Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-01-14
A Wonderful Clock.


A German of Cincinnati has invented
clock which, though much smaller than the
celebrated one at Strasburg, is, from its dcs>
cription, much more complicated We see
IN glass case, a three story, stceple>shared
clock, four feet wide at the first story and
nine feet high. The movement is placedin
the first st'ry, on four delicate columns, with
IN which swings the pendn!um The second
story consists o! two tower like pieces on the
doors OF which there are two pictures that rep
resent boy hond and early manhood a tower
crowns, as third story, the ingenious struc-
ture. y cnck, a symbol of watchfnlness
stands ON the top, directly over the portal
When the clock marks the first quarter the
door of the left piece of the second story
opens, and child issues from the back kgrouod.
comes forward to little bell, gives it one blow
and then disappears. At the second quarter
youth appears, strikes the bell twice. and
then disappears; nt the third there comes n
man in his prime at the fourth wo have
totterlng old man. leaning on staff, who
strikes the bell four times. Each time the
door closes of itself.
When the hours are full, the door of the
right piece Of the second story opens. and
death, as skeleton. scythe in hand, appears.
and marks the hour by striking bell But
1t is at the twelfth hour that we have the
grand spectacle in the representation of the
day OF Judgment. Then, when death has
struck three blows on the top of the little
bell the cock on the top Of the tower sud
denly flaps Ills wings aud crows in shriIl
tone; and after death has marked the twelfth
hour with his hammer, the cock crows again
twice.
Immediately three angels, who stand as
guardians in central position. raise their
trumpet9 in Their ght hands (in their left
they hold swords) and blow a blast towards
each OF the four quarters of the earth. At
the last blast the door of the tower orens. and
the resurrected children of earth appear. while
the destroying angel sinks ou, of sight. Then.
suddenly. Christ decends, surrounded by
angels. On his left there is an angel who
holds the scales of justice on his right anoth-
er carries the Book of Life, which opens to
show tho alpha and omega-the beginning
and the end. Christ wave. his hand. and in
stantly the coon among the resurrected are
separated from the wicked, the former going
to the right, and the latter to the left.
The Archangel Michael snlutes the good.
while on the other side stands the devil. ra>
dent with fendish delight-he can hardly
wait for the final sentence Of those who fail
to HIM. but, in obedience to the command of
the central figure. he withdraws.
The figure of Christ raises its hand again.
with threatening mine, the accursed sink
down to the realms of his Satanic rnsiessy,-
Then Christ blesses the chosen few. thew
draw near to him. Finally. we hear cheer,
full chime of the bells, during which Christ
rises, surrounded by his angels, until he dis
appears apd the portal closes.
a complete drama is here represented with
out the aid of a human hand. The move,
ments are steady, calm and noiseless, with the
exception of the threatening gestures of the
figure OF Christ and the movements of Lucifer.
who darts across the scene with lightning
rap1dity: Of course the peculiar action of
these two figures is intentional on the part of
the artist, and adds greatly to the effect