Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-03-08

THE oTRAsBURG CLOCK 0UTRIvALLED.-In
Mengel's building is now on exhibition in all
probability the most wonderful clock in the
world. 1t was built by Stephen d. Engle,
a matchmaker, at Hazleton. is about IS
years Of age. and was about 90 years in per-
fecting the clock. Mr. Reid paid Engle S.,
900 for it. Eugle never saw the Strasburg
clock. In fact. he has not travelled more
than 200 miles hom home at any time
This clock stands III feet high At its base
it is about four feet wide, and at the top about
two 1t is about three feet high at the base.
Gradually less toward the top. Its colors are
dark brown and gold. The Strasburg clock
is 30 feet high, yet its mechanism is not so
intricate, nor has it as many figures as the
Hazleton clock. The Strasburg clocks fig
ures are about three feet high and the Ameri
can clock about nine inches. Three minutes
before the hour pipe-organ inside the clock
plays an anthem. 1t has five tunes. Bells
are then rung, and when the hour is struck
double doors in an alcove open and figure
of Jesus appears. Double doors to the left
then open, and the apostles appear slowly,
one by one, in procession. As they appear
and pass Jesus they turn toward him, Jesus
bows, the apostle turns again and proceeds
through the double door in an alcoye on the
right. As Peter approaches, Satan looks out
Of a window above and tempts him. Five
times the devilappears, and when Peter passes,
denying Christ, the cock flaps its wings
and crows. When Judas appears, satan
comes down from his window and follows
Judas out in the procession, and then goes
back up to his place to watch Judas, appear
ing on both sides. As the procession has
passed, Judas and the three Marys disap-
pear and the doors are closed. The scene can
be repeated seven times in an hour if necessa-
~ and the natural motion of the clock pro-
duees it four times per hour, whereas the
Strasburg procession is made but once day,
ut II O'Clock. Below the plaza is the main
dial, about thirteen inches in diameter. To
its right is figure of Time with an hour
glass. Above this is window, at which
appear figures representing youth, manhood
and old age. To the left of the dial is
skeleton representing Death. When the
hour-hand approaches the first quarter, Time
reyerses his hour-g lass and strikes one on
bell with his seythe, when another bell in
side responds; then Childhood appears in
stantly. When the hour-hand approaches
the second quarter or half hour, there are
heard the strokes OF two bells Then Youth
appears and the organ plays a hymn.
After this, Time strikes two and reyerses
hour-glass when two bells respond inside.
One minute after this chime of bells is
heard, when folding door opens in the
upper porch and one at the right of the
court, when the Saviour comes walking out.
Then the apostles appear in procession,
The clock also tells of the moons changes
the tides, the seasons. days, and day OF the
month and year, and the signes of the zodiac
and on top soldier in armor is constantly
on guard, walking back and forward. As
the hours advance, Manhood, Old Age and
Death take part in the panorama.-Reading
Eagle.