The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-02-09

ton of comparatively recent date. 1t
is really something wonderful to be-
hold this mighty hammer come down
with gentleness enough to crack
nut, or with force enough to forge
huge anchor. By means of this in
strument, in the matter of driving
piles into the ground, the work of
twelve hours can be reduced to four;
and if large enough, it is capable of
welding by one stroke, into solid
mass, whole tons of scrap.
The strasburg and other Wonderful
Clocks.
The Strasburg clock has often been
described. The original clock was
really wonderful continuance. 1t
was constructed in 1870 On its plate
was celestial globe with the motions
of suns, moon and planets. The
phases of the moon were presented;
and there was perpetual almanac,
the day of the month being indicated
by statue. Every quarter was
struck; the first by a child with an
apple; the second by youth with an
arrow; the third by man with the
tip of his staff; and the last by an old
nan with his crutch. The hour was
struck by an angel who opened the
door and saluted the Virgin Mary.
Another angel stood by with an hour
glass, which he turned when the hour
was struck. On the arrival of each
successive hour, a golden cock tapped
his wings, stretched his neck and
crowed twice. The present Stras-
burg clock, which is reconstruction
of the old, gives one very imperfect
idea of the original, especially in its
outward performances.
A clock scarcely less curious was
constructed toward the close of the
last century by mechanic of Gene
va. 1t had figures of negro, a dog
and shepherd. When the clock
struck, the shepherd played six airs
on his flute, and the dog approached
and fawned upon him. When being
exhibited to the King of Spain by
Dros, its maker, the king at his re-
quest took an apple from the shep-
herds basket. The dog barked, and
set the kings dog a-barking also.
One of the most prominent jewelers.
and mechanicians of London about
the third quarter of the last century,
was man by the name of Cox. He
had a wonderful collection of clocks
and clock-work. One of the wonders
of his collection was cage of singing
birds, all of jewelers. work. The
plumage of the birds was of stones
variously colored. The birds futter-
ed, warbled and moved their bills to
every note, as they sang solos, duets
and other musical pieces, to the as
constituent of the auditors.
A very ingenious clock was con-
structed by a Frenchman by the
name of Bordeau, in the time of Louis
XIV. 1t was made for the King. 1t
represented the King on his throne
surrounded by the German Electors
and by the Italian Dukes. The hours
were struck by the kings of Europe.
At certain point of time the Prince
of Orange, William III of England,
the Kings most relentless foe, was to
do homage to the Grand Monarque.
Something however went wrong with
the machinery, and just as William
was about to bow to the King, Louis
was hurled from his seat and thrown
PROSTATE at Williams feet.
In these later years some very won
derful clocks have been constructed,
but the useful rather than the curl
GUS has been the guiding principle
in their construction. London boasts
of two very wonderful clocks. The
one is on the Royal Exchange, and
is said to be the best public clock in
the world. The pendulum, which is
compensated, weighs nearly four
hundredweight. 1t has what is known
as a remontoir escapement, it's pallets
are jeweled with large sapphires, and
it has chime of fifteen bells, which
cost f500.
Another famous modern clock
adorns the Palace of Westminster.
The dials are % feet in diameter, the
largest in the world with minute
hand. The great wheel is n inches
in diameter. The pendulum is Is
feet long and weighs $50 pounds;
while the escape wheel, which is
driven by the musical box spring,
weighs about one half ounce. 1t has
seen the end of two great bells.
With the application CT the spring
to the clock, it became apparent that
timepieces could be made portable.
Watches were but little known, if
| known at all before the sixfeentb