Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-01-29
DIR GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK.



a clepsdra, and was small glass vessel
with hole in the bottom just large
enough to ooze out, drop by drop The
hours were marked on the sides OF this
vessel. A cork with PIN stuck into it
was put into the water, and when the
vessel was full the pin pointed to one
o'clock, and the next hour to = o'clock,
and so on. The vessel was so arranged
that the water would all run out in twelve
hours. Shortly after this, Il few hundred
years or so, sand-glasses began to be III
vogue They were on the same principle
rs the water clocks, and are occasionally
seen even at this day.
The first clocks that were made were
quite rude affairs. For long time pull
leys were used instead of the pendulum.
Pacifcus, who lived about the ninth
century, is thought to have been the in
ventor of clocks worked by wheels. 1t
is said that the use of the pendulum was
suggested by the vibrations of Il chande-
her in a cathedral AS early MS the ninth
century Haronn-al- Raschid (whose name
suggests all sorts of Arabian Nights
extravagances) sent very elegant clock
to Charlemagne. Small bells were at
tached to this wonderful mechanism, and
twelve doors opened, each at the hour it
represented, and continued open until
noon. when twelve knights came forth,
each from one of these doors, paraded
around the dial, and each, going back
into his own door, shut himself i'll. Such
a gift would be worthy of a king even
now.
Watches were first invented IN Nurem
burg by Peter Hale. They used to be
called Nuremburg eggs because they
were oval in shape. 1t took many years
to bring them to their present state of
perfection, and to render them the COM
mon convenience of the present day.
Longfellow, in his Hyperion, tells
us that on the belfry of the Kauthaus in
Coblentz is huge head, with a brazen
helmet and beard, and, whenever the
clock strikes, at each stroke of the ham
mer this giants head opens it's great jaws
and smites its teeth together, as if it
would say: "Time was--time is--time is
past =" This figure is known in all the
country round as "the man in the GUS
tom-house," and when friend from the
country meets a friend from Coblentz,
instead of saying How are all the good
people in Coblentz?" he says, "How is
the man in the custom-house
Another very remarkable clock is
found at Prague, built probably by some
of the old Nuremburg artists. 1t stands
near the old Hussite church. The clock
itself forms part of the original tower,
while the face or dial is exposed to the
street The dial is six or eight feet i'll
diameter, and has a great number of
hands, recording hours, minutes, sec
onds, days, months, years, and even CEN
tunes The dial is set III an elaborate
framework, about eight feet high and tif-
teen long; and the metal framework is
ornamented with many curious and
quaint Devices One of these is con-
nected with the striking of the hour.
In Venice may be found another Won
delful clock. On the dial plate of this.
in st. Marks cathedral, the twenty -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 behind two doors.
On Grand religious festivals the door on
the right of the Virgin opens, and out
walks an angel with a trumpet, which he
blows. and then bowling to the Madonna.
passes on. He is followed by three men,
representing the three wise men of the
cast one Of whom is as black rs night.
these all pause and bow before the
Virgin, and then pass through the door
at her left, which closes after them. On
the platform is huge bell, beside which
stand two giant figures, who strike the
hours with sledge-hammers, while above
all Is the lion of St Marc, with out
stretched wings
In an old record is found the following
account Of a remarkable japanese time
Keeper: This, clock, in a frame three
Ieet nigh and five long, represented
nooll landscape of great lovelinees. In
the foreground were plum and cherry
trees, and rich plants in full bloom in
ale rear, gradual in ascent, from which
moved a cascade, admirably initiated in
crystal. From this point a thread-like
olIeam gllded along, encircllng IN its
winnings rocks ana tiny islands, but
presently losing itself in far-otf stretch
VI woodland. In the sky turned gold
sh sun, indicating as it passed the strik-
ing hours, which were all marked ON the
frame below, where slowly creeping
"ito!se served as q hand. A bro CT
Wulslte plumage, resting on plum
aee 0ranh, by its wings proclaimed the
APfafon. When the song ceased
mousse sprang from the grotto near by,
~ running over the hill, hastily dlsap-
pared.
mi It is said that Droz, mechanic OF
Y eva, produced clock that excelled
9 theirs in its marvelousness. On 1t
.sFa seated a negro, a shepherd, and
a nlr civ a ghpll-