The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-07-04
Nj | s C Z L L A N Y .
Tho Eccaleobion I'm New. York.

The following interesting account OIL
this curious affair is from one of Mrs
Child's letters 10 the Boston Courier:
Among the novelties now striving 10
arrest attention is the Eccaleobion or
Halching Machine. It's imposing name
is derived from two Greek words, 4 bring
forth life.' 1; is about as large as bu.
reau, consisting of series of small ovens,
warmed by pipes conveying steam. The
uniformity of temperature prevents the
possibility Of added eggs, which are pro-
duced by variations from heat 10 cold, &C.
casioned by the hens unsteady perform.
ance of her domestic duties. felt some
resistance to this substitution of machine
Ty for mothers; and il l were a hen, |
would get up protes: against being thus
thrust aside from the uses of creatlon.-
This is an ultimate form of the mechanic.
al spirit of the age, wherein men construct
artificial memories, and teach grammar
by machine, in which the active verb is
little hammer pounding on the objective
case.
But what is the use of quarrelling with
jt2 Does not the Eccaleobon hatch with
perfect certainty every egg that is not stale
or imperfect Does it not turn out fifty
chickens day, or twenty thousand a
year? And will not this reduce the price
of poultry to the hearts content of the ep.
icure2
These machines are sold for $3.50, and
$75 is charged for one half of the capaci.
ty of production above described Some
Of the farmers 10 Jersey and Long Island
are investing capital in this way, with the
expectation of profit.
The chickens thus Matched almost in
variably live, and Seem healthy and live
ly. When cold, they run into little holes
under the ovens. The hard, silent box
seemed 10 me poor substitute for a mo-
theirs hearl-warmth, and the friendly,
cluckipg voice which gathers them under
her brooding wings. But the little things
seemed well contented with their lot, nev-
er having known any thing better. Those
a few weeks old, though plump and lhrv-
ing, have rather a loaferish look, as if
their mothers didn't know they were out,
and, consequently, had not washed their
faces, or combed their feathers. The old
er ones sometimes take TO brooding the
ncwly-hatched, who run after them with
great eagerness, and strive with each 9th.
er TO obtain their caresses. There is
something quite affecting in this relation
between the bereaved orphans and their
elder sisters.
This American machine is doubtless
great improvement upon the famous Egyp-
tian mammals, or halching ovens, and up
on the Chinese method of using up the
men, by having them sit, day after day.
on nests of eggs, covered with feather
cushions 1t is pity, though, that the
demagogues and Office seekers of this
country couldn't be as usefully employed
Ifa 1.-THE OF them were 10 turn their aiten-
tion that way, there would be rapid dim.
mutton in the price of poultry.
The exhibition of the Eccaeobion is
principally interesting from the opporlu.
nifty it affords to watch the progressive de-
velopment of animal life, from the first lit.
tie white speck in which floats the embryo
chicken, to the final projection Of the beak
through the shell, which it has broken by
vigorous pecking at its prison walls. The
only thing in which took real pleasure,
however, Was in watching the first pulsa-
ton of the heart, which becomes observa-
bic on the third day. Though no bigger
than pins head, it works with The vigor
and precision OF steam engine.