Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-08-05
FAMOUS WOODEN MEN.
AUTOMATIC THAT DID EVERY
THING BUT BREATHE.
DESCRIBES "Francina" That Was De-
strOyed for IA Witch -- Coniuror
Comus and His Wonderful
Coach Horses


century an eminent mathematician,
and learned besides in living and dead
languages and natural s-;ance
He studied nineteen hours out of
every twenty -four while at the Uni
versity OF Cambridge, and when asked
to manage the mechanical effects in
the production by his fellow students
OF comedy OF Aristophanes. con-
trived an automaton which led to his
change OF residence. so wild were the
surmises which attended the eXhi-
bition.
This automaton OF DR. Dee was an
artificial beetle the exact reproduction
OF the scarabaeus as far as the eye OF
the spectator could see but so filled
with springs and wheels that it few
without external aid from the floor to
the ceiling of the theatre. carrying a
man md Il basket OF provisions on its
back. There was SO much unpleasant
gossip IN consequence that DIR. Dee
went out OF the country though ne
atterward became one OF the most
distinguished men of the court of
Queen Elizabeth says Harper's Young
People.
One of the great men of modern
times, Rene Descartes q French
philosopher born n 1896. filled
Europe with the fame of his bold
mind and store OF learning. Scien.
lists to-day acknowledge their Oh
ligat ons to him in mechanics lie
10 CniH hatrn
which he designed TO be II daughter
to his old age.
He called it Francina and in look
and gesture. beauty and grace.
Franciua was all that dot.ng father
could have desired in flesh and blood
So goes the tale. a strange one. For
Descartes the philosopher with whom
Aristotle and Plato we:o compared.
grew to love this mechan cal ma den
as the apple OF his eye.
She was said 10 walk with HIM at
evening in his garden. to rise and
greet him with "a kiss when he re.
turned home. and to pass her hand
now and then, as ho sat at work. ca
ressingly over his forehead. She was
indeed cared for as tenderly. itseemed
as real Francina might have been.
Once Describes took Francina on a
sea voyage with him. for he Travelled
much about Europe. The captain of
the vessel supposed of course. that
he had two passengers and set two
places at the table OF honor. But
while the young woman walked on
deck and sat by her fathers side at
other times. she did not come 10 the
table to eat. And il was Observed
that she alone OF all the passengers
was unaffected by seasckness
And so the crew and the captain
accused Francna of being a witch
and selling her. suddenly hove her
overheard her great weight her
failure to resist or cry out and her
masters despairing cry teaching
them, too late. their mistake.
One of the best known Of the more
modern automata was made at Bou-
logne in the seventeenth century. and
was called the Necromancer of
Boulogne. 1t was rankin dressed
in Oriental costume about three
inches high and was endowed not
only with the power of locomotion. but
could juggle us we'll The figure
played with cups and balls on n tiny
table after the fashion of human
prestidigitateurs.
1t would take in its left hand q little
egg end pass it with wand TO its
right Then a bird would break
through the top of the egg and futter
its wings with a motion like that of
the hummingbird. sing strain or
two. and drop back into the egg.
The Necromancer also took curious
OBJ ,ects from little box and made
them disappear back into it with deft
motions.
1t was n remarkable scene to which
a now unknown inventor cnce invi ed
Louis NV, at the chateau of one OF
that monarchs intimates near Paris.
In the exact center OF II grove was
smooth eXpanse of level ground. on
which. as the king approached an
extraordinary automatic group was
performing.
it was the coach and horses which
Comus. the greatest OF modern
LuTO lean lldglcldus. ueSCFiDeS. Con-
jurer ComuS reached the height of
his fame just after the beginning OF
the present century. He used to travel
all over trance and had no equal as
a wizard. He left 500 900 n year to
his grandson. Ledru Rollin. ths
famous French orator and agitator
Comus had been invited TO accom-
pauy the king. AS they looked. the
coachman cracked his whip the
horses pranced and started away on
their circular course. Not straw or
pebble married the smouthneSs OF the
driveway. There was vacant throne
a little to one side about half way
round Opposite this throne tho
horses stopped short u footman came
down from the box. opened tho coach
door and assisted lady 10 descend.
She stepped forward slowly. and with
profound courtesy laid on the steps
OF the throne petition she had held
in one hand.
Then she backed toward the coach.
was helped in by the footman, who
closed the door and climed back on
the box. Thereupon the horses
froftp1 baclx IN tho point from which