Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-11
AN AUTOMATON CARD PLAYER.
A Machine Which Plays a GOOD
Came of whist, and Generally

A Machine which Plays n good
Game of whist, and Generally
Wins.
From the London Tines
The new automaton, invented by Mr..
John Nevil Maskelyne and John Alger-
non Clarke, and now exhibited twice
daily in London, is not deception like
Baron Kempeler's renowned chess
player. That, though it astonished all
Europe late in the last and early in the
present century, was but in part me.
chanical, and the chess playing was
really performed by a man on the inside
"a Polish patriot named Warousky,
who, having lost both his legs in battle,
was able to conceal himselfin very small
spaces within the figure and the box
table at which the figure was seated.
Neither is the new automaton of the
same class with Vauconson's flute play
er, which was exhibited and explained
to the French Academy of Science in
1913. That superb piece of mechanism
initiated the movements of the body, the
fingers, the lips, the tongue, and the
management Of the breath of an expert
performer on the flute. Sir David
Brewster has recorded the fact that "for
many years it continued to delight and
astonish the philosophers and musicians
Of Europe" but, like the barrel. organ,
the machine executed only those par
ticular airs which it was arranged to
play.
The marvel OF the new invention of
Mr. Maskelyne and Mr.. Clarke consists
in these distinctive features-the figure
has no living being within it; it is per
fectly isolated from any connection
mechanical, electrical, magnetical or
otherwise conceivable-with any opera
tor at distance; and yet, nevertheless,
it plays the game of whist with no little
skill, performs arithmetical calculations,
obeys by its movements the directions of
any person in the audience, and accom-
plisEes number Of very surprising feats
with cards chosen and names written by
the audience. Psyche" as this au-
tomaton has been named, is figure in
oriental costume sitting cross-legged
upon small box or pedestal, and be-
sides being too small to contain even a
dwarf or a muiilated man, is inspected
through openings in the box and in the
body OF the figure. Mr. Maskelyne,
moreover, allows any person from the
audience to ascertain for himself that
no spaces whatever are hidden by mir
rors or any other contrvance.
Psyche" is just what be appears to
be-a piece of mechanism, with the
wheels, weights, strings and levers visi-
BILE, without trick or concealment. He
is first seen upon q table; but, to isolate
him from external control, be is then
placed upon stand of thin, transparent
glass-this consisting OF one single
piece-thoroughly examined by the au-
dience before being set, clear away from
the back or side scenes, and, in fact, in
the center of the stage. There is no
attachment Of any kind, the automaton
resting loosely on the glass support, and
in any position; and persons from the
audience are allowed to watch as closely
round the figure while it is at work, and
to re-examine the interior when they
please. Under these searching guaran-
tees that Psyche" is perfectly self
acting, what is he seen to do? II any
person gives him sum to calculate in
addition, subtraction, multiplication or
division, he shows the answer, one figure
at time, by opening little door and
sliding the figure in front Of the aper-
ture with movement Of his left hand.
There is'no pre-arrangement or collusion
in this; for he proceeds to exhibit any
numbers which anybody may cali for.
lie plays game of whist with any
three gentlemen who may like to take
land with him. The three players seat
themselves at side table and cut to de.
eide which shall be Psycho's partner;
and, after dealing, the thirteen cards for
the automaton are placed on quadrant
holder under the radial sweep OF the fig
ure's right hand, the cards standing up.
right, 80 that he can seize any one with
his thumb and finger, "Psycho turns
his head and looks up or down, appa
rently studying the hands Of cards on his
quadrant, and when his turn comes TO
play he finds the best card available to
him, raises it, holds it up in full view of
the spectator $50 that there is no trick.
cry or snbstitution), and then puts it
down in front Of the quadrant. He will
mold up any card again and again as Of
ten as desired by any person in the au
dience, and shakes hands with his part
ner at the conclusion Of the game. he
plays q good game, and, unless matched
against very scientific players, com.
monty wins when he happens to get fair
average hands dealt to him and bis part.
ner. Then follows a series Of further
illustrations of "Psycho's' mysterious
power Of intelligence.
You help yourself TO card out Of a
pack, and he tells the suit, rank and
number of spots by means Of strokes on
bell. You privately mark any card in
a pack which you shuttle and hold in
your hands; and upon the pack being
placed in front Of the automaton, he in
stantly finds the identical card. and
hnlda "A mn tviihont poas;k;i,t,, of - "A.