Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-02-05
in
Mechanism
The MARVELLOUS AuIoMAIoNS o.
JAoUeT-DRoz
This Eighteenth Century Mechanical
Wizard Produced clock work That
Performed Wonders and Figures
That Seemed Akin Is life.

Performed Wonders and Fig ures
That seemed Akin "a Life.
Few persons In the mechanical world
have mol heard Of the automalons OF
tile famous Neuchatcl mechaniciap or
the eighteenth century. Most people
would not know where 10 find automa
tons OF Jaquet.D They nre said to
be In Russia, IN England and scattered
here aud there throughout the world.
But the most remarkable of these mas
lerpieces are in the possession Of Hen
Il Martin or Dresden. where they are
the admiration OF all those who happen
to visit Dresden and are able ID exam.
inc them. According to the informn
tion kindly furnished to US by AFR.
Martin, the nutomatons are lii good
condition and work ms well rs Mt the
time when .Iaauet- Droz exhibited them
10 the sovereigns OF France. Spain and
England. though now they must BE-
put In operation by hand.
One OF this wonderful mans clocks
went for a very long time without be
Ing rewOund. This kind OF perpetual
movement vas produced by different
metals expanding and contracting at
the same temperature. Another clock.
without being touched, answered the
question, what time is III" II must
be presumed that the brenth OF the
Qucstioner was sufficient by q delicate
combination TO put the mechanism In
movement. Still another exhibited the
hours. the minutes aud the seconds,
the center OF the dial Indicating thc
course of the through the zodiac
and the four Seasons aud the different
phases of the moo III perfect accord
with its evolution.
The dial was lighted 1t The time 81
the full moon. aud the stars appeared
aud disappeared nt The required III
tervnls. This artificial armament was
covered with clouds IL the weather was
unpleasant or lighted " II was clear.
As, o rs The hour was struck u
chime was heard. Ii played nine dir.
ferent melodies, 10 which an echo re.
spondcd. a lady seated lii d balcony,
holding u hook 10 her hand. nccompa.
MED The music with gesture aud look.
from time 10 time took a pinch OF sDun
aud bowed 10 those who opened the
glass door of the clock. When the
Ginning was ended n canary. standing
on the hand Of n child, whose gestures
expressed admiration. sang eight dit.
fercnt airs. "a shepherd came In his
turn and played on tile lutte. and two
children danced around. Suddenly ons
Of the children threw himself on the
floor In order 10 make the other lose
bis balance and then turned toward the
spectators. pointing at his companion
with his finger. Near the shepherd n
lamb bIeated from time to time, and n
dog approached Ills master TO caress
him and to which over n basket of ap.
pies. IL amy one touched the fruit he
would bark until Il WIS put bnck In Its
place.
He presented one OF his clocks 10
King Ferdinand w. who was so Dc.
lighted that he refunded the. expenses
OF the journey and paid In addition 500
louis dor. The king assembled his
courtiers Ia order TO show them his nc
QUESTION. Among the nut0matons was
u clock with a shepherd playing on his
iiute aud b dog guarding n basket Of
fruit.
This dog" said JagIei Dr0z. .is ~
faithful M he Is well behaved. Let
your majesty pun him 10 The proof by
touching one ~ the fruits In the bas.
ket" Tie king endeayored 10 take an
apple, hut Tie dug Immediately threw
himself on his land. barking 40 nat
nrnlly that u hound present IN the
room responded with all Ills strength
The courtiefs thought that sorcery was
III work mud fed p%recipitately. making
the sign ~ Tie ross The king aud
the minister 10 marine were The only
mes 10 renaiD
The. latter asked the shepherd what
lime u was. As lie did not answer
Iuuucf. Ilroz remarked smiIiooIv that