The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-09-29
MisGGllaneons.
THE AUT0MAT0N
CHESS PLAYER.

Worousky was q Russian officer who had
headed revolt and only escaped from the scene
of its suppression with pair of broken thighs.
Cured with the loss of both limbs by kind
hearted DR.. Osloff, he fell uhdef the notice of a
friend Of that person, a L. de Kempeln vi
ennese mechanician, who centrived what would
at once obtain Worouskys escape out of the
county. save Osloff from the consequences of his
humane interference, and furnish future means
of living for the former. He constructed piece
of mechanism, in which Worousky's extraordi-
nary talents for chess playing should be taken
advantage of. "The automaton represented
Turk of the natural size, wearing the national
costume, and seated behind box of the shape of
chest Of drawers In the middle of the top
of the box was chess board. Prior to COM
mencing the game, the artist opened several
doors in the chest and M. Osloffcould see large
number of wheels, pulleys, cylinders, springs,
etc., occupying the larger part At the same
time, he opened long drawer, from which he
produced the chessmen, and cushion, on
which the Turk was to rest his arm. The ex-
animation ended the robe of the automaton was
raised and the interior of the body could also be
inspected The doors being then closed, M.
a key he inserted in hole in the chest after
which the Turk, with gentle nod of salutation.
placed his hand on one of the pieces, raised it,
deposited it on another square, and laid his arm
on the cushion before him. The inventor had
stated that, as the automaton could not speak
it would signify check to the king by three mods,
and to the queen by two
The doctor moved in his turn, and waited
patiently till his adversary, whose movements
had all the dignity of the sultan he represented,
had moved. The game, though slow at first,
soon grew animated, and the doctor found he
had to deal witha tremendous opponent; for,
in spite of all his efforts to defeat the figure, his
game was growing quite desperate. 1t is true,
though, that for some minutes past the doctors
attention appeared to be distracted and one idea
seemed to occupy him. But while hesitating
whether he should impart his thoughts to his
friend, the figure gave three mods. The game
was over.
{" By Jove I the loser said, with a tinge of
vexation, which the sight of the inventors face
soon dispelled; if were not certain Worousky
S at this moment in bed I should believe had
been playing with him. His head alone is ca
pable of inventing such acheck- mate And be-
sides, the doctor said, looking fxedly at NJ de
Kempelin, can you tell me why your antomaton
plays with his left hand, just like Worousky r."
This popularity has always been attributed to
the carelessness of the constructor, and M. Os-
loft was of the same opinion, until Kempelin
raised the robe of the Turk, and displayed the
poor cripple stored away in its body, having
crept thither after the inspection Of the automa-
ton by the spectator, and while the box and ma
chinery were being examined. The three friends
were the more delighted as the instrument prom
ised to furnish Worousky with a mode of escape
out of the Russian domnions, as well as to insure
him livelihood. That very evening their plans
were arranged and in order to arouse no sus-
pieion, performances were to be given in all the
towns through which they passed. These ex-
hibitions were only too successful, and the EN-
press Catharine, excited by the wonderful re-
port Of them, insisted upon having the automa-
ton at the palace The unfortunate rebel, upon
whose head she had set SO many rubles, was
obliged to obey, although it took himself and
caravan no less than fifteen days to travel from
Vitebsk to st. Petersburg and the match with
the Empress herself came off before the court.
1.-THE skilful Mussulman captured bishop
and a knight, and the game was turned much
to the disadvantage of the lady, when the Turk,
suddenly forgetting his dignifed gravity, gave
violent blow on the cushion, and pushed back
piece his adversary had just moved Catha-
rine H. had attempted to cheat perhaps to
try the skill Of the automaton, or for some other
reason. At any rate, the naughty empress, I'M
willing to confess her weakness, replaced the
piece on the same square, and regarded the au-