St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-09-03

Majesty King William accepted, and
| grant ed him pardon, and he lived to
be one hundred and two years old.
The bell which Hatfield heard was
the "Great Tom ofWestminster, which
was granted TO St. Pauls in 1893, and
is never used now except on the death
of one of the Royal family, the Bishop
OF London or the Lord Mayor
The hours OF st. Faul'S clock were
struck before 1884 by two figures, which
were called Paul jacks and from
which comes the expression, His Jock
O the Clock meaning servant of
yours Or anybody's time.
The first clock in Westminster was
paid for from a fine imposed upon the
Chief-Justice of the Kings Bench. for
reducing poor man fine from l3s. Id.
to 6s Sd. This clock struck hourly.
and was intended to remind the Judges
of the late of their brother, and teach
! lawyers the difference between l3s. i'd
and 6s. sd. 1t was built two years after
| St. Paul's.
About the wear 1865. a clock-tower of
| stone was erected in the ourtyard, OPP
posite the palace, or hall. and the old
| clock removed there; but the clock and
tower were destroyed by the Roundhead
Mob. in 1862, and continued in a ruin
Gus state for fifty three Years, when it
was removed to the side OF New Palace
Yard, and now, where this famous old
clock house once stood, is dial inserted
in the building, relatingthe story of the
fine imposed upon Chief-Justice Heng-
ham.
The clock now in Westminster WIS
M de IN 1851. 1t has four dals each
twenty-five feet in diameter The tig-
ures are Gilt on a blue surface These
dials are said to be the largest in the
world The minute hand, on account
of its great length, velocity, weight and
the action OF the wind uDon it, requires
at least twenty tines more force to
drive it than the hour hand.
1t runs for a week, has u pendulum
fifteen feet long (Which weighs $50
pounds and all the wheels are of cast
reports its own time to Greenwich by
electric ty.
St. Dunstqn's Church, in Fleet street.
London --one of the most curious and
historic streets in London boosted of a
clock Whose quarters were struck by
two giants. or savagcs, Us they were
called. They were life-sized, wooden
figures. with clubs in their hands, and
they struck the quarters Of every hour
on bells. moving their heads at the slme
time. They were the pets OF cockneys
and countrymen. aad attracted great
crowds. Sir Walter Scott speaks of
them in his "Fortuncs of Nigel" and
Cowper also aIludes to them.
The old church was pulled down in
1890, and the MARQUIS of Hartford
bou hit the old clock and the two famous
savages fer E2l0.
The ROYAL Exchange clock, in Lon
don, is perhaps the most remarkable of
al. 1t was made N 1874. and is as
noted tor its accuracy of time as the
first Exchange clock was noted for be-
mo the worst-kept clock in London.
The old clock had four dials and
chimes. which played a tune at three,
six, nine and twelve o'clock; on Sum
day, the 10th Psalm; Monday, "God
save the king;;'' Tuesday, 1.-The
Waterloo March, Wednesday,
..There nae luck aboot the house,
1nu1SudJ, see, the COn'iuelinS uelo
comes;' Friday, "Life let us cherish"
and Saturday, 1.-The Foot Guards
March
On January 10, 1888, the Exchange
was entirely destroyed by fire, the clock
tower alone remaining the dials indi-
eating the exact time at which the
flames reached them--the north at
twenty-five minutes past one, and the
south, five minutes past tve-and the
last air played by the chimes at twelve
o'clock was, There's nae luck ABBOTT
the house."
If YOU should ever 90 to London, and
visit Westminster Abbey, there in the
nave you will find two small marble
slabs, diamond-shaped, on which is the
simple inscription:
MIR. t. Tompion, 17l3, and Mr.. G. Graham.
I75l."
These men are considered the fathers
of clockmaking, and were master and
pupil, and lie buried together
Now, my little friends, | hope you
will look at your own clock with a great
deal more interest and respect. Golden
Days.