Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-07-24
The Great Clock at Strasbourg.


clock is a wonderful sort Of thing, isn't
il, children2 There it stands, ticking away
all the time, its tiny hands pointing to every
hour and minute as they pass, with an exact
ness which makes it seem like living being
Indeed. don't believe person could be so
exact aud faithful as clock, for men get
tired. and clocks never do.
But wonderful as the clock appears that
stands on your mothers mantel, or in the
coruer Of grandmother's hall, it is nothing
compared with some others | have seen.
Think Of a clock as large as the front Of
the house you live in, and that will tell not
only the hours and minutes Of the day, but
the days, weeks aud months Of the year, like
an almanac that tells all the movements Of
the sun, moon aud planets, aud many other
things besides.
This clock is in great, splendid church in
the city Of Strasbourg. Strasbourg was a
French city until few mouths ago, When
the Prussiins, who you know have been al
war with France, conquered and took possess
sion Of it. Before the city was given up to
them, the Prussiaus fred great many balls
and shells iuto it, aud some Of them hit the
church, but the clock was not hurt. Oh,
how glad the people have been, all through
Europe and America, that it was not injured ;
for it is one of the wonders Of the world
will tell you about it, First notice the
dial plate, where, as in every clock, we tell
the time Of day. Over this dial you see a
bell. and on each side Of it the image OF a
little boy as large as your baby brother. Que
Of these little fellows has malet in his hand,
aud when the full hour arrives, he strikes
with it ou the bell. The other holds an hour
glass, which lie turns over at the same mo
meut.
Above the dial is larger circle, which
tells the motions of the stars, aud next over
that one which shows the changes Of the
moon. Just above this you see an alcove in
which is a grim, ugly looFing figure called
Father Time. He has a bell in one hand,
aud scythe in the other, which | suppose is
meant to show that when the night CONES he
cuts down every living being.
There are four figures that pass before this
old Father Time, one each quarter Of an hour
These represent the four stages Of life The
first is a little child, the second fair youth
the third grown-up man, aud the fourth au
old person.
Above this acove is another, in which you
see number Of figures. The central one i,
our Saviour, and every day at noon the others
which are meant for the twelve apostles
march slowly past it and bow, while the holy
image lifts its hands in blessing upon them
/ Aud as the last one goes out, lnonstrous
cock, which you see perched on the pinnacle
of the clock at the left hand slowly flaps hi,
wings and crows three times. The growing il
as natural as life. and is so loud that it Cal
be heard outside the church,
You see on the clock many images besides
but they are only for ornameu'. | have ex
planned all those that have motion and mean
ing. Aud all these are moved by machinery
which is arranged at the b,ck Of the clock
where there are large. comfortable rooms
Stairs at the right haud lead up into those
rooms, aud there the workmen are always busy
keeping all parts of the machinery in repair
1t took three hundred years to make this great
clock perfect as it now is. At one time il
stopped, aud fifty years went by before any
one was found who knew enough to put it il
order again. II took a very wise head am
sure to fud out how to do this, and it mus
take wise heads aud skilful hands to keep i
| going