Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-09-20
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A CLOCK WONDER.

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A CLOCK WONDER.
During the summer of 17-might
have been observed lettering about the
Tuileries a spare, shabbily dressed man,
past the prime of life, restless and dis
concerted in his humble garb, an air
of faded responsibility and character.
He was decayed Spanish nobleman,
Don Monsen Chavarri by name, and
one thing noticeable about him was
his presistencyi in endeavoring to obtain
an audience of the Emperor. Fooled in
every attempt, either through accident
or the suspicious of the attendants, he
invariably received his rebuffs in silence
and withdrewonly to renew his i'm
portunites. Repulsed to-day, to NOR
row found him at his post. He haunt
ed the palace like spectre. Even the
gamins soon grew familiar with the
story of his hopeless quest, and he be-
gan in time to be treated with that sort
ofpitiful consideration which is usual
ly accorded to those of unsound mind.
Atlength, however, came day when
in the Rue de Riyoli, as the Emperor
was returning from review, a pistol
shot was rang out from the corner of
the court, and the bullet, whistling
through the line of out-riders, buried
itself in panel of the imperial carri-
age. The police at once charged the
crowd, and among the number arrest
ed was our friend the Spaniard.
At the trial, there being no evidence
j against him, he was acquitted, but
warned to leave Paris instantly. Ac-
ting upon the warning, he disappear
ed, and for time all traces of him were
lost.
It was two years after this occurrence
that there began to circulate among
the qnsa names of the capital reports
of amarvellous clock to be seen in that
city, which illustrated, by means of
automatic figures, an episode in the life
of the Emperor, and was designed for
presentation to that parsonage.
1t was said to be the work of a fa-
nous artizan, who had lately arrived
incognito, from foreign parts, accom-
panied by young lady, his daughter,
who, in supposed fit of eccentricity,
had Fa lre.s. led n sa humble and
obscure quarter of the Faubourg St.
Antoine. The reports of the wonder
full, almost supernatural performances,
of this piece of mechanism, and the
mystery surrounding it's owner and in
ventor, gave rise for short time and
in certain circles to no small amount
Of gossip.
This gradually died away, and the
artizan and his clock were alike forgot
ten, when an event occurred which
restored them to more than their for
mer prominence, and entitled them to
place in history.
Fouche, one morning in his Office,
received letter from his private agent
in Spain, which contained information
ofa most startling and important char
acter. It's perusal threw him into a
state of unusual excitement, and it's
result was an immediate descent of the
police upon the mysterious shop in the
Faubourg st. Antoine, with orders to
arrest the artizan and his daughter, Sc
cure the premises, carefully guard all
the stock, tools, impliments and other
contents from being touched or dis
placed till further opportunity offered
for a thorough investigation.
The party detailed for the duty hav-
ing departed, Fouche reseated himself
and waited, with ill-concealed anxiety,
the arrival of the prisoners.
After a considerable lapse of time,
the officer charged with the arrest ap-
peared empty handed. His report was
soon made.
The lady in the case, the daughter,
had that morning, at an early hour,
left her house in Faubourg, accompani-
ed by lad who bore a heavy black
portmanteau. The two had been trac-
ed to the gates of Montmartre, beyond
could be obtained.
The old workman himself had left
the shop an hour before the visit of the
police, locking the doors and barring
windows behind him. He bore in his
arms what was apparently, according
to the apple-woman opposite, a great
square box, covered with oilskin. It
seemed heavy. He sat down awhile on
the doorstep, when a calash came by,
into which he put himself and box,
with the assistance of the driver, and
was driven at rapid pace. The calash
was brown. The driver was in green
livery. A gems d'arme was following
him, and another was guarding the
shop, where, however, nothing remain
ed but.a piece of furniture and a great
many scrapes of brass and iron.
Fouche reflected amoment, when his
face suddenly whitened. Without a
word he dashed down the stairway
into the street, and sprang into pass
ing facre.
"To the Tuileriesp' he shouted,
Double wages for double speedp'
Arrived at the palace, he hastily a.
lighted and demanded to be shown at
once into the presence of the Emperor.
Napoleon was in the boudoir in which
he frequently received private visitors,