Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1871-12-16
HANS SCHNAPS' SPY.GLASS.
BY NM. ERCKMANN-CHATRIAN.

an honest apothecary, named Hans
Schnaps. The door of his shop opened
on to the Thiermack, and was sur
mounted by a 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, carving 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 dc TaJac, on the Sell, where we
played together a 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:
"Doctor Benedum, you associate with
q certain Hans Schnaps."
"Quite true, burgomaster; we meet
pretty frequently"
"That Schnaps is a matiman."
"l've never noticed it,
Nothing is more positive instead of
attending to his business, he goes CAD
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?'
But he makes his wife unhappy"
urged the burgomaster.
"What is he marred?'
"Yes, to the daughter of a draper. a
very worthy and well-to-do-man."
$50 much the better; Schnaps will
come in for some of his father-in- laws
money!
Yes; but he'll soon see the end of
it," VI
"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 q 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
readyv"
" 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 a pot of beer together. |
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
hndlng out what | could 1t was about
nlne O'Clock. Madame Schnaps, a dry
and nervous little woman, with dull
eyes, features generally insignificant
and i'll put together, and cap set awrv
upon her head-one of those beings
who, without speaking word, contriye
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.
SO earlyv p
The excellent creature appeared
charmed by my manner, and raising
her eyes directed me to door on the
left.
| fastened along the passage, and
succeeded, after a good deal of STUN.
bling on the dark stairs, in reaching the
stone-paved 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, parabolcal 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.
"Hai ha! hal" he cried, ats YOU,
DIR. Benedum! Glad to see YOU"
He came toward me with open arms.
But, stretching forth my hand with o
tragic gesture
"Halt halt |" | cried, "stop A mo.
ment, before we indulge in fami1iar;t;ao