New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-29
THE CLOCK WINDER.
NAUGHr TO DO BUT WIND THE CLOCKS.
rom IcwciorS' Weekly


From The jewelers. Weekly.
80. yes! When any one has wound clocks for
twenty years. said Jacob krlngle, the Government
the conclusion that he desires nothing much 70
forever leave the tlctack sound behind him. and to
eternaly shut out the view OF the olockface from
before him. The first week ! spent winding
clocks ! thought II was quite an entertaining busl
ness started my rounds in the morning. and until
the late afternoon found pleasure in the scenes Of
the Department buildings and In the faces that con
came ACQUAINTED with nearly everybody came in
contact with. II not until several months had
passed away that became aware Of the terrible
ness Of my daily task. which above all things had 10
The motion Of winding a clock, that unending
twisting and turning from left 10 right, became 50
much matter Of habit that felt uneasy when sun.
and wind the clocks. | did not notice the lack Of
something to occupy me until about O'Clock in the
morning when, as If paSied or suffering from st
Vitis's dance. my right hand would begin t~ltchnS
twitching from left 90 right.
had no difficulty in stopplng mi. motion put as
timed the mental effort 10 keep my hand still, 1t
would begin again. As kept up my monotonols
ing habit increased, that very often a. passed
along the streets it would attract attention IL was
WS N have aid almor anyone having pnrSned The
calling that have followed. would make up his mind
that the only thing he needs is TO 20 OF on vaca-
ton or into some other business where he would be
such my idea after had carried work
for several wears. and went away down 10 my Old
month. But came back a wiser learned
the force Of habit, and within few day,
was going about my old haun6. and IL
seemed to me that had never enjoyed anything
quite so kcenly a. | did winding clocks the next few
days. ! have been awakened several occasions
in my lfe in the middle Of the night by feeling some.
thing strike the bed-cOverng. and have discovered
that the twltchng Of my hand was the cause
d" ! have thought that the great regularity with
which my work has to be done accounts for my ner-
habit. have to wind hundreds II clocks weekly
and arrange the work that every day sixth ~ IL
is covered. Each days work l. about ali can do.
" that If should get behndhand on score OF clock,
IL would be very difficult matter to catch up
without help from some one Then YOU can wind
clock only = fast, and / think have reduced tho
work 10 a science. / 30 about the Departments
and wind all the clocks with few motions as IL i
possible b. make and cover the ground.
d" ! could almost 90 the route aud perform my
work blindfOh ! know the number OF steps In every
flight Of stairs that have to 90 up or down, As 10.
the lack Of something TO think about Oleh com.
not only the steps Of the ,iarwaNs but pave On wy
distance from one clock 10 another. golhg one WN
and another between them ana men hhalA Sc.,lnE
down b. the shortest line. In almost every, pcssupa
ton men have 20 think about what thcy wiz w VI
saw from time To time which gives them sohething
tn occnnv their attention during the lnei' nu
MIN me- /, is different There Is no Thought lelu~i
a. wind a clock Consequently, J. nave 10 eNp ,I
~ man,sl energy somehow and do so IN sonhtng
my naces and taking notes Of little thlngs .nas @
~ ri,y arc not conscious Of on many oooesons
hsys counted the number Of stepi nave TAKEN ''o~