The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-01-10
A Beautiful Clock.

Among the most useful inventions Of
modern science are undoubtedly the clock
and watch. They admonish us of the lapse
Nof time and the ever decreasing course of
the mutable and finite world they pres.
ent to the philosophio mind the index to
eternity. We think it was in Pompeii,
that Oh ce luxurious and effeminate mart
whose ruins are not even left to mock its
former srleudor, that no hours were mum.
bered unless attended with pleasure, the
mask aud rout-non numero horos nisi
serenas but at this day the hours are
numbered as the precious wealth of kings
and peasants, rulers and people. There
is work to be done, and the winged accu
sers stay noc for the idler or the drone :;
they must be seized, employed and devo-
ted to the busy occupations Of active Wig
ilent men. The terminal guardians of
the physical world, the sun, the moon and
the stars, first directed the regular motions
na h q %sG sst ss sas 'A ~
work of systematizing machinery and
graduating the lapse Of time by signs,
"o'0mOuts anu uanus. We uei'eSo Tue
introduction of the clock in Europe is
traced to the Saracens. 'In 1882 tie Sui
tan of Egypt sent to the Emperor Fred
eric Ii. horologiuna, provids with
weights and wheels, pointing OFT the
hour aud also movements of the heavenly
bodies, with infallbIe certainty, as de-
scribed by Trthemius." But even at an
earlier day the clock is mentioned. 10
1l20 the Cistercian monks possessed it.
To Calico is ascribed the application of
the pendulum to the measurement of time.
The French and English have given atten-
ton to specimens of fine and elaborate
workmanship, while Americans have la.
bored to produce useful clocks at the
smallest cost. The finest clock of foreign
manufacture which we have ever seen has
lately bsen brought to Baltimore from the
Paris Exposition where it obtained the
first prize ia clocks, at that magnificent
worlds fair. 1t was purchased by Mr..
George w. Webb as model of ingenious
mechanism and rich and elaborate work
manship. There are but few persons in
DhtbiuoTc WuO nave upt Ueueiu dUu at-
mired this splendid clock at Mr.. Webbs
jewelry establishment. 1t is some ten
and half feet in height, including the
bronze statue which surmounts the work.
This statue is marvel of beauty. Il re-.
presents Clotho, one of the Parcae, who
spins the threads OF life. Thus very
poetic idea Of mythology has been CONVEX
ted to practical and important use. The
drapery of Clotho is thin and flowing, SET
ting off the symmetry and faultless beauty
of the figure under it's delicate folds. The
arrow which sets the beautiful ball in
motion and acts as the time measurement
Of the work, is directed from the body of
the clock--an ingenious and highly arts.
tic piece of mechanism. The clock runs
for thirty days. We have never seen a
more exquisite piece of marble than that
which forms the pedestal of this superb
work. 1t is from Agiers, and is polished
and wrought up to the highest foish.--
We are grati6ed to know that 30 rich a
gem of art has been purchased and brought
hither by a Baltimorean. 10 Paris it
attracted universal admiration, and the
admirers of the beautiful 10 our midst may
alweys find the work exposed to view
Catholic error. -..a a .e.