New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-09-20
SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE.

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dscris and Illustrates remarkable clock which II l.
claimed surpasses all o.her neurological hche'e"o'''
not excepting the great clock OF straspuie' i
,,meniece is the invention of Mr. Felix Meier, OF De
troit Mich. The clock is Is feet In height ice. WIZ"
by 8 feet deep and weighs 1000 pounds lne H"".
work IL entirely OF black walnut, eleghhti! carve"
Above the main body of the clock Is m"rne uo'o'
unon which Washington sits In his chair OF state pro
tected by a canopy. which Is surmountch pS e'ueu
statue of Columbia; on either side OF WaSn"E'o" =
colored servant In livery guarding the DOORS "o" "
between the pillars that support the canopy; Oh Tue
for CORNERS m the main body of The clock are Dich
nut inches containing human figures emo'e""uo VI ~.
march Of life: te two lower arc supporter ny NV
flaming torches; one of them contains the "Su'o =" "
infant the second the figure Of youth' inc INN" VI
man in middle ife the fourth OF an aged gray oe"'u' ~
st another directly over tho centre, contains eib
ming skeleton representing Father Ilhe' All VI '"o
enres have he Ne and hammers IN their hands lie IL
fans DELL is small and swect-toned; the you'"s o'i
larger and harsher; the bell OF manhoou s'r""N "
resonant; that OF Old age diminishing IN sue"s'n'
and the bell of the skeleton deep ana mour"'u
Al the end of every quarter the infant IN his carVe
niche strikes with a tiny hammer upon MS Oei.
Ar the end OF each haif hour the youth
strikes at the end OF tbree-quarters tho man.
and at the end OF each hour the gIayDeald peah en
follows with measured stroke {" toll the hour' an"
carved cupid projects from either siae' VII"
wings TO indicate that time flies. At the same
time a largo nlusic-box, manufactured at Geneva
expressly for this clock begins 10 play, and enrprs
ing scene enacted upon tie platform beneath the can
opyi Washington slowly rises from the chair to bis ee
extending his right hand, presenting the Declaration
Of independence. The door the left Is opened oy
the servant. admitting al tue Presidents from Nashhg
toms time, including ProNGcnt Hayes Each tTe'uobt
IS dressed IN The costume Of his time Ihe lkeheseS
brc good. Passing IN ME before "0shlhHt"n' t'5
face ana their haads ~ they approach hm ana
walk ug naturally acros3 TIE platlol ga, ui'Hpma'
through the opposite door whch s promptly closed nt
hind them by the second servant washington ietuts
into his chair. ana ali T. quiet save the tcs ."
the huge peuGulun ani The rinaing OF tie quait"r
hours until another hour has passed NJ, Meier h.s
years Of patient labor ana SoVo III caSn III
perfecting his clock
PARTIAL SOLAR ECLPsEs. M. Jansen re-
Gently submitted 70 the French Academy communicn-
ton on the partial eclipse OF the sun 81 July 10 last
which he observed az Marsccs. II IS well known that
the observation OF partial solar ecpses mas for long
time been considered OF litt ASTRONOMICAL Interest,"
The principal drawback has been the difficulty OF taxing
exact micrOmetrc measures on the sum- ana dc'erulh
ing the precise moment OF the contacts. NJ. Jansen
shows that this difficulty has disappeared before tue
new methods OF celestial photography. Partial ecIses
can now be studied 10 advantage both by spectrum
analyss and photography. ". Jansen also shows no"
photography be used It IS known thai photographs
will show examinations rice markings on tho suns
surface Where large photograph Of partial pse
is takon THESE EXAMINATIONS snOuld extend TO the veIS
ed.c of TIE moon, provided the latter IS hpsOIc WIN
out an atmosphere. II the moon h1s an atmosphere
these examinations viii become FIR Ruar IN shave, end
The extent OF their 81 tou VIII h criterion q"
the density of tn Lunar atmosphere photographs oi
martial ecp.es viii enable astronomers 10 measure
the heights OF mountains situated on Tie nMO vi the
satellite.
FAST CALIFORNIA CLIPPERs.-A number OF
interesting observations made during recent cruise Of
the French frgate IA Magcicnne TO various parts Of
the Paclnc have Just been communicated says Nature
by Admiral SeYres 10 the Paris Academy. Among other
points attention had been drawn, while at
San Francisco, to tie swift. toll-inased CLIP
per ships which convey wheat 70 tao European
market The modern practice OF increasing the upper
sails at the expense Of the lower to DO justified
by science. During the voyage OF the Magicenne an
thermometer was observed daily altitude OF me
Tres aud twice every dny altitude OF SO metres
With rare exceptions the velocity Of the wind was always
found to be much greater the latter than IN The
former The average ratio dcjuced from thousands az
observnficrs was about . to TO- and there wa good
reason therefore, Or seeking motive force In the upper
Regions.
RAIN AND TwINKLING STARs.-Pursulng his
recent researches ON the scntaton OF the srnrs. NJ
Montgny shows. In note 10 the Belgian ACADEMY
that the following conclusion may be acceltodi In the
twinkling of stars which show the col0red rays,
when the tint predoninates, Is found to be In
excess rain may expected. II 1t has not already come
The more predominant blue the greater the proba
blity that the rain will be persistent and plentiful. II
IL supposed the performance Of the blue owing
TO the absorption of other colocd passing through
layers of the atmosphere. On thr same principle
the blue INT OF distant mountains indicates rum