Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-02-29
legend Of the strasburg Clock.

= The famous Strasburb clock furnisle
one Of the mostinteresting of Rhinelan1
tales, and it is little known in conncc
ton with the wonderful clock. A Geld
hrated mechanic once lived in Strss
burp, whose only thought was a Cav
for Ills mothcrless daughter and to prN
duce some lasting work of art. nj
hroodcd so much over his mechanic.l
n]ans that he neglected the commoney
ciyilitics, and became known as a crany
This made his pretty daughter very TN
happv, but she said nothing. in the homl
that his mysterious plans would soo1
reach success.
A rich magistrate and a young mel
chanic were suitors for her hand, but sid
refused the dignity and power offereS
by the one for the humble station of th1
other. though her decision was kep1
from her father until he should conf
plete his work. Meantime she induco1
him to accept her lover for a partner
and the Young man soon began to man
aee the elder affairs.
One day Guta, for that was her name
heard her father shouting ioyously. Sid
flew toward the mysterious chambe.
followed by her lover. The great WOE
was done! They We're admitted to LODI
at the ingenious clockwork. now moy
ing lightly and easily on its spr ng
The aged man, his white locks in diso
der, his face proud and full of dignit7
held the weeping girl in his arms as h
gazcd with a joyous 1--WE at his wonde
full work.
The inventors name was soon on ed
ery tongue, and his fame brought mem
bers of the guild from Basel. whose Gil
liens offered to buy the clock. StraJ
burg then agreed to purchase it, AMI
seleI ted n side chapel in the cathedrs
for its reception. Bascl's citizens, howl
ever, unwilling to be disappointed
urged that another such clock be madsl
and offered the inventor q considerab]
sum. Then there was excitement
Strasburg, as it's glory would surely dsI
part, were other towns, argued the citI
zens, 10 boast of an equal work of and
The master must never be permitted ID
construct a second clock, wss the una1I
imous opinion.
The offended magistrate. whose prilI
still suffered because of Guta's r~ejectiO1
of his hand, now saw the %opportunitj
he had been waiting for. He causej
the inventor to be brought before a til
bunal to promise never to build a seO|
ond clock. He proudly and firmly ID
clined, saying: "God has given me tall
ents. have now done enough for nj
town and its glory. l see no crimci
benetiting others by my art The coulI
sellers cast down their eyes before hi
noble look, but they nevertheless ID
cided to blind him, as that was the onlj
way to prevent him from constructir1
a second clock. The accused heard TIL
sentence with a contemptuous look. br|
he finally asked that he might undergj
the punishment before his work, as h
wished to give it some final improv4|
ments. The request was granted.
Long and tenderly the inventor gael
at his clock, when the revengeful MAD
istrate urged that the execution of th|
sentence be hurried. At this. nerve
by the taunt, the old man quietly RI
moved the principal springs that cause
the motion of the clock, and surrendereI
himself for the torture. The clock sud
denly began to whir. The weights fe|
rafting to the ground. The bell strw!|
inharmoniously thirteen times Mj
breathed out its final sound like 4 wal
of despair. The inventor, now blind
stood erect like a demon OF reyengI
and cried; "Rejoice, proud citizens, i
my work; the clock is destroyed AMI
my revenge complete.
During the moment of consternathI
and horror that followed the young al
tisan led the old man into the arms |
his unhappy daughter. The magistr1I
who had melted the dreadful crime ID
came an object Of contempt, and dei
cursed by the people. Guta and Id
lover confessed their attachment, anI
were united, with the unfortunate ID
ventors blessing. The clock was final
ly restored in 1912, and the glory Of til
restorcr quite equals that of the inver
or.-'Strasburg Cor. 81. Louis GlosI
Democrat.