The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1877-12-19
MISCELLANY.
THE srR4sBUne COCK ourDosE.

| THE STRASBURG CLOCK OUTD0NE.
| Four centuries have passed since the stroke
of the midday hour announced the beginning
of the famous Apostolic march OF the great
Clock at Strasburg, aud through the dim
lapse of ages has survived the potent spell of
inspiration which the Germans believe fell di.
rect from the hands Of Divinity upon their
beloved country.
From the renowned mechanician, whose
mighty brain and cunning hand wrought the
worldwide marvel, have descended race of
men through whose cool Teutonic blood, like
a scarlet thread of fire, has run the laudable
ambition to perpettiate, through still more
distant ages. the glorious birthright of honor
bequeathed to them through this marvellous
work. aud fiom the Fatheriand to America
came one Of their number less than two hun
dred years ago. As generations have come
and gone, SO has the story OF their ancestors
Achievements been repeated to them with par
donable pride. till. in This Nineteenth century,
the emulation thus fostered has resulted In an
achievement SO grand that we challenge not
only Strasburg hut tho world to excel 1t. This
man. Stephen ID. Engle, who has never trav-
e'ed two hundred miles from his native town.
Hazleson, Pennsylvania, with no sudden as
pirations for fame or fortune, remembering
his lineage. fonnd himself irresistably impel-
led to attempt the work. With no attempt
to copy the clock at Strasburg. with no intel
lieence Of its hidden mysteries, he has repro
al s.,t. a.,
combination with others a thousand times
more startling and mysterious. Till one almost
doubts his own vision, and looks upon the
wonderful clock as a piece of marvellous en-
chanfment.
Evincing love and passion for the art from
hoyhood, perfecting even before this period
some wise improvements in the science. which
are widely known and universally adopted at
the present day, this man has at length con-
ceived and carried on plan whose perfection
and skill will astonish the world for ages yet
to come, and crown his country with bright
er lustre on the scroll Of fame.
With limited means only at his command
depending solely on his vocation as a watch
maker, in the village Of Hazlefon, to provide
the necessities of life for himself and family,
for twenty long years has he struggled against
the tide, deyotng every spare moment from
waking or sleeping hours to the accomplish
nent of his purpose, until at last the dream
is realized, the work is completed, and Ameri-
ca must proudly take her position as second
to none in the mechanical skill Of her sons.
And this wonderful clock unfods to all not
alone mechanical but scriptural beauties, with
such marvellous fidelity and impressiveness,
that. In looking upon 1t, even the most
thougltless must feel the involuntary and ir-
resistible thrill of revercntial interest which
for eternal ages will lingsraround the lowly
manger Of Judea and the Cross Of Calvary. =
To childhood II makes the scripturai page
| vivid reality and invests its characters with
new and all absorbing interest, as the sacred
story of their lives 10 presented to them,
blended with the charm Of allegory and the
grace Of motion. xs
/ The first section of this wonderful clock
contains six weights. In front Of this section
there Is semicrculai opening, which con-
tains the circle of the Ancient Z,diac. with
the twelve lfe-like signs for every month In
the year, and The stars Of the frst.. second and
third magnitude, 1t making but one reyuIu-
ton in 365 days The section above this con-
tains the hour strike, tho time, quart 7, organ,
apostolic train. aud chimes. In font ut this
section, at The base, or either side, are dials !;
the left one represents the tides, and the right
one represents the seasons and inclination OF
the earth's axis. In the centre between these
dials Is revolving cylinder representing the
day of the month. Above this is the large
dial representing minutes. hours and the
phases Of the moon with revolving cylinder
at the right showing the day Of the week, a. d
another at the left showing the month. Above
this. Is an oval niche, where childhood. youth,
prime OF life, and old age appear during the
hour. In the right of this is an slcove which
contains Father Time with his scythe,
hour. glass and bell, on which tn strike the
quarter. hour with the scythe. On the left is
another Above. containing the figure Of Death,
holding thigh bone in his right hand, and q
4 skull to strike the hour on. Extending mp
the corners Of this section half way, are four
Corinthian futed columns With gilt futing
and gilt capitals Above these are four Egyp-
tian gilt columns with lion head capitals