National Republican., 1881-11-04
THE MODERN WATCH.
The History OF ons OF the Greatsst or In.
Venttons.


ventions.
The inventive genius Of man has never
succeeded in developing more beautiful piece Of
mechanism than the modern watch For utility,
durability, compactness, and attractiveness 1t is
unsurpassed. Often at first purchased as an orna-
ment II becomes In time almost Indispensable, and
one becomes attached to 1t as to a valued friend,
and II by accident OF nattention Its musical tick
ceases, one feels sense Of loneliness without It,
No more beautiful present could be given to a
friend, and years ago in making such present II
was customary TO make 1t the repository Of tender
verses and devices expressive Of the sentiments Of
the donor. Neither the precise year Of the inven-
tion nor the name Of the inventor can be con-
fidently stated. II is claimed that man with
THE RATHER STARTLING NANK OF HE'LL,
who resided In Germany, first made watches In the
the year 1890. They were very rude affairs com.
pared with those mode at the present time, but
they we're highly priced. Whether this origin is
correct cannot be ascertained, but II is known
that for long time they were called Nuremburg
Eggs-from the town where they were made and
from the oval shape, bearngsome fancied rcsembl-
ance to an egg. They were worn suspended from
the grdle, and must at first have
been worn by ladies bits Of jewelry, for in the
London Notes and Queries IL is stated there was In
one of the halls at oxford q female figure, fac
sin,ite Of the woman who first wore n watch. In
were given 10 them, and there is SO much Of inter-
est connected with
THE HISTORY OF TrME-PIEcEs
th0t enough material has been collected TO form
book, which was published in London under the
| title Of" Curiosities Of Clocks and Watches" In
| the sixteenth century IL seemed TO be the aim TO
have the watch as unique as II was possible TO
make IL, and various curious designs have been
described from time 10 time. Among them was
one made in the form of u golden acorn, which
discharged diminutive wheel.lock pistol at q
certain hour. Another, in the form Of tiny
duck. the feathers being perfectly chased
upon the silver The lower part was made to open
and disclosed the dial plate One tells in an odd
| fashion the classic tale of Jupiter and Ganymede
The works were In the body of the eagle, which
opened across the centre where the dial.plate
could be seen, richly engraved with scrolls and
flowers. Others were made in the form Of q
cross and
WERE CALLED ABBEss WATCHES.
| One which belonged 10 the Earl of Stamford was
very elegant. The case was cut ont Of jacnth, and
| the cover set round with diamonds ON an enam-
eled border. But the most ghastly and unattract-
i've design was that In in the time of Henry II.
| When the famous Diana Of Poitiers became the
| favorite of the King she was q widow, and the
complaisant court not only made her mourning
colors the fashion, but adopted the most lugubri-
| Gus fancies for personal adornment Rings were
made In the form Of skeletons clasping the fingers
and small collins of gold were worn as jewels.
The watches were made In the form Of skull, the
top fthe skull opened with a spring and showed
| the dial plate The watch OF the unfortunate
Mary Queen OF Scots, was like the last named
and was presented by her TO lady friend the day
| before her execution.
| THESE FASHIONS PASSED AWAY
| after the seventeenth century, and the graceful
| compact form in use at the present time was
adopted A watch, ordered by Louis XIII. as pres
ent to Charles l., was considered at the time O
| wonderful piece Of work on account of Its small
size. 1t was 2 inches long and IL inches across,
| and was inch In thickness. The back was chased
| with the figure of 81. George conquering the
dragon. This watch would be considered very
large at the present time, where they make them
as small as ten cent piece. In Spain the watch
maker was formerly considered an important per-
| sonage, and was enumerated as an officer of the
household, with n regular salary.
THE TRADE IN WATCHES
in this country Is quite extensive There are sew
eral large and very successful manufactures,
which turn out first-cl goods They make them
of all grades, and one can purchase watch Mt
prices ranging from $50 to $500. Besides those
| manufactured in the country large numbers are
| imported every year. Last year the importations
of the manufactured articles and materials were
valued at 81 100000. Many persons prefer the i'm
ported watches, and the trade Is kept up. Many
| also prefer them who do not care to pay the duty
on them; and the smuggling in this particular line
is very great. All kinds of articles are practced
10 conceal the merchandise about the person (; in
deed, some Of them arc almost incredable. Har-
per's Magazine published, few years ago, q very
interesting article about the detection of Snug
glers in the New York custom. house, and related
the case of a man who had just landed, and who,
from his manner, was suspected of having du-
| table
GOODS CONCEALED ABOUT HIN.
| He was carefully searched, but the examination
failed to show anything wrong After 1t was over
he gave such sigh of relief and was evidently in
such hurry to be of that the officers subjected him
to second examination. Again nothing was dis
covered. BY this time the perspiration stood out
in great drops over his forehead and he was
| irpmhlinn In limb The nlIinnr non