Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-08
AutOmatOn "reminiscences.

A large proportion of our readers have
probably seen or heard of the automa-
ton chess-player which was exhibited
throughout the United States some
years ago To such, and to others, the
subioined "reminiscences, which we find
in late Translation from the French,
will be found interesting:
Maolzel and Mouret as partners, were
exhibiting at Amsterdam before the king
and court The king mad announced his
intention of having a game of chess with
the automaton. The day arrived. Mael-
eel occupied himself with the decorations
to give the greatest eclat possible to the
coming contest between the king and
the machine-"a mere machine, gentle
men p The exhibition was ordered for
1890 and as 10 o'clock sounded, his nc
complete not beingin the dressing
as was always his custom, Maelzel stepp-
ed across the street to the hotel to hurry
him up. Imagine his surprise to find
poor Mouret in bed, covered to the nose
with the blankets
Goodness gracious ! What do see ?
What is the matter ~ cries Maelzel.
"Oh, I've got fever !" coolly replies
Mouret.
GA fever How so? You were all
right at breakfast p
eyes; but this has come on since
like clap Of thunder"
"Well but-Why, the king is coming,
man alive p greatly excited.
sob, he will have to go back !" cool
us cucumber.
"But what can I tell him ~
"Tell him the automaton has got
fever.
sob, quit your joking, and get up"
imperatively,
"Ah but can't" decidedly.
"Why, we have never received more
money for one exhibition"
81 know; but you can give it back. 1"
"The devil you say-Tll run for
doctor"
emo; that useless"
"Why ? What can I do ? Is there no
way to break the fever ?"
ooh now you talk. Yes; there is a
way-one way"
"Tell me the way"
Pay me Mat MOu OweStr
ooh, Wells that all ? Yes; so l
WILL when the soiree is over"
"No sir l must have it here"
"Now o.
"Before we begin. I want the 1900
francs that was paid you this morning"
"All of it ?"
"Just that and no more-and no less,
Then | will play and not till then"
"Maelzel looked the little man in the
eye, but determination was written there
This was evidently no time for excuses.
He had the money, and his partner knew
it, and, besides, was only asking what
was his due. He looked at his watch
it marked 1915, and His Majesty, who
was known as a model Of punctuality,
would be there at 1890.
/" He took out his pocket-book from
his breast pocket, and counted out the
four notes of 500 francs each, with
grOan.
"The cure was marvellous to behold
for, as soon as Mouret's hand closed on
the money, he jumped out of bed, .fM
dressed, boots and all!
The aitful dodger had been watching
for Maelzel from the window, and when
he saw him cross the street had just
time to pop into bed.
"The soiree came off as appointed,
and never had the automaton seemed to
play with deeper inspiration. The king
did not move the pieces himself; he
simply counseled his Minister of War,
who played for him, but the coalition
was completely routed in two games.
The defeat, however, was put wholly on
the shoulders of the Minister.
clad they won, it would have proba-
bly, been the king who was the victor!
In this same city, few days after
wards, ended the travels of the machine
in Europe. The partners separated, the
best Of friends, and Maelzel began his
preparations for tour in the New World,
the details of which were ably recited
in the Chess Jouwol, formerly edited by
Paul Morphy and Published in New
York. Schllmberger, German, and
very strong chess player, directed the
of the machine, and the Sc
cret was undiscovered, except by some
boys in Baltimore, who, not having the
cash to pay for an admission, climbed
upon some sheds overlooking the rooms
in the, rear and were so startled upon
the conclusion of the exhibition to see
little man in shirt-sleeves hop out of the
that they nearly broke their
necks in their efforts to get away, and,
upon reaching home, repeated what they
had seen.
These facts were published by Balti-
more newspaper, but Maelzel had the
good sense to buy its further silence,
But their fate was more especially set
tied by some of the leading New York
and Boston papers, who took them up
IF their ora free wW and combated them
rs "the most preposterous ideas ever put
forth, and worthy of the childish minds
they came FROM" and the machine con-
tinued to be considered "the greatest |
mechanical triumph the world ever saw !"
Oh most learned pundits
InGre was one tnlnS among the nllmer- |
Gus instructions which Mons. Maelzel
invariably gave his accomplice that de-
serves to be remarked.
IF any one, at any exhibition, should |
cry tire, "said he, =" don't you be in the
least bit alarmed. Depend upon me. l
will get yO~ out safe, if die in the at
tempt.
Upon this point he was always extreme
ly urgent and his reason for it was this I:
In the course of his travels he had arrived
one day at little town in Germany,
where a celebrated prestidigitateur, the
Professor Anderson of that day, was CIV
ing his exhibitions.
The automaton soon eclipsed the lesser
humbug, and he, in pique, jealous of the
+ 4 I