The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-01-08
The Automaton chesa.Player.

/
ing called to Vienna in the year 1863 by
the duties of his station, was present at
some experiments in magnetism by one
Pelletier. a Frenchman, who had been
to exhibit before the Empress
Maria Theresa. During the conversation
with her Majesty, De Kempelin. who had
honorably distinguished himself in the
paths of science, limited that he could |
piece of mechanism the et- |
fects of which would be more striking, |
and deception more complete, than any
thing his royal mistress had hitherto Wit |
messed. His manner in making this re-
mark excited the attention of the En-
press, who encouraged him to make the !
effort; and accordingly within few
months he re-appeared at the Court of vi
emma with the Automaton Chess-Player-
The following is a description of the APP
pearance of this figure, and of the man
ner in which the games were conducted:
On entering the apartment where it was
exhibited, the Automaton, attired in gor-
geous Oriental costume, was seen seated
behind a chess board which stood upon a
chest about three feet high, two feet wide,
and four feet long. The Automaton, the
chair upon which it sat, and the chest,
were fixed together: and, being upon cas-
tors. could be moved with facility TO any
part of the chamber. The exhibition be-
gan by opening certain doors contrived
in the chest, two in front and two in the
back, pulling out at the same time long,
shallow drawer at the bottom of the chest.
containing a set of chess-men. cushion
and some counters. Two lesser doors,
under green cloth screen, in the body
Of the figure and its lower parts, were al
so opened, and the Turkish drapery
which covered them was raised, so that
the construction both of the Automaton
and the chest appeared to be fully dis
played. In this state the whole apparatus
was moved around for the examination Of
the spectators and to banish all suspicion
from the most skeptical mind that any
living object was concealed within. alight-
ed taper was introduced into the body of
the chest and figure 10y which the interior
Of each was rendered III a great measure
transparent, and the most secret corner
apparently made visible. The same pre-
caution to remove suspicion was used at
the termination a. at the commencement
Of game Of chess with the Automaton.
The chest upon which the figure APP
peared to lean while playing, was divided
into two unequal compartments, which
were filled with wheels, springs, cylinders
and other machinery used in clockwork.
The interior of the body and lower parts
Of the body were also occupied by levers,
tubes, etc After a sufficient time, du-
ring which a spectator might satisfy his
curiosity, the exhibitor re-closed the doors,
wound up the machine, placed a cushion
under the arm of the figure, and invited
| any individual present to game Of chess.
As soon as a champion entered the lists,
| the eyes of the Automaton appeared to be
| directed to the board. and after some mo-
ments of seeming meditation it slowly
raised its arm, moved it towads the piece
| to be played suspended its hand over it
for an instant, then grasped it firmly be
tween the fingers and placed it on the des-
tined square. If a piece was captured, the
| same process was gone through and at
| every move noise as of wheels and
| clocllwork was heard The Automaton
always claimed the privilege of playing
first at the beginning of game. ANY at
tempt to disconcert it by q false move
| was futile. Upon the least infringement
Of the customary rules of chess, he would
tap upon the chest, replace the offending
| piece, and then proceed to take the due
| advantage of moving piece of his own.
An anecdote is recorded of Napoleon, who
| attempted to make false moves in game
with the Automaton, for the purpose of
| gratifying his curiosity; but upon a third
| repetition of the offence, the figure swept
| the pieces all off the board and refused TO
continue the game. Whenever the Auto
matOn gave check, a sound resembling
| the word check was heard; and it
| courteOusly announced an attack upon its
adversary's queen by bowing twice.
