Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-03-19
Old Cloeks.

WAN NlWthhs
LoNGFELLow, in his Hyperion, +" tells
us that on the belfry Of the Kauthaus in
Coblentz is u huge head with u brnzon
helmet and n beard, and whenever the
clock strikes, nc each stroke of the ham
mer this giants head opens its great
jaws and smites It's teeth together rs II
IL would say, "Time was-Time is
Time is pastp' This figure is known i'm
ali the country round as "The man in
the Custom House," and when a friend
from the country meets a friend from
Coblentz, instead of saying, "IIOw are
all the good people in CoblentzP" he
says, "How is the man in the Custom
Housep
Another very remarkable clock is
found at Prague, built probably by
some of the old Nuremberg artists. It
stands near the old Hussite Church.
The clock itself forms part of the origi-
nal tower, while the face or dial is ex-
posed to the street. The dial is six or
eight feet in diameter, and has q great
number of hands, recording hours,
minutes, days, months, years and even
centuries. The dial is set in an elabo-
rate framework, about eight feet high
and fifteen long, and this metal frame
work is ornamented with many curious
and quaint devices. One of these is
connected with the striking of the
hours.
In Venice may be found another
wonderful clock. On the dial-plate of
this, in St. Marks Cathedral, the twen-
ty-four hours are marked with the
signs of the zodiac and the phases of
the moon. Above this is the Madonna
sitting in state upon a platform be-
tween two doors. On grand religious
festivals the door on the right of the
Virgin opens, and out walks an angel
with a big trumpet, which he blows,
and then bowing to the Madonna passes
on. He is then followed by three men,
representing the Three Wise Men of
the East, one of whom is as black as
night. These all pause and bow before
door on her left, which closes after
them. On the platform is a huge bell,
beside which stand two giant figures,
who strike the hours with sledge.ham-
mers, while above all is the Lion of st.
Mark, with OutstTetched wings.
In an old record is found the follow
ing account Of q remarkable Japanese
time-keeper: "This clock, in a frame
three feet high and five long, repre-
sented a noon landscape of great lowell
ness. In the foreground were plum
and cherry trees and rich plants in full
bloom; in the rear a hill, gradual in
ascent, from which flowed cascade,
admirably initiated in crystal From
this point a thread-like stream glided
along, encircling in its windings rocks
and tiny islands, but presently losing
itself in far-off stretch of woodland.
In the sky turned a golden sun, indi-
eating as it passed the striking hours,
which were all marked upon the frame
below, where a slowly-creeping tortoise
served as a hand. A bird of ex-
quisite plumage, resting on plum-tree
branch, by its wings proclaimed the ex-
piration of each hour. When the song
ceased a mouse sprang from the grotto
near by, and, running over the hill,
hastily disappeared"
But it is said that Droz, a mechanic
of Geneva, produced a clock which ex-
celled all others in its marvelousness.
On it were seated a negro, a shepherd
and dog. When the clock struck, the
shepherd played six tunes on his flute,
and the dog approached and fawned
upon him. The King of Spain came to
see this wonderful invention, and was
delighted beyond measure. 1.-The gem
tleness of my dog" said Droz, "is his
least merit; if your Majesty touch one
of the apples which you see in the shep-
herds basket, you will admire the ami
malls fidelity" The King took an ap-
pie, upon which the dog flew at his
hand, barking so loudly and so natural
ly that another dog which had come
into the room began to bark also. The
courtiers became terrified, thinking this
must be an affair of witchcraft, and
crossing themselves hastily departed.
Only one ventured to remain, and Droz
requested him to ask the negro what
time it was. He did so in Spanish, but
received no reply. Droz remarked that
the negro had not learned Spanish, and
the question was repeated in French,
when the negro Immediately replied.
This frightened the questioner also
quite out of his wits, and he, too, beat
a hasty retreat, sure that the whole
thing must be of the devil. Church and
People.