der-eRascall" cried Wodenbock, ''come ont
/ 20 me this Instant You have made me a lee witt
/ a vengemce-It wont stand still for a moment
| I have been walking strait forward ever since
! left my house; and unless you stop me yourself
heaven knows how much further l may walk
/ Don't stand gaping there, but come out and re-
! leve me, OF j shall be out OF sight and YOU vii
not be able TO overtake me.
The Alechanicin grew very pale, he was ev
| lenty not prepared for this new difficulty. HC
/ lost not amoment however, in following the mer
chant, 10 do what he could towards exricain.
him from so awkard predicameut.
The merchant or rather the merchants leg
was walking very quick; and Tumingvort bein.
an elderly man. found it no easy matter TO make uT
to him. tie did so, at last nevertheless and catch
ing him IN his arms lifted him entirely from thl
! ground. But the stratagom, Of so may be called
did not succeed, for the innate prope.Img motion
Of the lee hurried him along with his bunhen, al
the same rate as before. lie set him. therefore
down again; and STOPPING, pressed violently Oh
one ofthe springs that protuded a little behind
In an instantthe Mynheer Won Wodenblock wa.
ofGke an arrow; calling ont In the most piteou:
accents, Il ann lost / am lost am possessed by
the devil in the shape of a cork leg stop me; fol
Heavens sake stop mel am breatblessl am faint
ling. VIII no body shatter my leg to pieces
ITurningyortl Turningv0rt! you have murdered
me"
The artist, peTplexed and confouRded was hard
! " in a situation more 10 be enyied Scarcely
! knowing what be did, he fell upon his knees
clasped bis hands and with strained and starting
eve balls looked after the richest merchant in Rot
terdsm. running with the speed of an enraged
Buffalo, away along the canal towards Leyden,
and believing as loudly as his exhaustion would
/ permit.
Levdenis more than twenty miles from Rotter-