Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-11-28
A Mechanical Marvel.

A Mechanical Marvel.
A German of Cincinnati, has on exhi-
bition, in the window of a jeweler of that
city, a complicated piece of mechanism,
which he calls 'die Lebensuhr" o'clock of
Efe). 1t will be seen, from the follow
ing description, that it is truly a mechan-
ical marvel:
We see, in glass case, a three story.
steeple- shaped clock, four feet wide at the
first story, and nine feet high. The
movement is placed in the center of the
first story, on four delicate columns, with
in which swings the untiring pendulum,
which is in the significant form of bee
hive. Behind the pendulum there is a
picture representing mature manhood-a
countryman behind his plow. The four
corners are carved, and represent the
four periods OF life-infancy, youth, man.
hood and age. The spaces to the right
and left of the clock are ornamented with
two oilpaintings, representing the spring
time of life children playing in garden),
and the autumn or end of life grave dig
gers in cemetery.
The second story consists of two tower
like pieces, on the doors of which there
are two pictures that represent boyhood
and early manhood. In the one boy is
| Juot Lis llIIlO DdIh away ITOn The
| shore. He stands upright in the boat,
and points to the distance; he is about to
begin life-"to paddle his own canoe. ,
In the other a young man, who has al
ready made some progress in the Journey
of life, enters room in which there is an
hour-glass, that reminds him of the fleet
ness of time. On this story there are
three guardian angels.
A majestic tower crowns, as third story
the ingenious structure. A cock, as 8
| symbol of watchfulness, stands on the
top, directly over the portal, which opens
the tower in front. On this portal there
| is painting which represents the perish
ableness of earthly things. The entire
structure is, in appearance, very like ar
| old Gothic castle.
Now, let us see if we can describe the
mechanical action of the clock Wher
it marks the first quarter, the door of the
left piece of the second story opens, and
we see child issue from the background
come forward to little bell, give it one
blow, and then disappear. At the second
quarter youth appears, strikes the bel
twice, and then disappears; at the thirt
there comes man in his prime; at the
fourth we have tottering old man, lean
ing on staff, who strikes the bell foul
self. When the hours are full, the dool
of the right piece of the second story
opens, and Death, as a skeleton, scyth,
in hand, appears, and marks the hour b,
striking bell. But it is at the Twelfth
hour that we have the grand spectacle il
the representation of the Day of Judg
ment. Then, when Death has strucl
three blows on the little bell, the cock OF
the top of the tower suddenly flaps Lii
wings, and crows in a shrill tone; and
after Death has marked the twelfth hou
with his hammer, he crows again twice
Immediately three angels, who stand a
guardians in central position, raise thei
trumpets with their right hands lin tn
left they hold swords], and blow a bias
toward each of the four quarters of tn
earth. At the last blast the door of tn
tower opens, and the resurrected childrel
of the earth appear, while the destroyin
angel sinks out of sight.
The multitude stand for moment ful
OF awe and wonder, when, suddenly
Christ, in all his majesty, descends, SUI
rounded by angels. On his left there i
an angel, who holds the scales of Justice
on his right another carries the book O
life, which opens, to show the Alpha AM
Omega-the beginning and the end
Vii lou waves LIS udlu, duu INSTANTLY In
good among the resurrected are separated
from the wicked-the former going to tn
right, the latter to the left The arch
angel Michael salutes the good, while, OF
the other side, stands the devil. radian
with fiendish delight-he can hardly wal
for the final sentence of those who fall t,
him, but, in obedience to the command
of the central figure, he withdraws Th
figure of Christ raises his hand again
with threatening mien, and the accurs
ed sink down to the realms of his satanic
majesty. Then Christ blesses the chosel
few, who draw near to him. Finally, W
hear cheerful chime of bells, durin,
which Christ rises, surrounded by his an
gels, until he disappears, and the porta
closes.
We look with amazement on this exhi
bition of the mechanics ingenuity;
complete drama is here represented, with
out the aid of a human hand And wha
| excites our admiration still more is tn
perfection of all the movements; the
are steady, calm and Loiseless, with tn
exception of the threatening gestures O
the figure of Christ and the movement
of Lucifer, who darts across the seen
with lightning rapidity. OF course, tn
peculiar action of these two figures is in
territorial on the part of the artist, an
adds greatly TO the effect-Appleton
Journal