The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-01-15
SOME WONDERFUL CLOCKS.
The Worlds NIarvels of Astronomical and
Chrvnometric Mechanism.

SOME WONDERFUL CLOCKS
The Worlds n1arvels of Astronomical and
Chronometric Mechanism.
The most wonderful clock in the
world is exhibited in St. Petersburg.
Its magniAcence may be imagined
from the fact of this colossal timepiece
having no fewer than ninety-fve faces.
It indicates simultaneously the time
of day at thirty points on tho earth's
surface, besides the movement of the
earth around the sun, the phase Of
the moon, the signs Of the zodiac, the
passage over the meridian of more
than fifty stars Of the northern hemi'
sphere, and the date, according to the
Gregorian, Greek, Mussulman, and
Hebrew calendars. The works took
two years to put together after the
clock had been sent in detached pieces
from Switzerland to Russia.
A certain matchmaker constructed
clock whose mechanism represents,
every fifteen minutes, all the activi-
ties of miniature railway station.
The telegraph operator sends des-
patch, the doors of the station open,
the station master and his assistant
appear on the steps, the clerks open
the windows and distribute the tick
cts; several travellers rush toward the
train that comes in at full speed. In
short, until the train hos gone the
usual stir OF such stations is exactly
reproduced.
As the train leaves each automaton
returns to its place, and for quarter
of an hour everything is peaceful.
The clocks dimensions are not known,
but it is said to have had six years
labor expended upon it.
Another remarkable clock is that
made by Villingen, the clockmaker Of
the Black Forest, Germany. It shows
the seconds, minutes, quarter hours,
hours, days, weeks, months, seasons,
years and lepp years to the last second
of the year 99999, besides host of
other astronomical, geographical and
historical facts.
There is a celebrated clock tower at
Berne, in Switzerland. The approach
of the hour is announced by the crow
ing of a cock. At the same time may
be seen at the very top of the tower
man clad in q coat of mail striking the
hours With his sword on a large bell.
AS the hours are striking troupe of
bears make their appearance and
parade around the tower, then make
their exit. Long strings Of carriages
draw up every hour for the occupants
to witness this interesting spectacle.
A gigantic clock, made Of cycle
parts, was shown at q recent exhibition
held in Paris. The hour figures are
composed Of brightly plated cranks.
All the smaller wheels revolve by
means Of gear chains, but this was
only for attraction. The clock kept
excellent time, and struck hours, half
and quarter hours, the real mechanism
being concealed in the base.
At the time of the coronation of the
Empress of Russia at Moscow in 1724
she was presented with a watch as
wonderful in every particular as the
famous Strasbourg clock. On the op-
posite side Of the time-keeping part
there was an exact counterpart Of tho
holy sepulchre, with carved imageo Of
the Roman guard, the scene being
viewed through the glass in the case.
Upon opening the case the imitation
stones would roll away from tho
mouth Of the miniature sepulchre, the
guard lneel, angels appear at opposite
sides Of the opening, and at this time
the music would begin to play, in soft,
sweet strains, the Easter songs so we'll
known to all Russians. The watch
only. weighed seven ounces. The
maker of this wonderful piece Of
mechanism is said to have worked up
on it almost uninterruptedly for
period of nine years.