Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-10-25
A WONDERFUL CLOCK.
From the sclrntllic American. !


A short time since we gave brlcf
description of a clock made by Mr.. Felix
Meier. of Detroit, Mich We now pre-
sent our readers an engraving of this
piece of mechanism, which Is said to
eclipse all former achievements in this
direction, without excepting even the
Strasburg, which for so many years has
been regarded as the great clock of the
world.
Mr.. Meier's clock is the result OF near
ly ten years OF patient labor and the ex-
penditure of 81, 900 IN cash. The clock
is eighteen feet in height. eight feet
wide, by five feet deep, and weighs
1000 pounds. 1t is of handsome pro.
portions; the framework is entirely OF
black walnut, elegantly carved. Above
the main body OF the clock is marble
dome. upon which Washington sits in
his chair OF state, protected by canopy,
which is surinounted by gilded statue
OF Columbia on either side OF Washing
ton is colored servant in livery, guard
ing the doors, which open between the
pillars that support the canopy; on the
four corners OF the main body of the
clock are black walnut inches contain
ing human figures, emblematic OF the
march of life; the two lower ones are
supported by two female figures with
flaming torches; one OF them contains
the figure OF an infant, the second the
| figure of youth, the third of man in
middle life the fourth OF an aged gray
beard. and still another, directly over
the center, contains grinning skeleton,
representing Father Time. All OF these
| figures have bells and hammers In their
hands. The Infants bell Is small and
sweet toned !; the youths bell larger and
harsher; the bell of manhood strong and
resonant; that of old age diminishing in
strength. and the bell of the skeleton
deep and mournful.
I The astronomical and mathematical
calcuation. if kept up, would show the
correct movement of the planets for 20C
years, leap years included.
The clock shows the time al Detroit in
hours. minutes and seconds; the differ
ence in time at New York, Washington
San Francisco, Melbourne, Pekin Cairo
Constantinople, St. Petersburg, Vienna
London, Berlin and Paris. The day o
: the week, the calendar day of thu
month. month OF the year, and season
; of the year. The signs ot the zodiac
the revolutions of the earth on its owl
: axis and also around the sun. The rev
olutions of the moon around the earth
and with it around the sun; also tn
moons changes from the quarter to tn
halt, three-guarters and tull. 1t ais
shows the correct movement of tn
planets around the sun.
There IS a movement in this cloc
which cannot regularly be repeate
more than once in eighty-four years.
The inventor has crank attached t
!, the clock, by means OF which he ca
! hasten the working of the machinery il
. order to show its movements to the pub
lie; by turning continuously twelv
3 hours day tor sixteen days and eigi
hours, q perfect revolution of the plane
Uranus around the sun would be made
At the end OF every quarter hour til
iutant in his carved niche strikes with
'' tiny hammer upon the bell which
: holds in his hand. At the end Of eac
half hour tho youth strikes, at the en-
:, OF each half hour the man, and at tt
end OF each hour the graybeard. Deaf
}, then follows with a measured stroke
y toll the hour, and at the same momel
a carved cupid projects from either sid
u with wings to indicate that time file
u At the same time a large music bo!
e manufactured at Geneva expressly ft
{ this clock, begins to play, and surpri
l. ing scene is enacted upon the platfor
+ beneath the canopy: Washington sloy
!: ly rises from the chair to his feet. e:
l. tending his right hand, presenting Il
III Declaration OF Independence. The do
on the left is opened by the servant, a.
~ y hitting all the presidents from Was
u ington's time. including President Haye
y !. Each president is dressed in the costun
~ of his time. The likenesses are ve
i. l. good. Passing in file before Washin
y ton they face, and raise their hands
70 they approach him, and, walking nat
~ \. rally across the platform. dlsappe
~ , through the opposite door. which
=, =. promptly closed behind them by the Sc
IL ond servant. Washington retires in
his chair, and all is quiet save the mea
M ured tick OF the huge pendulum and t.
~ ringing Of the quarter hours. until a
other hour has passed.