Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-05-26
AutOmatOn Extraordinary.

A great number will readily remember
what a sensation was created in Europe two
years ago, by the appearance of an automa-
ton, invented by Professor Faber, Of Munich,
Bavaria. 1t could articulate a number of
words, and perform some very extraordinary
feats. The Professor spent some 81 years
in the construction of his image, and though
it exhibited much Ingenuity, still we could
not but consider that the Professor had
wasted for 81 years his genius and time and
wealth upon a trifle light as air. Mechanical
ingenuity nevertheless, always excites atten-
tion, and regret is mingled with admiration
for the productions of man, although no re-
suit of any utility or benefit to the world
may be the consequence. Who has not
heard of the German philosopher, who, in
his desire to create a fellow mortal, created
his own evil genii. A late Augsburgh paper
announces that DR.. Lube, of that city, has
invented an artificial man, which throws
Professor Faber's in the shade, and seems
to be almost life itself. A visitor who writes
to the Augsbnrgh German Gazette, was in
vited with a friend to visit the Doctors
Sanctum. They beheld him seated at a key
board similar TO that of a piano. forte, and
nearly in the centre of the room was a
fashionably dressed young man, whom the
Doctor introduced as a Mr.. Eisenbrass, who
wished the visitors good morning, and re-
manned standing until they were seated. At
first the conversation was upon the ordinary
topics of the day-Mr. Eisenbrass Joined in
with an occasional remark, but TO which the
Doctor paid very little attention, and kept
amusing himself with the keys of the instru-
ment, at which he was seated, yet without
producing any sound. This surprised the
visitors, and one said, Doctor your instru-
ment does not seem inclined TO be musical at
present. This brought a laugh from the
Doctor, which was echoed by Mr.. Eisen-
brass, in such an unearthly and comical
manner that the visitors had to laugh also,
although they felt the laugh to be at their
own expense. As soon as the visitors be-
came calm, the Doctor rose from his seat,
and taking them calmly by the hand, said,
Pardon me my dear friends, for having
played an innocent prank upon you.-Mr.
Eisenbrass is the Automaton | invited you
here to see and being the first who had seen
1t, | could not resist a sort of paternal desire
of showing it off, as fond parents always do
their first born children. They looked at the
Doctor, then at Mr.. Eisenbrass, and again at
the Doctor, TO see if he was not quizzing.-
There sat Mr.. f. immovable, with his eyes
fixed on the floor, while the Doctor seemed
almost bursting with delight. They looked
again. 81 see," said he, "you are incredu-
lous, let me convince you," and seating him
self at the instrument again, and touching
the keys, Mr.. +. Immediately became ami
mated, and laughed and talked quite %fuently.
The Doctor then rose and explained the
whole affair. When Professor Faber com
pleted his speaking automaton, DR.. Lube
conceived the idea of constructing an artif-
cial man, and placing within it a modifica-
ton OF the apparatus of Professor Faber, to
be operated like voltaic electricity, but in
tended to initiate to a greater extent, the
power of speech than the Professor had done.
The idea once conceived was Immediately act
ed upon. The bones ola human subject were
procured and clothed with a complete mus
cular system, composed of vulcanized caout-
chouc. The consummate anatomical know
ledge of DR.. Lube enabled him 10 do this
with great success, at the same time adding
a perfect system of nerves, made of fine plan
tinum wire covered with silk 1t is I'M
doubtedly known to most of our readers that
the muscles of animals act by an enlarge
ment and contraction in the middle, pro-
duced by the will acting through the nerves.
These efforts are initiated by placing in the
centre of each muscle electro magnets, with
delicate machinery attached, to be worked by
galvanlc currents through the platinum wires
or nerves, which were connected with the
battery, and the keyboard of the instrument
above referred 10. So all that was necesSa-
ry to produce a certain action in the figure,
or make it give forth particular sounds, was
to touch the required key-as in certain de.
scriptions of Telegraphs, and the required
result was sure to follow. As a matter Of
course, the accomplishment of all this was a
matter of no small difficulty and ordinary
minds would have shrunk from undertaking
it. But DR.. Lube, with a zeal and perseve.
renee worthy of all imitation, has mastered
every obstacle, and produced a work tht
most extraordinary ever constructed by NOR
; tai man.-Scientifc american.