The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-28
A WONDERFUL AFFAIR.
A Cloister Clock 800 Years Old Owned in
st. Louis.

st. Louis.
When the first clock, horologium (hour-
teller, was made is something the most
careful investigation has failed to discover.
It has been stated that the first clock was
invented by an archdeaccn named Pacifiens.
in the ninth century, but to establish this
fact corroborative evidence is lacking. 1t
is generally admitted, however, that clocks
existed as early as the twelfth century.
though the earliest description of one is in
the thirteenth century, when the sultan of
Egypt is said to have sent horologvum to
Emperor Frederick II.
The collection of old clocks with Interest
ing histories has been quite malta with
some antiquarians, but thu craze has not
spread to any extent in the Nnited States.
George w. Childs, of the Philadelphia
Ledger, is about the only man who has such
collection in this country. and among it
he has some very old and handsome speci-
mems.
One clock which Mr.. Childs values very
highly and which is valuable one, because
with it, is one which was torn from a mon
astery during the "Reign of Reason" or
when the people of France revolted from
the tyranny of religion and corruption of
nobility. 1t has been thought for
long time that n Mr. oh of h was
clocks. but it has been recently learned that
Mr.. w, H. Rodgers, of No. 3l4 North Third
street, this city, has similar clock, and
one which is equally as handsome as that
owned by Mr.. Childs. The clock of Mr..
Rodgers 10 made of French walnut veneered
Holland style. 1t is seven feet six inches
in height. and has a cap with glass front
which fits over and protects the face, or III.
dictator.
The dial is of brass and has two sets OF
numbers, which are painted in blue on
white porcelain set in the brass dial. One
set is for minutes, the other is the regular
five minute divisions. The hands are OF
blued steel.
The clock strikes halves, quarters and
hours, and has an alarm arrangement, which
can be set for any hour. The works, though
supposed to be 300 years old, are in perfect
condition, and the striking bell is particu-
is feet inches long, and the clock beats
4s1s times per minute. Mr.. Rodgers. the
present owner of the clock. bought it in
the year 1864 from an old German clock
maker on Third street named Nagel. When
he purchased it, Nagel informed him that
Mrs. Bedo, French lady of Ste. Geneyieve
that Mrs. Bedo had brought it from
Salan, France. in 1919, it having de.
scended to her from her grandmother. Il
was her understanding. from information
derived from her ancestors, that the clocl
was taken from a monastery during thu
French revolution of 1885, and in the sam,
way fell into the hands of her family. Tn,
legend is that it was built by monks TO
their own use to summon them to their rite
and viGils. The date of its construction il
wrapped in mystery, but is supposed to hay
been early in the sixteenth century.
The clock is a handsome one. and wa
made to fill niche in the wall of the mon
astery hall.
Mrs. Rodgers values it at $125.
The only other cloister clock in the Unite,
States, owned by Mr.. Childs, is similar il
many respects to that of Mr.. Rodgers, bu
slightly taller.
The frame is made of French oak, carve
with exquisite skill. 1t stands 3 feet hig
and the characterization beside the carvin
is of cast brass. The general features G
the construction are similar to those of Nj
Rodgers clock, with the exception of tn
kind of wood, and that the panels are inlai
with tortoise shell.-St. Louis Republic.