The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-12-30
OF FAMOUS WOODEN MEN.
SOME AUTOMATIC THAT COULD DC
EVERYTHING BUT BREATHE.
Descartes Wonderful "Francfnar
That was Destroyed for q witch-Ths
Necromancer of BouIogne- Conjurei
Comus and His Great Coach He-sss-

That was Destroyed for a witch-Ths
Secromancer OF Boulogne-Conjurer
comus and His Great Coach He-sss-
DR.. John Dee was one OF the most con-
spicuous figures of the sixteenth century,
an eminent mathematician, and learned
besides in living and dead languages and
natural science.
lie studied nineteen hours out of the
twenty four while at the University OF
Cambridge, and when asked to manage
the mechanical effects in the production
by his fellow students of comedy OF
Aristophanes, contrived an automaton
which led to his change OF residence, 50
wild were the surmises which attended
its exhibition.
This automatcn of DR.. Dee was an arti~
fetal beetle, the exact reproduction of
the scarabaeus as far as the eye of the
spectator could see, but so filed with
springs and wheels that 1t few without
external aid from the floor to the ceiling
of the theatre, carrying a man and
basket of provisions on its back. There
was so much unpleasant gossip in conse-
quence that DR.. Dee went out of the
country, though he afterward became one
of the most distinguished men of the
court OF Queen zabeth, says Harper's
Young People.
One of the great men of modern times.
Rene Descartes, French philosopher.
born in 1895, filed Europe with the fame
of his bold mind and store of learning.
Scientists to-day acknowledge their obli-
cations to him in mechanics. He is said
to have made an automaton which he de-
signed to be daughter to his old age.
He called it Francina, and in look and
gesture, beauty and grace, Francina was
all that doting father could have desired
In flesh and blood. So goes the tale,
strange one. For Descartes, the philos-
opher with whom Aristotle and Plato
were compared, grew to love this mechan-
ical maiden as the apple of his eye.
She was said to walk with him at even
ing in his garden, to rise and greet him
with kiss when he returned home, and
to pass her hands now and then, as
he sat at work, caressingly over his fore
head. She was indeed cared for as ten
derby, it seemed, as a real Francina might
have been.
Once Descartes 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
of honor. But while the young woman
walked on deck and sat by her fathers
side at other times, she did not come to
the table to eat. And it was observed
that she alone of all the passengers was
unaffected by seasickness.
And SO the crew and the captain ac-
cused Francina of being a witch, and
seizing 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 Boulogne
in the seventeenth century, and was
called the Necromancer of Boulogne. 1t
was manikin, dressed in Oriental cos
tune, about three inches high, and was
endowed not only with the power of To-
comotion, but could iuggle as well. The
figure played with cups and balls on a
tiny table, after the fashion of human
prestidigltateurs.
1t would take in it's left hand a little
egg and pass it with wand to its right
Then 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 curl
Gus objects from little box and made
them disappear back into it with deft
motions.
1t was remarkable scene to which
now unknown inventor once invited
Louis XIV, at the chateau of one OF that
monarch's intimates near Paris. In the
exact centre of a grove was smooth ex-
panse of level ground, on which, as the
king approached, an extraordinary auto
matte group was performing.
1t was the coach and horses which
Comus, the greatest Of modern European
magicians, describes. Conjurer Comus
reached the height of his fame just after
the beginning of the present century
He used to travel all over France. and had
no equal az a wizard. He left so, 800
year TO his grandson, Ledru Rollin, tbs
famous French orator and agitator.
Comus had been invited TO accompany
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 smooth
ness of the driveway. There was vacant
throne little to one side about half way
round. Opposite this throne the horses
stopped short. s footman came down
from the box, opened the coach door ana
assisted lady to descend. She stepped
forward slowly and with a profound
courtesy laid on the steps of the throne
petition she had held in one hand
Then she backed toward the coach, wes
helped in by the footman, VINO closed
the door and climbed back on the box.
Theroupon the horses trotted back TO the
point from which they started.
This toy is said to have given the king
much pleasure, and to have been fav-
orite amusement with him for years