The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-04-14
THE srRAssuRo CLOCK.
Weund Up to Run from the Year 1851
Until tho Year 5000.

THE srRAsBURo CLOCK.
w.und Up to Run from the Year 1870
Until the Year 1000.
For the third time the municipality
of Strasburg. Germany, decided In 1850
that new astronomical clock should
be placed in the framework of the old
one. A Strasburg matchmaker by the
name of Schwilgue was intrusted with
the undertaking, and within four years
he finished the unique mechanism
which stands to-day to the wonder and
amusement of natives and visitors Not
only does this clock keep the time from
dav to day, but 1t runs from year TO
year without the Intervention OF any
clockmaker. Besides this its face cs'n-
tains q disk indicating all the variable
holidays of the year, Easter, and soon.
1t regulates itself in the leap years IL
gives the phases of the moon, the
eclipses, the equinoxes and the revo-
buttons of all the planets OF the
solar system. The finencss OF the
structure can be understood when
it is known that OF the
seven golden balls of different sizes
representing the planets. the nearest
| to the sun, Mercury takes twenty-eignt
DAYS to make the circuit OF its orbit,
while Saturn only can complete Its
course in LIAR days, or nearly three
wears. The entire mechanism, III
maker calculated, would run until the
wear 9999, if the brass and other metal
of which it is built do not wear out IN
the meantime. This wonderful con
triyance is unfortunately in darl
! place, where those who constantly wisf
to view it we'll are scarcely able to az
so. It's site is wing, which can be en-
tered either Though the cathedra
proper or a portal. which directly lead
thither from outdoors.
The time of greatest interest is a
| noon each day, though there are iittl'
performance at every quarter hour. A
noon is the time the cock crows, ant
that is what everyone wants to hear
The interest never seems to wanc
For an hour before twelve o'clock. da.
after day. a crowd gathers in thi
lcorper waiting for the exhibition. III
early arrival is partly in order TO &c
good place and partly because tn
clock keeps solar time, which now is
half hour behind ordinary Strasbur
time. Here are tourists, soldiers, nuns
bridal couples, peasant women VII
baskets. boys with bundles, who nav
; run in from the street to get anothe
look at the thing. Now it is only
half hour until the performances; wi
the room hold any more?
II The beadles, like the street-car col
ductors, are sdrc there is plenty {
. room up 'front.'" or rather, in tn
. case, behind. They wave the want
of their majesty, and back the Poop
surge. Still more are coming III
natives. who never seem TO tire OF II
sight. and who know better about u
variance in the times, are now dro
ming in-mothers with babies, businc
!, men from around the corner. al
= everybody else. There is no space
< sneeze. Now there are only five mi
. utes until the rooster crows. May
he will not crow to-day. Everybody
% looking at the clock. In the very cent
= of the big monument to the clockma
= er's ingenuity is a gallery.
y Here stands Father Time rcpresel
le inc Death. He has about him on a
10 volviug plane four Representatives,
/. 4 boy; Youth, young hunter; Ms
= hood. a fully armed knight; Old Age
y Qray-haired man clothed In the skin
N = beast. Childhood had struck I
first quarter hour, Youth the secoI
Manhood the third and Old Age |
,e other hours of the day; but now
he noon it is Deaths own chance. 1
1" four figures come ont to view bef'
~ him, while, with = grim hammer
ID bono, he sounds with twelve strol
/" the death of another day.
o. A little figure down near the face
is the clock now has his turn, and. "
I'd little shake, revcrses his hcur-gls
N Above all this is another gallery.
du begins to squeak The machinery Is
Il motion. In the middle is figure
al Christ, and around Him are
err pass the twelve apostles
m kthey come, one by one. Il
M stops an instant before the Savic
he turns face, bows, and receives the BIZ
an ing from his OutStSetcucu manu-
,rd the rooster, where is he? There he
ro- is high up on pedestal, besid
no stained glass-window. Now he clue
Cd Now his old metal-plated throat sws
ed He flaps his wings and crows. Anot
d. !" minute. Again he flaps his wings
ro- crows, And third time. Was IL
ow ever such a rooster as this? 1t is
of over. The 'beadles drive the PEE
as out, shut up the cathedral, and g.
to dinner.
of The time Of greatest interest co
ex- but once year, in the night from
ter slst of December to New Years
uld Then an immense crowd always ass
one bles to watch the revolutions OF
ter machinery as it regulates itself re
ext for tho labors Of the coming yes
L. Philadclphia Telegraph.
Some tadpoles recently born al
.ILondon zoo have not the black
VI s~~S.sl Ss,.~r a rSorf ~ the fadn0lR ~