Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-12-08
HANS SCHNAPS' SPY-GLASS.
BY NM. ERCKMANN-CHATRIAN.

At one time [ knew, at Mayence,
an honest apothecary, named Hans
Schnaps. The door of his shop opened
on to the Thiermack, and was sur
mounted by sign-board, the panels of
which were ornamented with the cadu-
ceus of Mercury and the serpentaria Of
Esculapius. AS to Hans Schnaps him
self, instead of attending to his business.
he strolled about the streets, carrying a
big spy glass under his arm, and leaving
his drugs to the care of couple of
youths in his employ.
He was singular parsonage, with a
long nose, gray eyes, and mocking lips.
From the look of his wide-brimmed felt
hat, his great coat of reddish drugget,
and his beard trimmed into a point,
you might have taken him for Flemish
painter.
[ sometimes met him at the tavern Of
the Pot de Ia6ac, on the Sell, where we
played together u game of youcker, or
chatted about the weather. Schnaps
never felt called on to give me any in
formation on the subject of his occu-
pations, and [ saw no necessity for en-
tightening him on the subject of mine
it was, in fact matter of little or no
Importance to either.
One day, Burgomaster Zacharias said
to me: -..f- i
"Doctor Benedum, you associate with
% certain Hans Schnaps."
"Quite true, burgomaster; we meet
pretty frequently"
"That Schnaps is q madman."
I;vo nayar n pOtioad II -
"Nothing is more positive instead Of
attending to his business, he goes gad-
ding about, with a spy-glass under his
arm, stopping here and there; in short,
losing his time and his customers"
"That's his affair, burgomaster what
would you have me do in it2"
"But he makes his wife unhappy"
urged the burgomaster.
"What is he married ?"
"Yes, to the daughter of draper, q
very worthy and well-to-do-man."
$50 much the better; Schnaps will
come in for some of his father-in-law'
money"
eyes; but he'll soon see the end of
it."
"With his spy-glass ?"
"No; but with his experiments.
Imagine, doctor-he's established him
self in his cellar, and fabricates there
the deuce only knows what. If, by
chance, you throw look through the
grating, you find his spy-glass leveled at
you; Schnaps eyes you with roar of
laughter-and when noon comes, his
wife is obliged to call out to him at least
four times: Hans! Hans the soup is
ready +" ...r.t s..
"Poor woman, she is very much to be
pitied"
The burgomaster suspected that was
making fun of him, but he pretended
not to see it, and proposed that we
should share pot of beer together. l
accepted his invitation, and we talked
of other matters.
These odd revelations, however, did
not the less take hold Of my attention.
What the deuce was Schnaps about in
his cellar? What was the meaning of
the spy-glass leveled at the grating
Was it a joke, or really some serious
experiment? All this kept running in
my head, and, few days later, went
to the shop for the express purpose of
finding out what [ could. It was about
nine O'clock. Madame Schnaps, dry
and nervous little woman, with dull
ewes, features generally insignificant
and i'll put together, and cap set awry
upon her head-one of those beings
who, without speaking a word, contrive
to suggest the idea that they are victims
Madame Schnaps received me behind
the counter.
"Dear madame" said to her, bow
ing graciously, with lifted hat, "Dear
madame, where can | find your hus
| band, Monsieur Schnaps?"
In the cellar" she answered, with a
pointed smile.
$50 early! u
The excellent creature appeared
charmed by my manner, and raising
her eyes directed me to a door on the
left. 80 sfa,.,a aa
l FASTENED along the passage, and
succeeded, after a good deal of STUN.
bling on the dark stairs, in reaching the
stone-payed floor of the laboratory.
1t was really cellar, but high, wide,
spacious, and perfectly dry; filled with
gigantic telescopes, mirrors of all kinds
flat, spherical, parabolical prisms
crystals, and burning glasses, mounted
on tripod stands; in short, the whole
apparatus of an opticiap.
Hans Schnaps turned in surprise on
hearing me descending.
"Ha ! ha! ha!' he cried, "it's you
DR.. Beneduml Glad to see you
He came toward me with open arms
But, stretching forth my hand with 6
tragic gesture
"Halt! haiti" / cried, "stop a mo
| n,n,nt before we INDULGE in familiaritias