Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-14
cOpyrIght by James Iil,efson.

Ira HE construction Of automata is Of re
mote origin. -Four hundred years
A before Christ, Archytes of Tarentum
3l or laramie, as it is now called
seaport town of Italy, invented .
wooden pigeon that, when its inter
machinery was set in motion, is said to
Fe made excursive flights.
native OF Athens, Daedalus by name, who
fd fourteen hundred years before the
lrlstian era, and who is the reputed inven-
OF sails for ships, the wedge and other
lchanleal devices, is credited with having
Estructed androides or statues, that could
TX This report has always been consider
Dy modern writers as a fiction; yet 1T
ny be true, as the moderns are almost too
Pne to underrate the mechanical knowledge
tbe ancients.
I'VE are told by the ancient poets that
fIlcan, the fabled god of subterranean fire
d metals-son of Jupiter and Juno and
ksband Of Venus, the goddess Of beauty
Fented golden statues that were capable OF
R-lklng; and, Therefore, these very poetical
Pcles may have suggested the idea Of max
y androides to some one of the ancient
botanical geniuses.
fBe that as it may, let US pass over to
Re more modern instances of automatic
vention. We find that the automatic duck
M. paucauson, q French mechanician, IS,
krhaps, the greatest Of all; for it was with
Fat difficulty distinguishable from the liv-
Y bird. Not only were its form and ap-
tarance exactly correct, but 1T even ate and
Nank, and, wonderful to relate, its food under
ent process in its stomach resembling dl-
estion. Its manner of eating much resem bl-
the living bird, and it also. muddled the
Ater In the most natural manner possible.
tThis same inventor constructed the figure
man un al, .arfn ax-olt
keat precision upon the flute. This perfor
Ance was truly wonderful, when it IS re
iembered that the lips in order to produce
ie high and low notes. must necessarily be
2 pre- or less compressed; and added to this
Is the complicated motions of the fingers
1uired in forming tune.
M. lie Droz, a German invented some very
f'ious specimens Of automatic mechanism
tominent among which was clock which
Id, besides other curiosities, q sheep that
fyeated in the most natural manner, and 0
pg that watched a basket of fruit. If any
.Ae touched the basket, the canine would
kow his teeth and bark, and if one should
ave the hardihood to take the basket away
tom his side, he would not cease barking un
4 it was restored to its proper place.
mr. w. Pinnock the author Of many books
instruction for children, mentions having
/ ice seen pair of artificial canaries In
tDefU cages, WlilCu udu DCCu SdpbuiSh IL q
bench ship They were not only limitations
the living birds, but hoped from perch
4 perch, huttered their wings and poured
nth songs with the most life-like motions
/ the bill and throat. These were to all ap
farances constructed on the same theory as
Ne wellknown "cuckoo-clocks," only on a
hch more elaborate and beautiful plan.
but the androides are far superior to the
Hher automatic, as the actions Of men are
ore to be admired than those Of irrational
eings. In fact, some of these androides per
rm feats which appear to be incredible, were
not that they are too well attested by
bmpetent authorities to admit of any doubt
NJ Camus, when Louis XIV was child
bnstructed for the boys amusement most
onderful toy. 1t was small coach, drawn
" two horses, in which was lady, with a
3achman on the box, and a footman and a
nge behind. When placed upon a table
hade purposely for its exhibition, the coach
ian cracked his whip, and the horses NOV
i off, using their legs in. natural manner
The carriage having reached the edge of the
lble. it turned at right angle, and proceeded
IonG that edge When it arrived opposite
81 where the young king was seated, it stop
ed and page got out and opened the door
Jhe little lady then alighted, holding in her
land petition, which she presented, with a
Graceful curtsey.
Waiting short time, she again curtsied
Ind returned to the carriage. The page re
Jnmed his position, the coachman snapped his
!