Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-01

We have lately happened upon descriptions
Of tive curious clockS--one of them is old, and
as ase constitutes a valid claim TO precedence,
we give it the trSt place, In the latter half of
the sixteenth century, Droz, mechanic of &C.
uova, produced clock which eNccled all 9TH
erS in ingenuity. On il were seated a negro,
shepherd and a dog. When the clock struck,
the shepherd PLAYED six tunes ON his flute, and
the dog approached and fawued upon him.
This wonderful machine was exhibited TO the
king of Spain, who was delighted with it,
The genteness Of my dog" said Droz, rs
MS least merit. II your majesty touch one oil
the apples which yOu see in the shepherd
basket, YOU will admire the animafs fidelity"
The king took an apple and the dog flew at
his hand, barking so loudly that the kings
dog, which was in the room, began TO bark also
At this the courterS, not doubling that il was
an affair OF Nitchcraft, hastily left the room,
crossing themselves as they departed. Having
desired The minister of marine 1.-THE only one
who ventured TO remainl to ask the negro what
O'Clock it was, the minister did so, but obtained
no reply. DroZ then observed that the negro
had not yet learned Spanish, upon which the
question was repeated in French, when the
black Immediately answered him. AT this
prodigy the tirmueSs of the minister also for
sock him, and he retrcated precipitately, declar
ing that it must be the work Of a supernatural
being.
The other clock is western production, and
is thus described by the Jacksonville, Illinois,
journal:
MIR. August Fisher, an efficient matchmaker,
employed by O. Z. Dayton, has Just construct
ed peculiar timepiece that attracts much at
tention. 1t is simply dial-plate with two
hands-an hour and minute hand. The dial
is twcnty-lour inches in diameter, with a large
opening in the centre. The minute hand is
twelve inches in length, and the hour hand nine
and half inches, fastened in the centre OF the
dial upon a small pivot. That is all that can be
seen by looking at it. b. looking closely on
the large ends of the hands, or ends toward the
centre of the dial, and on the reverse side, YOU
will see what will appear to be weights, intend
cd to balance the hands, but which in reality
contain the secret OF the movements of the
hands. Within these small weights" are
miniature works like those of a small watch,
strong enough to control the large hands. A
person may whirl the hands until they shall
spin around like top, but each will invariably
return to its proper place, and indicate the time
of day correctly. The hands may be taken off,
and laid away for an hour or two hours, or ten,
or any length of time, and upon being replaced
upon the pivot they will Instantly point the pre-
else hour anj minute. There is no electricity.
or anything of that sort.
Tue dial hangs by tiny hook from nail 1t
may he suspended by string, or held in the
hand, and the movements of the hands are all
the same The hands do not move with the rev.
ularity and precision of those of the regulator,
but the correct time of day is always indicated,
and when the hands OF the regulator, or any
properly regulated clock are upon the figures or
minute marks, those of this strange timepecc
will agree exactly. 1t is really remarkable
piece of workmanship, and eXcites much com.
ment. Nothing is seen by looking at it, or ex-
amiang it, save the rim of the dial and the
hands. That is all; and when they move so
correctly and mark the time of day, it seems as
though some unseen spirit must represent and
lmpel their movements. The skeleton clock
hangs in Mr.. o. E. Dayton's store, and may be
seen by any who desire.