...paniards, who thought them idolatrous. Their ancestors had stared with the same stupid amazement at the Saracenic armils and observatories. Dials were placed in the gardens of the Tuileries and Luxembourg , so arranged as to fire a cannon at noon. A mortar is placed on the meridian line of the dial, with a burning lens placed over the touchhole at such a distance and angle that as soon as the sun arriv...