Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-05-25
OLD SERIES VOL. 10, NO. rs.
SINGULAR CLOCK.


We take the following from The Scientific
American: Joseph Cussan, farmer at Ar.
gnlllon, France, and only 25 years Of age.
and with very limited education, has bu, a
short time ago completed most wonderful
! piece Of mechanism in the form Of a clock.
II Is provided with several dials. which marx
the hours, minutes, seconds, the days of the
| week, those of the month, the months of the
years and centuries the rising and setting
OF the sur, the rising and setting of the moon
&c, the tout ensemble moving with repulu.
rty and precision truly remarkable.
The wheel works being admirably arranged
behind glass 'front.' which is in,erposed for
the purpose Of protecting the delicate machi.
merry from dust, the visitor is enabled 10 e1-
anime the whole al glance, and 10 satisfy
himself of the wonderful perfection of each
part OF the apparatus, as well as of the regu-
Iarlty o: It's movements. Below the wheels
and dlals, upon surface about yard in
length, ranges beautiful gallery, with cells
in the middle and tower at each end. When
the hour is about 10 strike, the door of one Of
the cells is seen 10 open, and Time, armed
with his scythe, comes forth, followed by our
Saviour, who, with whip in hand, pursues and
drives the grim messenger before him, forces
him into cell, and secures the door, At the
first stroke of the clock, small cock, perch.
ed upon a cross surmounting one of the little
towers, flaps its wings and stretches out i,s
neck, as if about 10 crow. The striking OF
the clock having ceased Time and the
Saviour return to their respective cells, into
which they enter and close the doors
Three times day, namely, a, six o'clock
IN the morning, at noon, at six O'Clock in the
evening, by means of an ingenious piece of
mechanism, the sound of the Angeus 10
heard, The Holy Virgin, leaving her cell,
appears for moment on the gallery, and
then enters chapel al the same instant an
angel is seen 10 descend, tapping its wings,
from one OF the miniature towers, and enter
ing the chapel, places itself near the Virgin,
toward whom it incines, as if about to ad.
dress her with the sublime salutation of
which we read in the scripture Nary be.
comes agilated; she trembles, and the be-
holder may perceive her holy fear. This
touching scene takes place during the three
first strokes of the Angelus The angel twice
ascends and as often repeats the same move:
mentS and the same salntations Just described
The whole of the wheel-works are com:
posed either of wood or brass What an
amount OF patience, to fashion and impart to
them that degree Of finish and nicety Of ac:
'ion su neLessary III wOrK VI tlIIs uwsCIIp-
lion During the day, this peasant industri:
ously labored in the fields, while at night, BY
the pale glimmer of candle in one corner
OF his small nconvenient garret, he compile:
ted his wonderful clock. Tie obstacles
which he must continually have had to con.
tend against, would have efectrallS dis:
heartened less determined or enthusiastic
mind At every stop difficulty presented
itself; but difficulties neither disturbed his
patience nor shook his courage he planned,
reflected, and success crowned his efforts.
What greatly enhances the merits or young
Cusson, is having done all himself with his
own hands he made the tlrning- lathe, tho
greater part Of The tools with which he
wrought, as well as the wood and brass
wheels and their appendages, &C. And his
work is so exquisitely fashioned and SO beau
tlfully finished, that it would be an ornament
10 the most elegant saloon or drawing room.