Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-03-04

.fEYm HE London Times
Inc new automaton Invented by Mr.
John Ncyil Maskelyne anl Mr. John Al
gernon Clarke, which appears twice daily
In Nes>rs. ha>kelyne q Cookies entertain
ment at the Egyptian Hall. Piccadllly, is
not deception Ike Baron kempelens re-
nowned chess-player. That. though it as
tpni>hrd All Europe late In the last and
early ia the present century, was but in
part mechanical; and the chess-playing
was really performed hy man inside-a
Polish patriot named Worousky. who.
having lo,t both his legs in battle. was
ao.e q conceal himself in very small spaces
within tile figure and the box-table at
which The ngurc was seated. Neither is
the new automaton OF the same class with
Naucau-ons flute player. which was ex-
hibited and explained To- the French Ac-
adrmy ci Sciences. Ia l13S. That superb
piece OF mechanicism initiated the move
mentS oithe body, the fingers. the lips, the
tongue, and the management o t the breath
of an expert performer on the flute. Sir
DAVID Brewster has lrecOrded the fact that
for many years il continued 10 delight
aud astonish the philosophers and music
ians OF Europe; but. like barrel organ.
the machine only executed those airs
which It vas arranged to play, The mar
vel OF the new invention OF Mr.. Maskelyne
and Mr. Clarhe consists in these distinct
i've features: the figure has no living be-
ins within II; it is perfectly isolated from
| any connection - mechanical. electrical
msgneticaI.o or otherwise conceiva ble-wth
any ope-IAor At distance; and vet
nevertheless, il 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 accomplishes a number OF very sur
prisng feats With cards chosen and names
written by the audience.
Psyche, as the automaton has been
named, is a figure in Oriental costume. sit
tim cross-legged upon a small box or
pedestal. and besides being too small to
contain even dwarf or mutilated man,
Is inspected through openi qgs in the box
and IN the body OF the figure. Mr. Mask
| elyne, moreover, allows any person from
/ the audience to ascertain tor himself that
| no spaces whatever are hidden by mirrors
or any other contriyances. PSYCHE" is
just what he appears to be-a piece Of me-
chlnism. with the wheels. weights. string
and levers visible. without trick or con-
/ cealment. He is first seen upon table !;
| but, TO Isolate him from external control.
| he IS then placed upon q stand of thin
transparent glass-this consisting of one
single piece-thoroughly examined by the
audience before being set, clear awav from
the back or side scenes, and in fact, in the
centre of the stage. There is no attach
ment OF any kind, the automaton resting
loosely on the glass support, and in any
positions and persons from the audience
are allowed to watch as closely as possible
round the figure while ii is at work and to
re-examine the interior when they please
Under these searching guarantees that
Psyche" is perfectly self-acting, what is
he seen to do' II any person gives him a
sum to calculate in addition, subtraction,
multiplication or division, he shows the
answer, one figure at time, by open
ing little door and sliding the figure in
front of the aperture with a movement oi
his left band. There is no pre-arraDge
ment or collusion in this; for he proceeds
to exhibit any numbers which anybody
may call for. He plays! game at whis
with any three gentlemen who NAV
like to take hand with him.
The three players seat themselves a.
side table and cut to decide who shall b,
"Pycho 5" partner; and, after dealing, the
thirteen cards for the automaton are
placed on quadrant holder under the ra.
dial sweep Of the figures right hand, thu