The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-29
REMARKABLE AUTOMATA.
historical Images Which Did Aim ost
Everything But Breathe.

spicuous figures Of the sixteenth century, al
eminent mathematician and learned besides
in living aud dead languages and natural
science. He 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,
contr1Ved an automat0n which led to his
change OF residence, SO wild were the sur
misses which attended it's exhibition. The
automaton of DIR. Dee was an artificial
beetle, the exact reproduction of the scara-
baeus as far as the eye Of the spectator could
see, but so filled with springs and wheels
that it flew without external aid from the
floor to the ceiling OF the theater, carrying
a man and basket Of provisions on its back.
There was so much unpleasant gossip In
consequence that DR.. Dee went out of the
country, though he after ward became one
OF the most distinguished men Of the court
of Queen Elizabeth.
One OF the great men of modern times,
Rene DeIcartey, a French philosopher, born
in 1896, filed Europe with the fame of his
bold mind aad store Of learning. Scientists
to-day nowledge their obligations to him
in mechanics. He is said to have made an
automaton which he designed to be a
daughter to his old age. He called it
Francina, and in looks and gesture, beauty
and grace, Francina was all that a dotiuR
father could have desired In flesh and blood
so goes the tale, strange one. For Des-
carries, the philosopher with whom Aristotle
and Plato were compared, grew to love this
mechanical maiden as the apple OF his eve
She YVES said to walk with him at evening
10 his garden, TO rise and greet him with a
kiss when he returned home, and to pass
her hand now and then, os he sat at work,
noIu .4-I h.
indeed, cared for as tenderly it seemed as a
real Francina might hav b been. g.
Once Descartes took Franoina on a SEA
voyage with him, for he travelled much
about Europe. The captainrofo the vessel
supposed, of course, that he had two pas
sengers, and set two places At the table of
honor. But while the young wouhn walked
on deck and sat by her fathar's side at other
times shs did not come TO the table to eat.
And II was observed that she alone Of all
the passengers was unaffected by seasick-
ness. And so the crew and the captain
accused Franoina OF being a witch, and
seiztng her suddenly hove her overheard,
her great weight, her failure 10 resist or
cry out and her masters despairing cry
teaching them, too late, their mistske.
One Of the best known Of the more mod
ern automatic was made at BouIogEe in the
seventeenth century. and was called the
Necromancer Of Boulogne. 1t was man
kin dressed in Oriental costume, about
three inches high and was endowed not
only with the power of locornotion, but
could juggle as well. The fgda,s played
with cups and balls on a tiny table, after
the fashion of human presiidigitateurs. 1t
would take in its left hand a lithe7egg and
pass at it with wand in itsright. + Then a
bird would break through the top OF the
egg and huJter its wings with a motion like
that of the humming bird, sing a strain or
two and drop back into the egg. The necro-
mancer also took curious objects from a
little box and made them disappear back
into it with deft motions.
A the beginning of the eighteenth century
Jacques Vaucanson LIVED In Paris. He may
be styled the prince of automaton makers
His duck was called one of the wonders Of
the world. 1t was the fac simile of barn
yard fowl with feathers that could not be
distinguished from those Of life, bill that
opened and shut and emitted an occasional
"Queck," and an eye that seemed to see the
gravel at which 1t nibbled, and which it
really swallowed. The accounts from
creditable sources of what this bird was
seen and known to do are a tax even on
nineteenth century belief. 1t walked with
the waddling motion of the barn yard fowl,
bit off blades of graes, waggled it's tail, and
was actually declared to absorb what it
took into its stomach. 1t was In 1740 that
Vaucanson proudly displayed THE marvel OF
human ingenuity. Exhibited now in a city
like New York it would not fail to attract
crowds OF the curious. As an automaton it
has never been surpassed.
The flute player, however, was the MASTER
piece Of Vsucanson and was exhibited in
Paris in 1913. Its lips actually increased or
decreased the volume of the sound. Vau-
hoI -f,I, 10 Ia, rhaA % III
madness as he called it. Toe poorer folk
thought the cunning artificer in league with
the devil. But the inventor took advantage
of protracted illness and thought out the
mechanism of his gigantic flute player free
from interruption. 1t isn't every invalid
who takes advantage Of his illness TO do
something useful. But he did, and as each
design was finished faithful servant took
it Co a goldsmith at Grenoble and had it
made. When the hour arrived that saw the
completion of the last one Of these parts and
Vaucanson with trembling hands fitted
them together for the first time and wound
up the works his servant fell on his knees
with anxiety. AS the first round full notes
OF almost superhuman beauty fell from the
giants lips the man embraced the masters
knees and would have worshipsd him as
one more than mortal.
It was q remarkable scene to which a now
unknown French inventor once invited
Louis XIV. at the chateau Of one OF that
monarch's intimates near Paris. In the
exact center of grove was a smooth ex-
panse Of level ground, on which, as the king
approached, an automatic group was per-
forming. 1t was the coach aud horses
which Comus, the greatest Of modern
European magicians, describes. Conjurer
Comus reached the hight OF his fame Just
after the beginning of the present century.
He used TO travel all over France and had
no equal as wizard. He left $4,000 a
year to his grandson. Ledru Rollin, the
famous French orator and agitator. He is
@ good authority in matters Of this kind.
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
a straw or pebble marred the smoothness
of the driveway. There was a vacant
throne little to one side about half way
around, Opposite this throne the horses
stopped short, footnnn came down from
the box. opened the coach door and assisted
a lady to 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 climbed back on
the; box. Thereupon the horses trotted