Such was the appearance and manner
of the chess automaton as exhibited III
Vienna Immediately after its invention
and in London on the occasion OF its sec
ond visit in 1919. For years the mystery
of this remarkable machine remained i'm
penetrable. During this period it visited
the capitals of England, Germany, anc
France; itwas everywhere received witt
curiosity. drew crowds of visitors, and ex
cited the liveliest feelings of surprise anc
| admiration. On returning to Berlin i
was permitted the honor of playing
game with the great Frederick himself
| De Kempelin died in 1904 and the Auto
maton came into the possession of NJ. Ma
elzel. who exhibited it for many years witt
equal success. As it vanquished nearly
every adversary, NJ. Maelzel resolved il
future to give all opponents the odds o
the pawn and move; and large number Of
the games played by the AutOmaton wer,
recorded and have been published. So fa
as we are able to ascertain, the first one VIII,
succeeded in peno ,rating this mystery wa
: a Mr.. Willis. a gentleman connected witt
| the University at Cambridge, England
| whopublished small work on the subject
, | entitled IAN Attempt to Analyze the Auto
maton Chess-Plaver." He shows in wha
manner a human being might be conceal
ed within the machine, although it wa
/. apparently thrown completely open t
| public inspection: and his work is aC
companied with drawings to demonstrat
the presence of hidden player. Mons
l. | Mouret. one of the most eminent chess
e | players of Europe, was for many years tn
secret colleague of NJ. Maelzel in the d
rection of the automaton; and he subst
y uuentlv revealed the m0duS ODerUHd, col
Is roborating the correctness of Mr.. Willis
l. coniectures. The chess-player was hiC
,r den, as Mr.. Willis supposed, within tn
!. chest. Seated upon a low stool whlc
moved on castors, be was enabled wit
5 facility to change his position as circun
l. stances might require. During the eXh
5, bition of one portion of the machinery h
a took refuge in another-sometimes in I'll
;, body of the Automaton, and at others
portion of the chest. These chang
l. were of course in obedience to a precol
Is certed arrangement, and compelled tn
: undertaking regularity in the opening AZ
!, shutting of the different doors which NJ
Willis had remarked.
Ie Perhaps the most interesting and ing
st nious part of the contrivance was Il
method by which the hidden operat
7 was made acquainted with the moves
;, his opponents and enabled torepeat the
on smaller chess-board of his own. |
e. was seated in his narrow cell immediate
I'd under the chess-board upon which t
Automaton and his antagonist made the
moves; and the reverse of this boar
which formed the ceiling over head. W
.H an exact representation of the upper sic
except that on the side presented to t
concealed player every square was nul
! bered according to the usual notati
adopted by chess-players, and was {,
$ nlshed 10y small metallic ball TIL,
'u slNty-lour little knobs or balls were s
4 pended short distance from the soma,
5 oy sllken threads; and as each Of I
" cheSs-men on the table above contained
81 magnet, the moment any one of tn,
"a was placed upon the chess-hoard il attr
dc ted the little ball suspended from the Q
ie responding square below. and fxed II
b the board, so that by the time tho n,
OF were arranged in due order for battle n
C. ty-two OF these metallic indices fbeinq /,
te number OF pieces) would be closeIy
ne taehed TO as many squares on the inside
ld the board; while the REMAINING tl,;r
lis two, denoting the vacant suuoreS ohn,
IA remained suspended to the extent of !
in thread supporting them.
It's We may now suppose the game toco
"a mence and the Automaton to omen II
lie Duly turning the handle which d;re
he the arm of the figure. and setting il, =
ed ton the springs by which the fingers !
IT. the operator sits watching the hoard n,
rn the ceiling of his cell, and, upon The III.
ye, intended TO be played being taken ~
de observes the little CORRESPONDENCE ipd
or fall as before described; and when +
ey piece is played to its destined sonare
ed also sees the ball below it attracted to |
ell board. Having completed his own mo
ana carefully repeated it on the priv,
I'M board before him, he anxiouslv awaits I
ad play OF his adversary. This is commu
ng Gated to him by the same means.
mt sees one ball decline and another ri
marks down on the board the move th
indicated, and the game in this manner
at, carried on to its conclusion. But lit
nv more remains to be explained. Duri
ife the PROCESS of the game, the hidden pl,
or was furnished with a lighted taDeP