The Dirty Lives of Robots

A most fascinating trick

Today in 1794, The Courier published this advertisement:

“Wonderful exhibition !!! Signor Gulielmo Pittachio, the sublime wonder of the world!!! condescends to inform the public at large, and his friends in particular, that he has now opened his grand hall of exhibitions at Westminster… In the course of the entertainment the sublime Pittachio will exhibit upwards of two hundred automata, or moving puppets, Who will rise up, sit down, say Yes, or No, Receive Money, Rake among the Cinders, or do any Dirty Work he may think proper to put them to–N.B. This is a most fascinating Trick.”