The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-08-17
AWonderful Clock.

A German of Cincinnati has on exbibi-
ton there clock of bis own manufacture,
which is quite as wonderful as the celebra-
The following is a description of it;
We see, in q glass case, q three story,
steeple shaped clock, four feet wide at the
first story, and nine feet high. The move
ment is placed in the centre of the first
story, on four delicate columns, within
ia in the magnificent form of beehive.
Behind the pendulam there is picture re-
presenting mature manhood-a country
man behind his pillow. The four corners
are carved, and represent the four periods
of life -infancy, youth, manhood and old
the clock are ornameuted with two oil.
paintings representing the spring-time of
life (chiIdren playing in garden) and the
autu mn OF end Of life (gravediggers 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, q boy is
just pushing his little bark away from 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, young man, who has already made
some progress in the journey of life, enters
a room in which there is an hour glass,
| that reminds him of the feetness of time.
On this story there are three guardian
angels.
A MAJ estc tower crowns, as third story
| the Ingenious structure. A cock as a sym
Dol of watchfulness, stands on the top,
| directly over the portal which opens the
tower In front on this portal there is q
painting, which represents the perishable
ness of earthly things. The entire struc-
ture is, in appearance, very like an old
Gothic castle.
Now let us see if We can describe the
mechanical action of the clock. When it
| marks the first quarter, the door of the
| left piece of the second story opens, and we
see child issue from the back aground,
come forward to little bell, give 1T one
| blow, and then disappear. At the second
quarter, a youth appears, strikes the bell
! twice, and then disappears at the third,
| there comes man in his prime; at tie
fonrth, we have torttering old man lean
| ing 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, ap-
pears and marks the hnnr by striking q
have the grand spectacle, in the represen-
tation of the day of Judgment. Then,
when Death has struck three blows on the
little bell, the cock in the end of the tower
suddenly flaps his wings, and crows in q
| shrill tone and after Death has marked
the twelfth hour with his hammer, he crows
gain twice. Immediately three angels,
| who stand as guardians in central posi-
| ton, raise their trumpets with their right
hands, in the left they hold swords, and
blow blast toward each of the four quar-
tiers of tue earth. At the last blast the
door of the tower opens, and the resarrect-
ed children of the earth appear, while the
destroying angel sinks out of sight.
The multitude stands for moment, full
of awe and wonder, when suddenly Christ,
in all his majesty, descends, surrounded
! by angels. On his left there is an angel,
right, another carries the Book of Life,
which opens to show the Alpha and Omega
the beginning and the end. Christ waves
| his hand, and instantly the good among the
resurrected are separated from tho wicked
the former going to the right, the latter
to the left. The ArchaDgel Michael salutes
the good, while on the other side stands
the devit, radiant with iendish delight; he
can hardly wait for the final sentence of
| those who fall to him, but in obedience to
the command of the central figure he with
draws. The figure of Christ raises his
| the accused sink down to the realms of
his Satanic Majesty. Then Christ biesses
the chosen few, who draw near to him.
Finally, we hear a cheerful chime of bells,
during which Christ rises, surrounded by
his angels, until he disappears, aud the
| portal closes.
We look with amazement on this exhi-
bition of the mechanics ingenuity a com
plete drama is here represented, without
the aid of human hand. And what eX-
cites our admiration still more, is the per-
| lection of all the movements ; they are
| steady, calm and noiseless, with the ex-
ception of the threatening gestores of tho
figure of Christ, and the movements of
Lucifer, who darts across the scene with
lightning rapidity. OF course the peculiar
action of these two figures is intentional
on the part of the artist, and adds greatly
! to the etfect.-Applet0n's Journal