Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-04
For the Freeman.
StraSburg Cathedral and Wonderful
Clocks.
BY DIR. HIRAM A. CUTTING

clocks there exhibited. The musica
clocks. while they gained Il larger share OF
attention. were not so peculiar in struc
tlre as those having various images and
combinations, to strike quarters, halves
and hours in various peculiar fashions.
One clock had perched over the face an
smblematic cock that stepped out three
minutes before the close of the hour. and
If ia close crowed the requisite number OF
times. In another small boy brought out
4 drum upon which old father time ham
Dered out the strokes necessary to tell the
hour while on others, now and then, al
tho most unexpected moments, birds
would pop out. in natural plumage, and
with all the acts of life sing their native
,5ng. and retire. Those clocks are mostly
f German manufacture and the recent
exhibition of a German wonder, named
from the " Apostolic clock " in Strasbure
cathedral, makes the subject just now OF
peculiar interest. This clock has a front
Of about three and half by ten feet. The
lower section has dial representing the
zodac, with the stars and planets, which
ravolves in regular order once year.
Above this is second dial, about two fee
in diameter, on which is marked the usual
hours, minutes, ETC., also there are painted
on the same dial four circles, with hands
running underneath the larg- hands, show
ing the day of the month, day of .he week
phases of the moon and seconds. Above
this dial is balcony with doors on either
side and an imitation of Il keystone in the
arch above is also door, with cherubim
On either side of it, and in the gable Of the
Gothic roof that surmounts the whole is an
open space. Two spires stand on either
side. At the end of an hour is heard the
ringing of bell and the keystone door
opens. showing the figure of death, whilr
amusc box inside plays a tune for three
minutes Then chime of twenty bells is
heard, when from the right door the disci
pies come out in procession, while cen
tral door opens disclosing the Savior. As
the disciples reach Him they pause, turn
their faces towards Him and bow, which
bow is returned except Peter, which is
the central figure, and Judas, which is the
last figure in the procession; they turn
their backs upon the Savior, and when
they do 50 horrid Individual, represent
ing the devil, comes ont on tue bSclony ol
the Gothic roof in high gee.
The spires are surmountel by RomHn
,olljer upon the left and IL cock upon the
right The Roman soldier turns AMI looks
the proces ion. while the cock flaps his
wings and crows three lines at Peter.
Wnrn Satan appears the last time, there
is I repetition Of the music, while he turns
and gazcs after Judas.
1t is claimed by the owner of this clock
that it WAS made in imitation of the grta
"Apo,tolic clock at Slra,burg cathedral
and in some respects there is IL similarity.
The following description from friend of
mine who spent some time in Germany
will, as | believe, be of interest, and sub
nit the description entire:
The celebrated cathedral OF StrasbCrg is
one o., the grandest aud most beautiful of
the ancient cdfices Of Germany, and EN-
braces in its structure the history Of arch
lecture from the later Romanesque period
to the decline Of the Gothic style. Ac
cording to tradition its site was in preh'-
torc lines sacrifcial grave of tribe Of
Cells; an af-er the Roman conquest Wa
occlpel bv I temple dedicated to Mars
and Hercules. 1t is further said that this
lempe WAS DESTROYED in the fourth century
by Bishop tntldus, who built in its place
house Of Christian worship, which in its
turn was mL.l to the ground some time
during the tamults attendant upon the
migration Of the nations. The Foundation
OF the preSel. cathedral is said to have
been aII 5:t@een the years 5O4 and 5IC
by Clovis, king of the Franks; in the
rel-ns ot Pepn and Charles the Great was
ou h. choir which still exists \. d
I'V' The church WAS struck by lightning
an bunel down, with the exception of
he choir. ln 1918 Bishop Werner of the
house Of llapsburgh began the building of
The present nave. which after many inter-
aP'ions was completed in 1915. Two
years later the foundation. was laid
o! the majestic tower, built after the de
'gA Of the great architect Erwin Won
Seiaoach. Erwin superintended the
building Of the tower until his death in the
year 1918, when it was continued under
!4e direction of his son John, whose sister
>'ona decorated the portal with beautiful
statues. John died in 1880. before the
completion Of the tower, which was finally
Accomplished in the year 1439 by John
HUI of Cologne. The superstrucuon ol
the south tower, included in Erwin's plan
was never undertaken.
1t is foreign 10 my plan to follow the
subsequent history Of this remal kable edi
ice or to describe its architecture. will
however, mention Us facts of interest tha
lis facade is considered more beautiful thar
that Of any other church in the world; an,
lhat no other structure in Europe has ,
height equal to that of its tower which i.
lJl feet, while the dome of St. Peters ii
IN Rome is only 428 feet high. The interi
Or Of the church is 355 feet long and l3:
Iset wide; aud is rendered the more i'm
pre'sive by the "dim. religious light
which is ditfused through the richly paint
ed windows. Among the noteworthy OBJ
lects to be seen in the interior are colos
sal statue of Bishop Werner, and othet
sculpture, some Of considerable excellence
aGothc pulpit. and, in the left transept. ;
Iothc btt ttismal font, both dating from
'ne fifteenth century. In the right tran
sept Is the celebrated astronomical clock
constructed 10 the yeaIs 1911 to "a. b,
Isaac litbrecht Of Schaffhausen, after de