The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-10-27
MICROSCOPIC INGENUITY.

microscopic INGENUETY.
From the earliest times down to the
present day, many examples Of minute
mechanism have appeared, interesting
from the patient ingenuity displayed
in their production. We propose to
give our readers an account of one or
two of the most curious of these tiny
pieces of handicraft. In the year 1918.
Mark SclliOt, blacks mith of London,
made "for exhibition and trial of skill
on lock of iron, steel and brass of
eleven several pieces and pipe key,
all clean wrought, which weighed but
one grain of goldn He also made n
chain of gold of forty three links, to
which he fastened the above named
articles, and put them round the neck
of flea, the insect thus becoming
harnessed. As the chain, lock and
key weighed but one grain and a half.
the flea drew them with ease a proof
that if the locksmith's hands were
large and sinewy, they must have
had the delicate touch of watch
makers.
A beautiful piece of mechanism con-
structed by NJ. Camus probably stood
out prominently in the collection of
Louis the Greats childhood. Desert
bed by the inventor: 1T consisted of
a coach drawn by two horses, in
which was the figure of a lady with
footman and page behind. This
coach being placed at the extremity of
a table of a determinate size, the
coachman cracked his whip, and the
horses Immediately set out, moving
their legs in natural manner. When
the carriage reached the edge Of the
Proceeded along the edge. When it
arrived opposite to the place where
the king was seated, is stopped and
the page getting down, opened the
door, upon which the lady alighted,
having in her land a petition which
she presented with a curtsey. A fter
waiting some time, she again curtsied
and re-entered the carriage the page
then resumed his place the coachman
whipped his horses, which began to
move; and the foOtman, running after
the carriage, jumped up behind, and it
drove on"
The following are from q list of
miracles of art' exhibited in London
in the wear l745 Tile little furni-
ture of a drawing room, consisting of
a dining table, with two figures seated
as if at dinner; footman waiting;
card table which opens with drawer in
l.; frame and casters looking glass
two dozen of dishes twenty dozen of
plates ; thirty dozen of spoons, and
twelve skeleton back chairs with claw
feet All the above particulars are
contained in cherry stone. 4 landau
which opens and shuts by springs,
hanging on braces, with four persons
sitting therein. \ crane neck carriage,
the wheels turning on their axles a
coachman's box, etc, Of ivory; togeth-
er with six horses and their furniture;
q coachman on the box, a dog between
his legs, the rcins in one hand and
whip in the other; the footman behind,
and positions on tie leading horses in
their proper liveries-all so minute as
to ne drawn by flea which performs
all the offices of large chaise, as run
ming of che wheels, locking, etc, weigh
ing but one grain. A flea, chained by
a chain of two hundred links, with a
paddock and key, weighing but one
third Of grain. And pair of steel
scissors so minute that six pair may
be wrapped up in the wings of fy :;
the said scissors cut o large horse
hair"
The Plymouth Gazette of 1928 CON
tained an account of miniature can
non, which is TINS described It is
complete in all respects, having a bore
and touch-hole; the gun is made Of
steel, the carriage of gold and the
wheels Of silver; and the whole weighs
only the twenty-ninth part of. a grain
The workmanship IS very beautiful,
but cannot be distinguished except
through a powerful magnifying glass /;
the size of this warlike engine being
only that Of common pins head
That surely was a curiosity that might
have made Mr.. Sam Weller's fortune,
had he taken out n patent for his
double million magnifying gas micro
scopes of extra power"
There have been some curious TOYS
in which fleas have been the performers
In 1920 Il man exhibited in London
two aeas, one drawing kind of car,
and the other a lock and chain. with
the greatest ease. In Nottingham,
also in the same year, there were two
fleas shown which had gold chains
placed round their necl<s, :he very
Lord Mayor of fleas One of them
drew carved cherry stone, and the
Othera silver cannon We should also
mention the case of flea at Angs-
burgh that drew chain of steel made
with links so fine that though it be
nearly a span long the flea will lift it
up when he leaps" A London rep
resentatiye of the sharp fraternity
drew four-whccl carriage on springs,
with four persons inside, the coaciman
on the box, and Il footman behind. "aII
rrOueI. - oS fha lauuIiona of hnro lI,,-