The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-03-02
MAGIC IN MECHANISM
THE MARVELLOUS AUToMATONS OF
JAQUET-DROZ.

Performed Wonders md Figures
That Seemed Akin to Life.
Few persons in the mechanical world
have not heard Of the automatons Of
tie famous Neuchatel mechanician Of
the eighteenth century. Most people
would not know where to find automa-
tons Of Jaquct-Droz. They are said to
Ee in Russia, In England and scattered
here and there throughout the world.
But the most remarkable Of these mas
tcipieces are in the possession Of Hen
ii Martin Of Dresden, where they are
the admiration Of all those who happen
to visit Dresden and are able to exam
Inc them. According to the informa-
ton kindly furnished to US by Mr..
Martin, the automatons are IN good
condition md work as we'll as at the
time when Jaquet-Droz exhibited them
to the sovereigns Of France, Spain and
England, though now they must be
put In operation Dy hand.
One Of this wonderful mans clocks
went for a very long time without be-
Ing rewound. 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 tine is it?' 1t must
be presumed that the breath Of the
,uestioner 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 its evolution.
The dial was lighted at the time Of
the full moon, and the stars appeared
and disappeared at the required In
tervals. 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 q
chime was heard. 1t played nine DIFF
eerent melodies, to which an echo re,
sponded. A lady seated ir balcony,
holding a book In her hand, accompa'
MED the music with gesture and look,
from time to time took a pinch Of snuff
and bowed to those who opened the
glass door Of the clock. Wlen the
Ginning was ended canary, standing
on the hand Of a child, whose gestures
expressed admiration, sang eight diff
ferent airs. A shepherd came In bis
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 companion
with his finger. Near the shepherd q
lamb bleated from time to time, and 8
dog approached his master to caress
him and to watch over q basket OF ap'
pies. If any one touched the fruit be
would bark until 1t was put back in its
place.
He presented one Of his clocks tc
King Ferdinand VI, who was so de
lighted that he refunded the expenses
Of the journey and paid in addition SOC
louis dor. Tie king assembled his
courHers in order to show them his &C
QUESTION. Among the automatons was
a clock with shepherd playing on his
flute and dog guarding basket OF
fruit.
1.-The dog" said Jaquet-Droz, sis as
faithful as he is well 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 bound present in the
room responded with all his strength
The courters thought that sorcery was
at work and fed 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 It was. AS he did not answer
Jauuet-Droz remarked smilingly that
he probably did not understand Span
tsh and begged his excellency to ad'
dress him in French. The question was
repeated in that language, and the
shepherd replied Immediately. The
minister was frightened, anG be, too
hurried away In consequence OF this
seance the Neuchatel artist, fearing
that he might be arrested by the In
QUESTION and burned as soccerer
begged The king to invite the grand
inquis.tor to be present. Jaquet-Dro2
took the, clock apart in his presence
piece by Piece, showing him all the
springs aid explaining to him the ac
ton Of the train. Probably the in
cuisitor understood little or nothing OF
the matter. Nevertheless he announc'
ed the fact publicly that he discovered
no magic and that the mechanism was
moved entirely by natural means.
Three Of these .automatons, whose
perfection exceeded anything which
had ever been known In this class OF
work, are the young musician, the
craftsman and the writer. a young
woman, seated at the harpsichord, ex.
ecuted several pieces Of music with
dexterity without any person touching
the instrument. The craftsman, seat
ed on a stool, made drawings with s
pencil, sketched them correctly and
then shaded them. From time to time
ne raised his hand to examine bis
work the better, corrected some defect
and blew the dust from the paper
Henri Louis, having gone to Versailles
exhibited his automatons to the king
The craftsman, to the amazement OF
the whole court, slletched the portrait
Of the French king with Laurel