The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-08-21
Remarkable Clocks,

Remarkable Clocks,
A marvellous specimen Of olock-work
Is to be seen at the palace Of Frieden-
stein, In Gotha. It Is un astronomical
clock and orrery, and was the labor Of
an ingenious monk for forty years:
1t has recorded with accuracy for up
wards Of 100 years the motions of the
heavenly bodies, the days, months and
years In their eternal round; one hand
moving over an inch Of the dial In the
brief space Of a second; another toiling
through the same long and weary
journey in 100 years; and feeling Of
awe involuntarily creeps over the
mind as one contemplates the little in
dex that has pointed out the rise and
fall of empires, progressing in Its
silent, onward course, like tho unerring
course Of time.
a clock of curious designs, made in
Germany about the commencement OF
tho seventeenth century, was exhib-
tied at the meeting of the Archaeological
Institute In 1866. 1t was In tho form
OF Il griffin bearing an escutcheon on
which was n dial. The animal rolled
its cyos constantly whilst the clock was
in motion, opened It's mouth when the
quarters struck, and Tapped its wings
at the striking hour.
Somo years ago the Emperor of
China received from the East India
Company clock In tho form of q
chariot, in which was seated lady {;
upon her finger was bird set with
diamonds and rubles, with its wings
expanded, us If to take flight, and
which futtered for sometime when n
certain diamond button was touched.
The body of the bird contained the
machinery by which it was moved.
Over the lady's head we're two UNI
brcllas, under the larger Of which =,
bell was placed Mt some distance from
the clock, and apparently having no
connection with 1t, but from which
communication was secretly conveyed
TO a hammer that regularly struck the
hour. At her feet was a gold dog, be-
fore which were two birds on spiral
springs, having their wings and feath-
ers set with stones of various colors.
They appeared to be flying with the
chariot, which, by hidden machinery,
was made to run in any direction, a
boy stationed ut the back seeming to
push 1t forward. Above the umbrella
were flowers and precious stones ter
mimating in dying dragon set In the
same manner; the whole was of gold
curiously wrought and cmbclliShed
with. rubies and pearls.
There is curious old clock at Lu-
beck, constructed about a. D. 1880.
This ancient piccc Of mechanical skill
Is placed near the alter, and has Il huge
and bow ildering complicated dial. On
miniature scmt-circular gallery above
the dial is the figure of Christ seated
on throne. With the last stroke OF
twelve melodious chimes play Il verse
Of some hymn, and at the same time a
little door on the right Of the gallery
opens and figure in apostolic garb
appears, advancing slowly until 1t
reaches the throne, when 1t turns and
bows before the Savior, and then goes
on, again disappearing through door
on the left. Eleven apostles pass
through In this manner, but the
twelfth, who is said to be Judas, only
shows his face, when the door is shut
on him. On each arc bas-reliefs Illus
traLivc of passages in the life Of Christ.
In that of tho last supper, mouse is
seen pecping from beneath the armorial
bearings Of the once puissiant Lubbock,
formerly the head of the famous Han
seattle League formed there in 1864.