The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-04-04
A Wonderful clock.

is Il stOnecuttcr and now works at In
trade in Detroit. lie had four assc
ciatcs in the property, but they wer
poor men aud did not succeed in its ex
hibilion as they expected, and he spl'
his interest to n lady, who subsequent.
bought the remaining interests Thu
lady has conceived the idea Of its pcrma
nent placement in the capitol at Wash
ington, provided the Government wants
it and will pay her 10000 for it
On bay, published i'll New York, from
which these PREDATORY remarks are tt
ken, gives the following description o
the clock:
The clock IL eighteen feet in height
eight feet vide by five feet deep, auC
weighs five thousand pounds. 1t runs
by weights which weigh seven hundred
pounds, and IS wound up once in twelve
days. The case or exterior Of the clock
is entirely Of black walnut, and is elc-
gantly carved or engraved in designs
appropriate and symbolic Of our Repub-
lie. Ahoye the main body Of the clock
is marble dome, upon which Washing
ton sits in his chair Of state, protected
by II canopy which is surmountcd by Il
gillcd statue Of Columbia on either
side Of Washington is Il coIored servan:
guarding the doors, which open between
the pillars that support the canopy; on
the four corners Of the main body Of the
clock are black walnut inches contain
ing human figures cmblematic Of the
march Of life; the two lower ones are
by two female figures with
flaming torches; one Of the inches con
lains the figure Of an infant, the second
the figure Of n youth, the third Of Il man
in middle life, the fourth Of an aged
and still another, directly
over the centre, contains II skeleton,
representing Father Time. Allof these
figures have bells aud hammers in their
hands. The infants bell is small and
swcct-toncd the Youths bell larger and
harshcr; the Lcll of manhood strong
and resonant; that Of old age diminish
ing in strength, and the bell Of the skcl-
eton deep and sad. A figure Of VIM.
&. bryant, and another Of Prof Morse,
inventor Of telcgraphy, rest upon the
pillars supporting the planetary system.
The astronomical aud mathematical
calculations Of the clock will show the
correct movement Of the planets for two
hundred years, leap years included.
When the clock is in operation it
hows local time in hours, minutes and
cconds; the difference in time at Che
go, Washington, San Francisco, Mel
'ournc, pekin, Cairo, Constantinoplc,
It. Petersburg, Vienna, London, Berlin
nd Paris; the day Of the week, calen-
ar day Of the month, month Of the
ear, and Seasons Of the year, the signs
I the zodiac, Tie revolutions Of the
arth on its own axis, and also around
he sun the revolution Of the moon,
round the earth and with it around the
un also, the moons changes from the
uirter to half, thrce-quarters, and full
he correct movement Of the planets
round the sun, comprising Mercury,
which makes the revolution once in SO
ays; Venus, once in 224 days; Mars,
nee in GSG days; Ncsto, once in 1927
ays; Juno, once in 1893 days; Ceres,
nee in 1851 days; Jupiter, once in
,332 days; Saturn, once in 1878 |
nys; Uranus, once in 3O,GSS days |
here is therefore II movement in this
onderful piece Of machinery which
lnnot regularly be repeated more than
zee in 81 years.
The inventor has crank attachment
the clock, by means Of which he can
.stcn the working of the machinery, in
der to show its movements to the pub
by turning continuously twelve
'urs n day, for sixteen days and eight
'urs, perfect revolution of the planet
ranus around the sun would be made.
At the end Of every quarter of nm
'ur the infant in his carved niche
rlkcs with tiny hammer upon the
III which he holds in his hand. At. +
c end Of each half hour the youth ,
rlkes; at the end Of three quarters of :
hour the man, and ut the end Of, I
On hour the graybeard, death then L
lows with measured stroke to toll the =,
lr a carved figure projecting from 4
Ter side Of the SHELTON indicates TINT n
C flies. :,
large music box, manufactured at g.
leva, expressly for this clock, begins K
lay ut the same time that the skelc. 7,
strikes the hour, and surprising NJ
&c is enacted upon the platform be. NJ
III the canopy. Washington slowly NJ
cs from his chair of state, extenniny N,
right hand, presenting the Dcclara. r.
OF Independence; the door on the ~,
is opened by the servant, admitting " "
the Presidents from Washinpton's "
e, including President Hayes Each "
sldent is dressed in the costume of
time. The likehesses are admira-
Passing in file before Washington,
y face and raise their hands as they
roach him, and walking naturally Lit
'ss the platform disappear through A
opposite door, which is promptly
ed behind them by the second ser.
;. Washington resumes hls seat, ~; a.
all is quiet save the measured tick -, ="
c huge pendulum, and the ringing .n'
c quarter hours, until another hour r r'''
,assed. ioT
ran
" Dewitt Talmage, in his lecture ,";
Nashville recently, among other in ,