The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-10-11

i
One of the most lamentable results Of
the siege of Strasburg, leaving out Of
view the loss of human life, is the injury
which the bombardment has inflicted up.
on the noble cathedral and its wonder.
ful astronomical clock. The cathedral
which, perhaps, more than any other thing
has made the name Strasburg celebrated,
is considered one Of the finest Gothic
buildings in Europe, 1t was founded A.
D., 5O4. The choir was built by Charlie
mango probably about A. D. SOC, though
it was not completed until 1439. The
material of which the cathedral is built
is brownstone. very much resembling
our Connecticut Portland freestone. 1t
was obtained from quarry at Vase.
bonne, in the valley Of Couronne, a few
miles from Strasburg. The architect Of
the existing edifce was Erwin Won Stein.
bach, of Baden. One John, Of Cologne,
was the architect Of the peerless tower
Its spire is the loftiest in the world. lts
height, 486 feet, surpasses that Of St.
Peters, and is about equal to that Of the
Great Pyramid. The greater part Of the
entire structure was destroyed by light.
ening in 1907 aud the restored edi6ce
was begun in l0l5 and completed in IA
80. The cathedral is in every part rich.
ly decorated with sculptures and the
western front. rising to height Of 23O
feet, is. or was particularly fine with its
wreath Of statues, ornamental carvings
and bas reliefs. 1t has circular window
4S feet in diameter The Prussian heavy
artillery has made. it is said. ruin oil O
part Of this vast building.
The astronomical clock, the product ol
. German clockmaker. in about the yeal
1850. is a marvel Of ingenuity and me-
chanical skill, and has no counterpart. II
performs not only the ordirany services o
clock, but exhibits the days and thu
years. the process of the seasons; thu
: signs of the zodiac and the names ant
movements of the heavenly bodies, A
each quarter hour an angel comes out ant
strikes one stroke on bell ut every hou
another angel comes and strikes twice
and at twelve meridian. figure Of hris
I appears, accompanied by the twelve apos
ties, all of whom move around u centra
point and pass in. out of sight,by anothe
door. the stroke oftwelve being given, an
cock flaps his wings and crows. Th
clock is enormous in size, like everything
!, , else connected with the vast cathedral
i aud is invisible from the outside street
the spectator passing through the nave O
y the cathedral to see it. 1t has suffere
= from fire and violence before the presen
: year. having been out Of repair and me
l. tionless since the revolution Of 1893 unit
. the year l842, when it was repaired by
ch-maker of Bas. Rhin, and has bee
} 10 operation since. 1t is to be hoped tina
D. this ingenious piece Of mechanism has nc
:, g been irreparably injured by the preser
u bombardment,
'S The loss of the Strasbsrg library =
10 vast collection Of 100000 volumes, il
l. Guiding many collections OF rare aud cur
l. ous parchment-is total and irreparabl
= = 1t can never be replaced by any collie
d ton hereafter made. II was the slow n
t. suit Of thousand years and its destru
:. tion by ERE, caused by the Prussiau b.
y shot, is like the burning Of the Aexsl
!" ~ drian library in this, that great namb'
- , oil the works destroyed no duplicates ca
i ever be obtained