Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1871-11-30
HANS SCHNAPS' SPY-GLASS.
ySBrCai@ ERcKMANN-CH

HANS SCHNAPS' GLASS.
vSFBECafI. ERcKMANNrc rcHATRIGN.--.
At one time + knew, at Mayence,
an honest apothecary, named Hans
Echnaps. 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
Esci1lapius. 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 a couple of
youths in his employ.
Hetwas a singular parsonage, with a
long nose, gray eyes, and mocking lips.
Fronnsthe look of his wide-brimmed felt
hat, his great coat of reddish drugget,
and his beard Arimmed into a point,
you might have taken him for Flemish
painter.
1 sometimes met him at the tayernof
the Pot de Ia6ac, on the Sell, where we
played together 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 l saw no necessity for en-
tightening him on the subject of mine
it was, in fact, q matter of little or no
IMPORTANCE to either. >
One day, Burgomaster Zacharias said
to me:
HptDoctor Benedum, you associate with
certain Hans Schnaps." &C.
"Quite true, burgomaster; we meet
pretty frequently"
"That Schnaps is madman."
"Tve never noticed it."al -
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 it PIX -. Z
""But he makes his wife unhappy"
urged the burgomaster. 'i'
a. ESWhat is he married 2''. 80 30. -
"Yes, to the daughter of draper, a
very worthy and wcll-to-do- man."
HSo much the better lSchnaps will
come in for some of his father-in- laws
Wrnoney."iy ~ bra -s.,i 49,.
~ HiYes; but hell soon see, the end of
it," .-,,.. ~ .-.-3s --t...-.. 49,.
-, qqWith his spy.glass 7,' 1.' 80
= -" 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 a look through the
grating, you find his spy-glass leveled at
you; Schnaps eyes you with a roar of
!, when noon comes, his
wife is obliged to call out to him at least
four times "a Hansl Hans the soup is
readyP3n', t4--is d. >....'......... -.
"Poor woman, she is very much to be
II pitied4v" ~-af -aitfg',' -l 80 j.
s1!- The burgomaster suspected that was
iGlnaking fun of him, but he pretended
not to see it, and proposed that we
u should share pot of beer together. l
accepted his invitation, and we talked
n of other matters. -
.gslr These odd revelations, however, did
,1 mot the, less take hold of my attention.
Z T. What the deuce was Schnaps about in
his cellar? What was the meaning of
the spy-glass leveled at the grating ?
3, Was it a joke, or really some serious
experiment? All this kept running in
my head, and, a few days later, l went
to the shop for the express purpose of
finding out what could. 1t was about
nine o'clock. Madame Schnaps, a dry
and nervous little woman, with dull
eyes, 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
r Madame Schnaps received me behind
,Hcthe counter. 5--s -...s... '.--..,,
UsDear madame" said to her, bow,
Will lllG0o NAT, DSdl
.Es madame, where can 1 find your hus
81 band, Monsieur Schnaps?' -r.r....-
So "In the cellar" she answered, with a
pointed smile. s... .-.-.--
So early p
The excellent creature appeared
charmed by my manner, and raising
her eyes directed me to a door on the
: left. o. !, .f'''i'i.' i" 'i,-.'@ 80 90 --.
i'is 1 hastened along the passage, and
20 succeeded, after good deal of STUN
bling on the dark stairs, in reaching the
- stone-payed floor of the laboratory.
> Itwas really a7cellar, but high, wide
spacious, and perfectly dry; filed with
gigantic telescopes, mirrors of all kind
flat, spherical, parabolical prisms
crystals, and burning glasses, mounted
on tripod stands; in short, the who'll
> apparatus of an opticiap. = --. r..
Hans Sehnaps turned in surprise OIL
hearing me descending.
Hal ha ha!' he cried, I" it's you
c DIR. Benedumi Glad to see you"
= iCHe came toward me with open arms
o But, stretehing forth my hand with
r tragic gesture ~ q. .-...-
"Halt halt ~ I cried, 60 stop Il me
ment, before we indulge in familiarities
s- come on behalf of, the burgomaster t
feel your pulse p zlI ~ t-'i :. af.f -.
-oyy He gravely held out his arm to me
placed my thumb on the artery, an,
speaking IN a thoughtful tone, and wit
~ /" Aha! you are not SO ill as thew sav
- 5lfsIn z" he cried. ...-.
s7"ss" No; you are not yet wholly out O
In your WITS r.,.s7-.--.-.....
These words sent him off into sue
''' fits of laughter that Madame Schnar
cleaned over the stairs and peered dow
. Into the cellar with wondering eyes.
GssFs!as Sophia Sophia !'' cried the apotl
ecary, "hal hal hal Do you kno
aYThey say am out of my wits !'' ~.
{ = EsHis wife made grimace, and hurrie
away without answering.
Becoming a little more calm, Hal
Schnaps said TO me:
@HE # -w# 80 =