Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-05-06
Novel Application of Electricity.

Robert Houdin, the greatest preStid -
tateur of modern times lives in charm
ing mansion called the s. Priory," in the
village of Saint Gervais, upon the right
bank of the Loire. about one and 4 half
miles from the city of Blois. His dwell
ling, with spacious grounds surrounding 1t
are believed by the common people of the
vicinity to be controlled by some myster-
Gus agent; and. in their eyes the owner
has an almost supernatural reputation,
The main entrance to the
Priory is a carriage-way closed by gate.
Upon the left of this is a door for the ad
mission of visitors on foot on the right is
placed letter-box The mansion is situ-
ated a quarter of mile distant, and is ap
preached by a broad and winding road,
well shaded with trees The visitor pre-
senting himself before the door on the left
sees gilt plate bearing the name of Rob
ert Houdin. below which is small gilt
knocker He raises this according to his
fancy. but no matter how feeble the blow.
a delicately tuned chime of bells, sounding
through the mansion, announces his pres
ence When the attendant touches bot
ton placed in the hall, the chime ceases,
the bolt at the entrance Is thrown back,
the name of Robert Houdin disappears
from the door and in its place appears the
word entrez in white enamel. The Wis
itor pushes open the door and enters ::
it closes with a spring behind him, and he
cannot depart without permission. This
door, in opening, sounds two distinct
chimes, which are repeated in the inverse
order in closing, Four distinct sounds
then, separated by equal intervals. are
produced In this way single visitor is
announced. If many come together, as
each holds the door open for the next, the
interval between the first two and the last
two strokes indicates with great accuracy,
especially to a practiced ear, the number
who have entered: and the preparation
for their reception is made accordingly.
A resident of the place is readily dis
tinguished; for, knowing in advance what
is to occur, he knocks, and at the instant
when the bolt slips back, he enters. The
four cquidistapt strokes follow Immediately
the pressing Of the button. But a new
visitor, surprised at the appearance of the
word " entrez," hesitates second or two !;
then presses open the door gradually and
enters slowly. The four strokes, now
separated by a short interval, succeed the
pressing of the button by quite an ap-
preciable time, and the host makes ready
to receive a stranger The travelling beg
gar, fearful of committing some lndls-
cretion, raises timidly the knocker he
hesitates to enter. and when he does, 1T Is
only with great slowness and caution.
This the chimes unerrlngly announce. 1t
seems to persons at the house as if they
actually saw the poor mendicant pass the
entrance and in going to meet him, they
are never mistaken. When a carriage ar
rives at thr Priory, the driver descends
from his box, enters the door by the
method row described, and is directed to
the key of the gate by a suitable inscrip-
ton He unlocks the gate, and swings
open its two parts; the movement is an
nounced at the house, and on a table in
the hall, bearing the words, g The gate is
- appears the word "open " or
closed" according to the fact. The let
ter-box, too, has an electric communication
with the house. The carrier, previously
instructed, drops in first all the print ed
matter together; then be adds the letters,
one by one. Each addition sounds the
chime and the owner, even if he has not
vet risen, is apprised of the character of
/ his dispatches. To avoid sending letters
to the village, they are written in the even
ing; and commutator is so arranged that
when the carrier drops the mail into the
box the next morning, the electricity, in
plac, of sounding the chime in the house
sounds one over his head. Thus warned