The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-27
DIED WITH THE INVENTOR.
SECRET OF AUToMATA THAT HAVE
NEVER BEEN REVEALED.

HCAaA AJFhuShtsmOn fcrtOFm1nR
the Work of n Trained Architect.
From the Scientific American.
Few persons in the mechanical world
have not heard of the automatons of
the famous Neuchatel mechanician of
the eighteenth century Most people
would not know where to find automa-
tons of Jaquet-Droz. They are said to
be in Russia, in England and scattered
here and there throughout the world
But the most remarkable of these mas
terpieces are in the possession of Henri
Martin of Dresden, where they are the
admiration of all those who happen to
visit Dresden and are able to examine
them. According to the information
kindly furnished us by Mr. Martin the
automatons are in good condition and
work as well as at the time when
Jaquet-Droz exhibited them to the
soVereigns of France Spain and Eng
land. though now they must be put in
operation by hand.
one of this wonderful mans clocks
went for very long time without pc
ing rewOuld. This kind of perpetual
movement was produced by different
metals expanding and contracting at
the same temperature. Another clock,
without being touched, answered the
question What time is it," 1t must
be presumed that the breath of the
questioner was sufficient by delicate
combination to put the mechanism in
movement. Still another exhibited the
hours, the minutes and the seconds,
the center of the dial indicating the
course of the sun through the zodiac,
and the four seasons and the different
phases of the moon in perfect accord
with it's evolution.
An Artificial Firmnment.
The dial was lighted at the time of
the full moon and the stars appeared
and disappeared at the required inter
walls. This artificial armament was
covered with clouds if the weather was
unpleasant or lighted If it was clear.
AS soon as the hour was struck
chime was heard. 1t played nine diff
ferent melodies, to which an echo re-
sponded. A lady seated in a balcony,
holding a book in her hand, accompa-
MED the music with gesture and look,
from time to time took pinch of snun
and bowed to those who opened the
glass door of the clock. When the
Ginning was ended a canary, standing
on the hand of a child, whose gestures
expressed admiration, sang eight diff
ferent airs. A shepherd came in his
turn and played on the flute, and two
children danced around. Suddenly one
of the children threw himself on the
floor in order to make the other lose
his balance. and then turned toward
the spectators. pointing at his compan-
ion with his finger. Near the shepherd
a lamb bleated from time to time and
a dog oached his master to caress
him and to watch over a basket of APP
pies If anyone touched the fruit he
would bark until it was put back in its
place.
He presented one Of his clocks to
King Ferdinand VI, who was so de-
lighted that he refunded the expenses
of the journey and paid in addition 500
louis dor The King assembled his
courtiers in order to show them his ac-
QUESTION. Among the automatons was
a clock with shepherd playing on his
1iute and a dog guarding a basket of
fruit
A Faithful Dog.
1.-THE dog" said Jaquet-Droz, lis as
faithful as he is we'll behaved. Let
your majesty put him to the proof by
touching one of the fruits in the bas-
ket" The King endeavored to take an
apple, but the dog Immediately threw
himself on his hand, barking so nat
urally that a hound present in the
room responded with all his strength.
The courtiers thought that sorcery was
as work and fled precipitately. making
the sign of the cross. The King and
the Minister of Marine were the only
ones to remain.
The latter asked the shepherd what
time 1t was. AS he did not answer
Jaquet Droz remarked smilingly that
he probably did not understand Span
ish and begged his excellency to adj
dress him in French. The question was
repeated in that language and the
shepherd replied Immediately. The
minister was frightened. and he. too,
hurried away In consequence of this
seancs the Neuchatel artist fearing
that he might be arrested by the in
QUESTION and burned as a sorcerer
begged the King to invite the grand
inquisitor to be present. Jaquet -Droz
took the clock apart in his presence,
piece by piece showing him all the
springs and explaining to him the ac-
tion of the train. Probably the inqusi-
tor understood little or nothing of the
matter; nevertheless he announced the
fact publicly that he discovered no
magic and that the mechanism was
moved entirely by natural means.
Three Wonderful AutOmatOns.
Three of these automatons, whose
perfection exceeded everything which
had ever been known in this class Of
work are, the young musician, the
draughtsman and the writer. young
woman, seated at the harpsichord, ex-
ecuted several pieces of music with
dexterity, without any person touching
the instrument. The draughtsman.
seated on a stool, made drawings with
a pencil, sketched them correctly and
then shading them. From time to time
he raised his hand to examine his work
the better, corrected some defect and
blew the dust from the paper Henri
Louis having gone to Versailles, ex-
hibited his automatons to the king.
The draughtsman, to the amazement
of the whole court, sketched the por-
trait of the French king with a laurel
wreath on his head.
Jaquet-Droz went over to England
he placed the draughtsman before the
king and soon the hands of the auto
maton were actively at work, but the
surprise of those present was bound
less when they beheld, not the image
of the king of France, which they had
expected, but that of the English
monarch. OF course the portraits were
not finished productions but presented
a general resemblance.
The draughtsman of Jaquet-Droz
was not, however the most remarka-
BILE OF the works created by the mex
haustibe genius of this artist Let one
Judge from the writer, seated before
an isolated desk, without contact with
any person. He would dip his pen in
the inkstand and write, without die
tation, slowly, it is true, but distinctly
and correctly.
Appeared 10 Have Brains.