Smyrna times., 1869-09-01
A Remarkable Clock.

1t is an undeniable fact that when genius
ana poverty are combined in Europe the latter
Is too heavy burden for the former to carry,
and genius sinks under it. There are excep-
TONS, but, as usual, these only prove the rule.
Hence genius that will not down seeks other
countries where antiquated prejudiceS do not
obrtruct its way. This country has profted
much by being adopted as a home by many of
the most talented men to whom England has
given birth, and our list of eminent men in the
sciences, the arts in all the diversified branch
es OF mechanical industry, contain many who
saw the light of day under European sun,
but who climbed the ladder of distinction under
the free sun Of America, though poor and un-
known at first they started out
Another somewhat similar illustration of
this truth we are enabled to give to day. There
lived at Aries, In France, poor Matchmaker,
who was considered one of the most expert at
his trade, but was looked upon by his fellow
workmen as little better than fool since for
years, he spent all his surplus earnings, small
as they were, In experimenting upon project
he had in his mind, Of constructing an astro
nOmical clock. This man was Menestrel At
last he succeeded, and his work was finished
For six years he had been laboring at it. and
his scant means enabled him only to use t! e
cheapest material. and forego all attempts at
establishment. But he was poor, and that
was his misfortune. He Was but common arti.
san, with no high sounding title, no noble pro
lection, and for this reason he failed. He wish
ed to exhibit this work in London at thr tier
national exhibition of 1862, but from London
he was referred to the imperial commissioners
at Paris and there was fatty refused Failure
and disappointment surrounding him every.
where, he despaired disease came upon him
and he died. The brother Of his widow ther
took the matter in hand. He had for more
} than ten years helped and assisted, advised
and worked with his brother-in law, and, though
5 not the originator, he had right to claim thu
, work partially his own. He also failed wher
ever he appealed, and despair came over hin
e also.
!, At last, only few months ago, he came t.
! this country. Poor, friendless, and homeless
: as he was, he knew not where to apply, and al
e ter few days was appointed sweeper at Gas
n tie Garden. He then sent for his sister an
}, the clock, who arrived but last week, and too
d quarters in one of the cheap tenements aroun
!. the battery, where this remarkable clock ha
, been put up. 1t is indeed a remarkable pieC
of mechanical work. In size it is not large
o than the old fashioned mantle clocks and is ru
l. by weights. 1t is a regular dial showing til
rs hours, minutes and seconds. Above this, is
le sort of frOntispiece, in which revolves til
y moon, giving with perfect exactnesS her dffe
In ent phases and the changes from day to da
. and the degrees of the infection of its cours
lg The front of the socket is covered with nun
Der Of dials, giving the solar cycle, the Domn
cal letter. the lunar cycle, the easter cycle, Il
month of the year, the day of the week and Il
date of the month, the decension of the sun
1ee degree, the hour, minute and second of sunri
III and sunset from day to day, and the true a
ty Economical time, which latter is given by mi
ry utes and seconds punctually at noon each d;
p with the same exactness as we'll appoint
G. sun dial The dials are all calculated for Il
m meridian of Aries, which is 2 min. q sec. es
en- of the meridian of London, and 43 min. "a sc
ne of northern latitude The Castle Gard
a, sweeper proposes, if he can find time, to ada
In this clock, the work of himself and brother
or law, and its many astronomical dials, to t
sr- latitude of New YOrk.-Neao York Herald.