The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-04-28
The StrasbOurg Cathedral Clock.

The wonderful astronomical clock at
Strasbourg is thus fully described in the
"Over the Ocean" sketches by Curtis
Guild, recently issued by Messrs. Lee q
Shepard, Boston:
The astronomical clock here is Gu
rious and wonderful piece of mechanism.
Fancy a structure twenty-five or thirty
feet in height, and twelve or fifteen
broad at the base, having on either side
two others nearly of equal height, one
being the masonic flight of winding
stairs, surmounted by five small en-
blematical Corinthian pillars, and the
other Gothic pillar, its panelings en-
riched with figures.
Placed directly in front Of the base OF
the clock is a celestial globe, which, by
means of the clock-work, shows the
precision Of the eouinoxes, solar and
lunar equations for calculating geocen-
trio ascension and declination of the
sun and moon at true times and places.
Then in the base itself is an orrery after
the Copernican system, by which the
mean tropical revolution of each of the
planets, visible TO the naked eye, is
shown. Then comes an ecclesiastical
calendar, a sort OF perpetual almanac,
indicating holy, feast and fast days;
above, and about ten feet from the floor,
and just beneath the clock-dial, is an
opening with platform in front, upon
which come forth figures representing
each day of the week, as Apollo on
Tuesday, Diana on Monday, &c. Thus
figure in chariot representing the
day appeared at the entrance III the
morning, it had reached the center in
full view by noon, and drove gradually
out OF sight at the close of day. On
either side Of the clocll-dial sat two
Cupids, the size of a three-year old
child one holding a bell and hammer,
with which it strikes the hours and
quarters. and the other an hOur-g lass,
which it reverses each hour. Above is
another dial, with the signs OF the
zodiac; above that figure OF the moon,
showing its different phases, also put in
motion by the clock-work; and still
above this, two sets Of automaton fig
ures, which appear only at l. o'clock,
at which time there is always crowd
gathered to witness their performance.
We viewed this wondrous piece of
mechanism for an hour, and Witnessed
the following movements; At quarter
past eleven the Cupid near the dial
struck one then from one OF the upper
compartments ran forth the figure OF
little child with a wand, and as he
passed he struck one on bell, and ran
away Childhood, the first quarter.)
Round whirl the wheels Of time and
the second quarter chimes; but this
time it is Youth that passes and taps
the bell with his shepherds staff twined
with flowers. Again we reach the third
quarter, and Manhood strides forth, the
mailed warrior, and smites the sonorous
bell, ere he leaves the scene, three
sounding blows with his trenchant
weapon-the third quarter. Once more
the hands tremble on the point Of noon;
the fourth quarter is here, and Old Age,
a feeble, bent figure, hobbies out, pauses
YEARLY at the bell, raises q crutch, and
taps four strokes and totters away out
of sight last scene Of ALL when, as a
finale, the skeleton figure of Death,
before whom all the four have passed,
slowly raises his baton, which the spec
tator now discovers to be human bone,
and solemnly strikes the hour of twelve
upon the bell. While he is engaged in
this act set Of figures above him,
representing the twelve apostles, pass in
procession before the Saviour, who
blesses each as they pause before him in
turn, and chanticleer, the size of life,
perched upon the pinnacle OF one of
the side structures, lifts up his voice in
three rousing crows, with outstretched
neck and tapping wings, while the
Cupid on one side of the dial reverses
the hour glass for the sand to flow back,
and the other also strikes the hour with
his bell and hammer"