LOGOGRIPH. The whole is STARCH. The parts are: Cash, Ha! Arch, Rash, A, " Art, Ah! Cat and Rat, Stars, Car, Crash, Sat, " Ace, Tars, Has,' Chart, Cart, Aches, Chat, Hart, Ash, Scar. 66 The parts marked thus ["] are words unknown to the author of this book. AUTOMATA. Ann. ОH, aunt Susan! since you went to London. Mr. Maelzel's automatons? I have not seen you Did you go to see Aunt. Automatons is not a proper word, Ann. When we speak of one image of this kind, we say automaton; when we speak of more than one, we say automata-because the word was originally Greek and in Greek and Latin the plurals are formed differently from what they are in English. Ann. I don't think I know very well what automaton means, aunt Susan; but I want to see one very much, because I have heard my cousins tell how very pretty they were. Aunt. An automaton is an image, which, after being wound up, goes by the machinery within it, without any other help. Ann. Are steam-boats and wind-mills automata? Aunt. No, my dear; because they are moved by wind and by steam; and the moment the wind, or the steam, is taken away, they stop. A clock is an automaton; because it moves entirely by its own machinery. Mr. Maelzel's images are constructed upon similar principles; and all their wonderful feats are the result of his own knowledge of mechanical powers. Ann. Do tell me about them. Aunt. First there was the Chess-player, an image dressed like a Turk; who sat at the board, and played as good a game of chess, as if he had brains in his wooden skull. He shook nis head, and rapped the board with his fingers, when his adversary made a move contrary to the rules of the game; and when he had the king in his power, he called " Echec!" which is the French word for " Check!" Then there was a large Trumpeter dressed in scarlet uniform, whose music was enough to make one's heart leap. The children were particularly delighted with the little figures in the carousel. Ann. What is the meaning of carousel. Aunt. It is the name of a military game in France. The scenery represents a circus, with a fountain in the centre; and a number of little figures ride round the circus, performing feats to excite the wonder of the spectators One called the Spanish Lancer, catches a little cap on the point of his lance, without stopping his horse, and rides off with it in triumph. Ann. Does he look like a real boy; and does the horse not look clumsy. Aunt. Yes, because he is a wooden horse, with jointed legs. You cannot expect him to canter quite as well as a real horse. There was another figure, called the Marksman of Madrid. With a pistol no bigger than your thumb, he aimed at a little bird, on a post. The pistol went off with real fire and smoke, and the bird fell down dead. Another was a famous Vaulter. He jumped over standards, placed at a height, which might be called immense when compared with himself and his horse; yet he was always sure to alight safely on his saddle. A slow awkward Clown was pursued by a hungry horse, who at last overtook him and snatched his cap from his head. His friend Harlequin came to his rescue; but Harlequin's horse behaved very ill. He kicked, and plunged, and reared, and finally threw his poor rider off entirely. This made the little children laugh greatly. The little girl who danced the Wreath-dance on horseback was as graceful as any of them. I cannot tell you half the feats these automata performed. If ever I go to London again, I will take you to see them. Ann. Dear Aunt, do tell me about those cunning little puppets, the Rope-Dancers. |