Morning journal and courier., 1880-06-08
A Wonderful Clock.

In the large Tammany Hall at the present time there is on exhibition one of the most remarkable mechanical curiosities in the | shape of an astronomical clock that has ever been been in this country. It is the work of German named Felix Meters, an adopted I citizen of America and he claims that it is | 5he grandest work of neurological science ever produced, being superior in many respects to I the celebrated Strasburg Cathedral clock. | Viewed exteriorly it is mass of ornamenta- | ton, the carving of which alone occupied more than year. Interiorly there is a vast | network of wheels and complex machinery, l ell of which, however, is apparently under | the completest of control, The clock stands about eighteen feet high, is five feet deep and weighs 4, GOO pounds It is moved in
 sections, run Iy 700 pound wei regulated by mercury pendulum thirty pounds in weight, and requires winding once in twelve days. The case is of Michigan black walnut, and is more or less decorated with designs l emblematic of American history Above the 1 main body of the clock is marble dome, l upon which Washington sits in his chair of l state, protected by canopy which is sur l mounted by gilded statue of Columbia. On either side of Washington is a colored ser vant in livery, guarding the doors which 1 open between the pillars that support the canopy. On the four corners of the main | body of the clock are black walnut niches containing human figures emblematic of the 1 march of hfe the two lower ones are SUD- ported by two female figures with flaming torches; one of the inches contains the figure 1 of an infant, the second the figure of youth, 1 the third of a man in middle life the fourth 1 of an aged graybeard, and still another, di- | rectly over the centre, contains skeleton representing Father Time. All of these fig ures have bells and hammers in their hands. | The infants bell is small and sweet toned; the youths bell larger and harsher the bell of manhood strong and resonant that of old | aO m n 1 the skeleton deep and sad. A figure of W. c. l Bryant and another of Professor Morse, in 1 ventor of telegraphy, rest upon the pillars | that support the planetary system. It IS said | that the mathematical calculations are so nice 1 ly adjusted as to correctly record the move 1 ments of the planets for POO years. The rela- | tionship of the planets to the universe is shown on large dial, and the changes of the
 sun and moon, with reference to the earth, | are not only instructive but wonderfully indi- cative of the correctness with which machin- cry has been made to obey the will of man. The local time of the principal cities of the world is given, and any variation at New York or Washington, London or Paris, is instantly re- corded. One of the movements of this won derful machine is So elaborate that it cannot
 be regularly repeated more than once in
 eighty-four years, although the inventor has
 crank attachment whereby he can at will
 hasten retard the operation of the machin- cry in giving his descriptions of the same. The quarter hours are struck by an infant
 the half hours by youth, the three quarter
 hours by middle-aged man, and the end of
 the hour by agraybeard. Death, represented by a skeleton, then proceeds to solemnly toll the full stroke. At this moment-the even hour-a strain of music is heard, one of thir- teen airs, a servant opens a side door under
 the roof or portico of the clock, and the fig
 ures of all the Presidents, from Washington to Hayes, solemnly file out, and passing the figure of Washington raise their hands and
 salute the Father of his Country. The latter
 rises to his feet and extends his right hand, in which is held the Declaration of Independ- ence. He remains standing until the unique
 procession passes, and then solemnly resumes
 his place. No description, however, can con- vey complete idea of this curious inven- ton.