The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-24
An AntematIe Marvel.
THE WONDERFUL CLOCK INVENTED by NEW
CASTLE MATCHMAKER.

CASTLE MATCHMAKER.
A Now Castle Pa, special says: Theo-
dore rohret. a Swiss matchmaker. OF this
| civ has iust completed an automatic clock,
which for intricate mechanism SURPRISES
the celebrated time-piecc nj strI'spurS' u
| il b,IiIt In imitation OF an ancient castle,
and is about five feet in width ana eleven
feet high. On the top is perched an eagle
holding in It's beak pendulum. Behealh
the bird is a globe cncircled 10y diai plate
OF twentv-four hours, which, IN us refotu-
tiop once a day. gives the time at any
meridian. At 4 O'clock dials placed on
each side OF The stand, on which the ma
t,onaI bird rests, register the time al wash
ingfon. San Francisco. London ana 81.
Petersburg.
The machinery is so adjusted that at the
hour OF [, two figures, representing no
man soldiers with shield and sword, an
nounce the dawn of time, and mans en-
trance upon the stage OF life. FIVE mini
u,es later small door near the top OF the
clock flies open and. an almost life-like bird
appears. and in exceedingly doleful notes
chants the "FIight OF Time" Another hVe
minutes glide by when the doors OF another
APARTMENT open and reveal little babe,
which, remains five minutes. AT different
periods until the next hour there come
and 90 figures which represent the child,
youfh. man i'm his strength, in his decline,
bnInIrss age, and i'm his last long sleep.
During the entire day and night sem
tinel walks TO and fro along a gallery pre-
pared for him, and hats and turns AS ma
turaI rs life. At each hour there appears
a figure representing the different nations
az the earth-at O'Clock the Russian, at
the PrIssian. at , an invisible orchestra
mystifes The nearer with most excellent
renditions 81 choicest selections; at 4, the
Austrian appears ut D, an Italian; at q,
two doors in the chapel open and sexton
sounds the chimes, which are set 10
form perfect harmony, and several
beautiful selections are rendered; at I,
a representative OF France bows to the
Iooker-on, and then marches on 70 make
room Mt for the Spanard. At Q the or
chesird is again heard. At 10, relocated
Johnny Bull steps forth. and is followed
at IL by Uncle sam, who appears from the
rear Of the clock, flag in hand, and per-
forms the remarkable feat of climbing q
pole on the top OF the clock. lie fastens
the stars and stripes to the top. descends.
and disappears. While tins scene is going
on drums on the interior are beating mer-
rily.
At u O'Clock large folding doors are
opened and a sacred scene is presented.
which is still more wonderful than those
already mentioned. II shows the Saviour
in the presence Of the Apostles, evidently
giving them their instructions. rs il Is his
last night on earth. lie moves about and
addresses each one OF his faithful followers
i'm turn, making liie-like gestures. After
thus having delivered himself. he lies down.
himself TO his enemies.
The Apostles then Withdraw from the
scene. followed by the traitor Judas, who.
with the bag containing thirty pieces OF
silver. strikes five bells ~ he leaves the
scene. The cock on top OF the clock then
flaps his wings and crows three times.
During the time Chrisi is insiructing his
Apostles Satan appears upon the scene
twice, n ii in doubt as TO isactions. This
scene closes. when two tI1Impeters appear,
and raising their bugles To their lips pro
claim the close of night. During the
twelve hours the clock plays three musical
selections. and 2,022 automatic movements
are made, OF cOuIse the machinery is 50
as TO permit OF the entire perfor-
nance OF the alltOmatOns taking place every
fifteen or twenty minutes.
The inventor OF this wonderful time
piece was born in Baden, Germany in 1915,
and after serving IN apprenticeship 10 a
matchmaker in his native place went To
London, where he remained six years.
In 1871 he came TO this city aud secured q
situation with Mr.. j. C.. Hanna. where he
has since remained. His wonderful clock
he constructed in his spare moments. In
the mornings and evenings, having COM
menced work on it seven years AGO. He
has always shown remarkable ingenuity.
having several years ago made a miniature
clock which he wears for shirt stud. and
which Keeps correct time.
This invention caused considerable talk
in scientific circles, rs Mr.. ROhret was the
first person who succeeded IN demOnsira-
ting the fact that a pendulum could be
made TO swing while the timcpiece lay on
its back. The dial OF his shirt-irOnt"
clock is held in the pin-hOle nearest the
collar, while the lower part OF the mina-
ture concern appears about one inch below
where the pendulum is seen swinging 10
and fro. Mr.. ROhret intends putting hi>
latest product on exhibition throughout
the country.