Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-04-24
Legend Of the Clock Of StTasburg,


Episcopal palace in the ancient city OF
Strasburg. His face, as he waited for n
reply TO tho timid summons, ut first bc.
tokencd nervous anxiety, but after n
time, seeming to relapse into fit OF
musinR, calm, prcoccupfed expression
stole over his features, whilo far away
look fingered in his light blue shrinking
eye.
ilalEconcealed, halfexposcd, he held
beneath his cloak II roll of parchment
After some delay, during which ho never
moved from his listlcss attitude, admit
lance was gained, aud he was ushcrod
into tho presence of Bcrthold, the Lord
Bishop, and there uniodcd his pnrCh-
ment, he laid before tho eyes OF the as
tonished prclatc, plans and designs for
marvellous clock, that exceeded in the
variety of its wonderful movements, the
widest dreams of the nblest horologist
of the time. With difficulty the clumsy
,contrivnnce Of the day was made TO
count the hours but here was stranger
II stranger who refused to disclose his
namo, even to the good Bshop-who
pledged his life to construct n machine
that would not only tell The hours and
minutes, but would divide the year into
its respective months, allotting 10 each
its exact number Of days, pointing ont
distinctly cnch separate dny of tho week;
the feasts md fsts of tho church; the
course and position of the heavenly bod
los. In addition, nt stated hour, life
like figures representing the Wise Mon
of old, would appear, and perform the
somblanco of worship before the image
of the infant Saviour.
Rich were the Golfers of tho Cathc-
dral, rich from the gifts of kings, prin-
Ces and private individuals, and Bishop
Bcrthold was not sparing of the means
at his disposal, either for tho alienation
Of want, or for the honor and adorn-
mcnt Of his famed Cathedral.
Here was wondrouS piece of mcchan-
ism, that would render his church still
more noted in the eyes of the world, and
his name In connection with It, Cor the
good Bishop wns but human) would he
handed down to posicrity, should his
virtues and able administration fail to
build up enduring fame.
Eagerly acccding to the conditions Of
tho stranger, he ordered him to cont
mence his lahors forthwith.
Rooms were Hnickl, fitted up as work
shops in the spacious palace, and mate
rinl collected; but the stranger was
never allowed to pass beyond ihc pre-
cincts. During the progress of tho work,
every moment the bishop could spare
from his episcopal dntics, wns spent in
the rooms of the stranger who almost
increasingly laborcd at his task, aud at
the end of two years the great under
taking was accomplished.
For the week previous to the feast of
st. John the Baptist the south transcpt
was screened of from The nave, and to
all cnquircrs answer was made, Tint
some alterations were being effected
TINT brookcd no interruptions.
The festival Of the saint was cclcbrat-
cd with great pomp, and after the ccrc-
monies, as the people were about to
depart, tho bishop, standing at the foot
of his throne addressed to them Il few
words, then commanded them to follow
him. The curtains screening the tran
sept were then lowered, and tho bishop,
clergy and people, descending tho steps
of the ehancel, entered and stood gazing
in wonder at the splendid horologe.
Supported on solid stone brackets stood
n huge structure of wood profnscly orna.
mcntcd with carving and gui lding.
lts appearance resembled u Gothic
tower and steeple; at regular intervals
were large dials; on the upper were tho
hours and quarters marked in gold; on
the second was the Julian calendar; the
third was an nstrolabc. In II large niche
above the dial Of the hours, sat figure
Of tho Blessed Virgin holding an infant
Saviour. On tho pinnacle of the spirc
was huge brazon cock. 1t was now
but few moments to the hour of noon,
and the bishop commanded the suppress
ed hum Of admiration to be hushcd.
Presently the clock pcalcd forth tho
hour, door opens and one of the magi
comes forth and rcverontly bowling to
the Saviour, passes on, he is followed by
% second and n third, IN the last figure
passed out of view the cock slowly flaps
his wings and crows aloud.
The people were amazed, and some
went so far rs to cry out miraclc--a
miracle!
Tho bishop commanded silence, and
leaning OH his pastoral staff, he explain
cd it's meaning and it's uses. lie told
them that the hours gliding into days,
the days into weeks, the weeks into
years showed them how surely life was
cbbing away into eternity, how the
watchfnl Creator had placed the heaven
ly bodies, depicted on the astrolabc, for
their use and benefit in tho starry sphere
above. How the moving figures appear
ing every hour taught them that at all
times and places they should render
homage to their Saviour for the blessing
they received, and should pray unceas-
ingly for his guidance and support. He
then ordered the maker to stand forth |