The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-06-26
The Wonderful Clock of Etra<burg.
[wRIrrEx ron rHs HARTFORD HKRALp.1


WRITTEN FoR THE HARTFORD HRRALp.1
From visiting and examining the orig
inal model Of the present wonderful, his
torical Clock of Strasburg, we have made
some notes, and write them for the bene-
fit Of your readers who may not have had
an opportunity OF visiting the clock. The
wonderful clock as it stands in the Ca
thedral in Strasburg is OF the following
dimensions: Fifteen by thirty feet long,
by fifteen feet deep. In the center section
is the grand orrery after the copernican
system, in the middle of which is the sun
surrounded by the planets, each planet
performing lie revolution exactly at the
allotted time. On the dial also are CAL
culsted the solar cycle and the eclipses Of
the Gun from 1851 to 1900, an index on
the dial making a complete revolution in
twenty-four bOurs, points during the day
to the figure Of Apollo. and during the
night to Diana. These figures are sta
toned at either side of the orrery. Above
the dial are seen the seven days of the
week, represented bv seven heather dei>
ties seated in chariots, and drawn by the
animals dedicated to them. The figures
change daily, and at three minutes be-
fore the hour aud half hour, the figure
representing the present day leaves its
place, and the figures representing the
other days appear in procession. In
compartment on the right of the orrery
three pendants, illustrating the equation
of time and the geocentric, northern add
southern decination OF the sun, indicat-
ing how many degrees above or below
the equator; also the mean time and the
solar time. In a compartment on the
left is an ecclesiastical compute, with all
its indications calculated forever-Easter
Sunday and all the movable feasts from
the birth Of Christ to time immemorial.
On the ends of the base are beautiful
paintings, emblematic of the beginning
and the end OF time. Three angels sing
ing glory to God in the highest, peace on
earth good will to men; and the Angel
Gabriel blowing the last trumpet
The second section contains the Grand
Calendar. calculated for fittv years, from
1851 to 1900. 1t contains the years the
leap years the golden numbers. the epacts
the Dominical letters, the months, the
days Of the month, the days of the week
and the day Of the week upon which any
date will fall from 1851 TO 1900 In the
four coignes are representations of the
Seasons. Below, in semi-circular dial,
are represented the phases OF the moon.
At either sides are golden lions supports
ing the arms of Strasburg and of the Dir
rectors Of the Church.
In the third section is the dial which
marks the hours and minutes, on the
right is an angel holding a sceplre; on
the left. an angel with an hour glass.
Above the dial. in a niche. stands a figure
of FATHER Tina scyihe in his lett hand,
in his right a hammer, before him bell.
In front pass the four ages Of man-child>
hood, youth, manhood and old age, rep
resented by four moving figures As the
hand of the clock points TO the first quar-
ter, the child advances to the center, and
Father Time strikes one upon the bell
at the second quarter, the youth APP
proaches. aud Time strlkes two; at the
third quarter, as manhood appears. Time
strikes three; at the fourth quarter, old
age approaches the goal-rime silent, but
Death strikes the hour. Above the niche |
at either angle Of the case are stationed
the Angels of Life and Death.
The fourth section is the superstruc-
ture II is richly ornamented chapel
oil the perpendicular style Of Gothic arch> |
iiecture, surmounted by elegant Aying
buttresses and open spires. enriched by
gilded crockets and treiolI ornaments
On either side are advanced porticos in |
the middle a large portico, deliberately
between are lancet windows with |
single mullions, crowned with delicate
network. On the left Of the main body |
Of the clock is tower, divided into three
sections, and surmounted by u cock. The
front faces OF the sections contain paint
ings Of the Fates; those on the side, the
Muse of Astronomy, and portraits OF
Nicholas Copernicus and Herr Schwilque;
on the right is the circular stairway lead |
ing into the clock. At noon every day,
as soon as the tones of the bell struck by
Father Time die away. a chime Of bells
are heard ringing joyous peal. the door in
the right portico opens, the music OF the
organ reverberates through the building,
the Apostles appear in procession; as
they advance, the Angels Of Life and
Death simultaneously turn toward them.
Meanwhile the centre Jeors gradually