The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1884-02-14
Legend Of the Strasburg Clock.

The famous Stra,b urb clock furnishes
one of the most interesting of Rhineland
tales, and it is little known in cOnnrc-
ton with the wonderful clock. A cele-
DRAFTED mechanic once lived in Stras-
burg, whose only thought was a care
for lis motherle $ daughter and to pro-
duce some lasting work of art. He
brooded so much over his mechanical
plans that he neglected the commonest
civilities, and became known as crank.
This made his pretty daughter very UNI
happy, but she said nothing, in the hope
that his mysterious plans would soon
reach success.
A rich magistrate and young me-
chanic were sutors for her hand, but she
refused the dign ty and power offered
by the one for the humble Station of the
other, though her dee sion was kept
from her father until he should COM
plete his work. Meantime she induced
him to accept her lover for partner,
and the young man soon began 20 man
age the elder affairs.
One day Guta, for that was her name,
heard her father shouting joyously. She
flew toward the mysterious chamber,
followed by her lover, The great work
was done! They We're admitted to look
at the ingenious clockwork, now NOV
inc lightly and easily on its spr ngs.
The aged man, his white locks in disor-
der, his face proud and full of dignity,
held the weeping girl in his arms as he
gazcd with a joyous awe at his wonder
full work.
The inventors name was soon on ev.
erv )ngue, and his fame brought mem
bers of the guild from Basel, whose cit
liens offered to buy the clock. Stras-
burg then agreed to purchase it. and
sele ted side chapel in the cathedral
for its reception. Basel citizens, how
ever, unwilling to be disappointed,
urged that another such clock be made,
and offered the inventor a considerable
sum. Then there was excitement in
Strasburg, as its glory would surely de-
part, were other towns, argued the citi-
zens, to boast of an equal work of art
The nsaster must never be permitted to
construct a second clock, was the unan-
imous opinion.
The offended magistrate. whose pride
still suffered because OF Guta's rejection
of his hand. now saw the opportunity
he had been waiting for. He caused
the inventor to be brought before tri-
bunal to promise never to build a Sec
ond clock. He proudly and firmly de-
clined, saying: "God has given me tai
ents. | have now done enough for my
town and its glory. l see no crime in
benefiting others by my art. The coun-
oil Il ! of lie
noble look, but they nevertheless de-
cided to blind him, as that was the only
way to prevent him from constructing
a second clock. The accused heard the
sentence with a cOntemptuous look, but
he finally asked that he night undergo
the punishment before his work, as he
wished to give it some final improve
ments. The request was granted.
Long and tenderly the inventor gazed
at his clock. when the revengeful ma
istrate urged that the execution of the
sentence be hurried. At this, nerved
by the taunt, the old man quietly re-
moved the principal springs that caused
the mot on of the clock, and surrendered
himself for the torture. The clock sud-
denly began TO whir. The weights fell
rafting to the ground. The hell struck
thirteen times and
breathed out its final sound like a wall
of despair. The inventor, now blind,
stood erect like a demon of revenge,
and cried; "Rejoice, proud citizens, in
my work; the clock is destroyed and
my revenge complete.
During the moment of CONSERVATION
and horror that followed the young ar
tisan led the old man into the arms of
his unhappy daughter. The magistrate
who had melted the dreadful crime be-
came an object of contempt, and died
cursed by the people. Guta and her
lover confessed their attachment. and
were united, with the unfortunate in
ventor's blessing. The clock was final
ly restored in 1912, and the glory of the
restorer quite equals that of the invent,
or.-StrGsbarq Cor. 81, Louis Globe
Democrat,