Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-08-04
AIbertus Magnus and His Automaton.

Albertus Magnus possessed wonder
full knowledge of chemistry, natural
philosophy and medicine. His spare
time, when freed from the onerous du-
ties of lecturer, was taken up with eX-
periments in these sciences. So well
did he succeed in these things, and such
marvellous results did he often obtain,
that the common people feared him,
and even among the learned it was
bruited abroad that he was in secret
collision with the dark powers. He
studied the nature of the many diseases
to which mankind is heir, and in conse-
quence was often able to effect cures
when the physicians art had failed.
This was ascribed to his power of magic
and many of the simple people looked
upon him with terror. Even the brothers
of the convent feared to enter his dread
workshop, and crossed themselves de-
voutly when obliged to enter within its
mysterious precincts. History is full Of
legends about his wonderful power in
mechanics, and represents him to us as
not only surprising the lowlier classes,
but as astounding the educated by his
,ontrivances. Even Thomas of Aquin
is related to have been terrOr-stricken
by what he saw within the hidden
sanctuary of his master. 1t is is said
that one day Thomas, whose curiosity
led him to observe his masters work,
profited by his absence to examine the
interior of his labratory. Strange ami
mails which he had never before seen,
instruments artistically made, vessels of
most curious shape, were there exposed.
Thomas establishment increased in pro-
portion as he looked around. Something
drew him toward the corner of the room.
A scarlet curtain, reaching in long and
close folds to the ground, seemed to
him to conceal an object. He approached,
and timidly drawing aside tne curtain
found himself face to face with a beau
tiful maiden He wished to fly, but felt
himself detained by magical force, and
was compelled, in spite of himself to
gaze on the enchanting figure of a
young girl. The more he gazed, the
more itshone before his eyes, tie greater
became his confusion. But this was not
ALL The strange form addressed 10 him
the triple salutation: "Salve, salve,
salve." Frightened beyond measure,
Thomas imagined that the prince of
hell was sportingwith him. In the fear
and uneasiness. that possessed him he
strove to defend himself AS best he could
against the tempter. He seized stick
which was near him, and, eXclaiming:
"Begone, Satan!" struck the imaginary
demon repeated blows, till the automa-
ton (for it was nothing else) broke in
pieces. Then, seized with terror. he
turned to fly from the room. Wen he
was met at the door by Albert The
master, seeing what had happ' ned in
his absence, and that the fruit OF hi;
long application was annihila,ed, cried
aloud in grief 80 Thomas, Tncma>.
what have you done2, In one instant
you have destroyed the labor of thirty
yearsr' 1t would appear that Albert
had made an automatOn capable OF pro-
nouncing certain phrases and of walking
across room while sweeping it. This
was the demon which terrified Th0maS
and which occupied the thoughts of tie
inventive Albert. A host OF other ira
ditions have been handed down concc,'r-
ing him. many of them even ludicrvu +,
but which fortunately have been dcnicu
by his earliest biographers. For in
stance, he is said to have transported
the daughter of the King of Franc"
through the hair to Cologne. Anot r
states that he rode to Rome on tie back
of the devil to absOlve the Po;e from
some peccadillo into which NE Fad
fallen. Another tells us that re ira
versed the globe with Alcy' .dar the
Great. Yet from these rel, we may
we'll gather the impression w,ich Albert
must have left upon his age, siacc legend
and fable and poetry all com me to
weave historic garland for him. How
ever, although he excclled in sciences
and arts, i'm metaphysics and philoso-
ply, the grandest claim which he has
to our love and generation comes from
the fact that while first in letters, he was
also first among his peers in virtoe.-
IA DofbnT,o Urn,LI