The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-10-28
ApTosIArA N roRMnn cENrUaIes.
Translated from the German, by j. BahImann,
Columbia, sc, for the Daily Record,

COiUUptn, S.S., LOT the uaiiS RECORD,
Automata are called those machines,
or those moving ifeless objects, which
have concealed the motive power, and
consequently seem to move Of their own
accord; when they have the form Of man
and perform human actions then they
are also called androides. The motive
power generally consists of springs,
chains, weights, which can be easily con
cealed.
Antiquity already knew automatic.
The Oldest automat vas the great phi
losopher, Alchytas of Tarent, 400 wears
g. q: He made wooden pigeon, which,
as "Gellius" says, could fly. Pausanius
mentions moving wooden eagle, Po-
iiybius creeping snail, which was made
by the celebrated orator and statesman,
Demitrius Phalereus, of Athens. In the
middle age the monk Roger Baco made
wooden head, which could make q
speech. 1t is said that the celebrated
necromancer and philosopher, Albert the
Great, Count of Bollstadt, G193-128O)
made q wooden figure which opened the
door tor the visitors, saluted and appar-
entity addressed them. On one occasion
the equally renowned philosopher,
!nomas OF Aquino, became so terribly
1fl9htened that he struck off the head Of
the figure. This mishap caused the
mGanutacturer to exclaim that his work of
thirty years had been destroyed. The
distinguished mathematician, Job Null
ler, made, among other works, q fiy
which would move about on the table.
and an eagle which was placed on the
gate tower at Numberg, and welcomed
the Emperor Macmillan III. on his ar-
rival in that city by moving it's wings
and head. The Emperor Charles =.
found in his old age great pleasure in
works of art of this kind. The cele-
brated Bullman of Numberg made
hgures which marched to and fro, beat
ing the kettle drum and playing the lutte.
1t is said that in the 18th century a
potter in Rome produced flute PLAYER:
in 1888 the French General, Count
Geuner, made peafowl, which walked
and ate; the missionary Thibaut made
for the Emperor of China walking lion :;
also tiger. avn
Among the artists in the 18th century
the names of Pierre and Henri I,ouis
Droz Gather and SOM must be placed in
the foremost rank. The older, Pierre,
was born in the Swiss canton of Neuf,
chatel in the year 1721, died 1890: the
younger was born 1862, died i79l,
Among their works of art mention must
be made of two year old child, who
wrote French words, dipping her pen in
tho INK, and after each word would look
at her copy; the drawer also the size of
a two year old child; another craftsman,
the size OF a grown man, could draw
with metallic pencil on parchment very
rapidly; sketch followed sketch, and very
o1ten they had to furnish him with
another piece of parchment; the piano
player, q young girl, who played several
pieces, following the music with her
heau and eyes, and after each perform
ance she would rise and bow to the audi
encc. The younger Droz made snuff
poX winch contained a small bird, three
quarters inch long. It's wings were
green and yellow, It sat on a snail cold
table, tapplng its little wings moving its
tail and delighted the audience with -
mciodious song. The king of Spain was
presented by these artists with wonder
full clock, on which was a bleating sheen,
and dog continually Watching a basket
tuied with fruit, and barking When anv
one tried to take it of. Vaucanson Cborn
at Grenoblc 1903, died at Paris 1882
showed In 1913 his celebrated flute play
er; 1t was figure s. feet high, sitting on
a PEDESTAL, IN which was concealed tho
mechanism. This figure would put the
iiute to the lips, moving the fingers regu-
LARRY, producing good and correct notes,
and played several pieces. Another
antomaton played on shepherds flute,
which he held in his left hand, and WITH
his right hand beat on q tambourinc tho
accord. A third work of art finished in
174l was duck made of bronZcd
copper, which tapped its wings. stretch
ing out its neck to cat the corn scattered
before her, and digesting its food. The
inventor OF this work of art was appoint
ed inspector of the silk manufactures at
Lyons, and the manufacturers threatened
to stone him, fearing their sales would
be greatly diminished The inspector,
hearing of this threat, made in rctaGa,
tlon the tigurc of an ass weaving cloth in
Varlcgatcd colors. This machine con-
tanned lnnumerable chains, springs.
levers, etc.
About the same time the Hungarian,
W0lf8ang, born in Prcnburg 1874, died
i6o4, created the greatest sensation with
ms Wonderful speaking and chess ma
chine. The first was invented in 1878,
ahu consisted OF wooden box l by 3
teet, IN which, by means Of a pair of
pelloWs and several springs, the voice Of
Ni'iNN WOO iLhlt1tIClt DSVGrQl machines
have been made by Mical, IIratzunstein.
Posch, but generally with less success.
The wonderful chess machine, which
was shown to the Empress Maria
Thesesa in 1863, consisted of q figure.
natural size, dressed in the Turkish cos,
tune, who was sitting before u table 81
by 2 feet put on rollers. This machine
played chess with experts, and almost
always won, at which the inventor was
always present; and whether he directed
the play, or person was concealed in
the machine, has never beon satisfactori
! y explained, as no direct communica-
ton had been detected. The inventor
was always willing to show his wonderful
machine (when not performing), which
consisted Of number of chains wheels,
levers and springs. The opinion pre-
vailed that magnetism was the motive
power, but this theory was soon OK
plodcd. This machine was on exhibition
in 1912 at Mailand, 1919 in London and
1922 In Paris.
Great excitement was produced by
NJ IDI lIOTnnt SN,ioo r