Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-02-05
THE FAMOUS ASTRONOMICAL
CLOCK

T NLONh-
This clock Is in the Strasburg Cathedral.
Il was built ia the Cathedral, before its
completion, in the year 1889, and was
invented by Isaac Habrecht, Jewish as
trologer.
European clocks were first invented 10
the eleventh century, by the Saracen:, aud
used principally for monasteries. They
were very rude, simple affairs, aud some
times would only go when somebody
pushed the pendulum, which was rather in
convenient than otherwise. So wise mathe-
matcians tried to make improvements; and
some succeeded, among whom was Isaac
Habrecht, who in the fourteenth century
invented the most wonderful clock in the
world, and called it the Clock Of the Three
Sages, because once in every hour the
figures of the Three Kings Of Orient came
out from a niche in its side, and made
reverential bow before an image of the
Virgin Mary seated just above the dial plate,
on the front Of the clock 1t is built of dark
wood, gilded and carved, and is sixty feet
high To shape, it is somewhat similar to a
church, with a tower on either side of the
entrance; and these towers of the clock are
eneircled by spiral staircases, which are used
when repairs are necessary When Isaac
Habrecht invented this wonderful clock, he
meant it to run forever, always displaying
to the good people of Strasburg the days of
the month, place of the sun and moon, and
other celestial phenomena; and while he
lived it worked admirably; but when he had
been dead awhile, the clock stopped, and as
nobody else understood its machinery, it had
quite a vacation After awhile however,
the people Of Strasburg took it in hand and
it was repaired and set going-ouly to stop
again.
Thus it went on till Napoleon's time.
Strasburg, originally German town, was
ceded to Louis XIV. nI68l So the clock
was French property, and Napoleon decided
it must be brought to life again Under the
most skilful French and German machiuists
this repairing took place. twas eminently
successful this time, and when completed was
a great improvement on the Old clock 1t
viii now give not only the time of Strasburg
but every principal city in the world; also
the day of the week and month, the course
of the sun and planets, and all the eclipses
of the sun and moon, in their Iegular order.
In an alcove above the dial is an image of
our Saviour; and every day at noon, figures
of the twelve apostles march around it and
bow, while the holy image, with upIifted
hands, administers silent blessing A cock,
on the highest point on the right hand tower
flaps his wings and crows three times, and
when he stops, a beautiful chime of bells
ring out familiar and very musical tunes a
figure of Time, in a niche on one side,
strikes the quarter hours from twelveto one;
and four figures Childhood, Youth, Man
hood and Old Age-pa>s slowly before him.
In a niche on the other side is an angel turn
ing an hour glass
The clock is in the south transept of the
cathedral Persons travelling abroad usually
take Strasburg on their route, to visit its
cathedral, the spire of which Is the highest
in the world, being four hundred and sixty
feet high, and to see its wonderful astrono-
mical clock; and as Strasburg is but two
bundled and fifty miles southwest Of Paris.
and on the direct route to Switzerland. |
advise you, if ever you travel IN France, to
take this route, and visit the wonderful
clock $ b. G. an O,tr BOYS and Girls.
THERE is magistrate in a town in Indi-
ana named Helser. A clergyman in the
same place was called upon by young
couple not long since, who wished him to
join them in he holy bonds of matrimony.
BE asked the bridegroom a soldier by the
wayl for his marriage license The man 10
blue responded that he had been engaged
to the girl four years, and thought that
would do Clergyman thought not, aud