The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1901-12-13
A CLOCK.
Description of the Product of Ger
man Matchmaker, OIL

A poor German matchmaker has just
achieved a wonderful work of ingenuity
and art, consisting of an astronomical
and calendar clock. Twenty-four years
ago he was fired to attempt the task by
a study of the famous theological mon
ument at Strasburg cathedral. He i'm
mediately began to execute his design
to excel wen this surprising piece of
ingenuity. For 10 years be devoted all
his time to the project. At n time,
his means being of the scantiest char
acter, he had no alternative but to
sell by degrees everything he could
spare. His wife, being extremely in
dignant at this procedure, brought her
complaints before the local magistrate.
He promised her his help, being con-
WINGED that a mans mind must be de-
ranged who thought he could make an
astronomical calendar clock even sur
passing that of Strasburg. His mental
activity and financial and domestic
troubles told upon the patient work.
er, and at last his friends declared him
insane. At the thought Of parting from
his clock he became more excited. He
was forthwith put into a straight waist
coat and sent to a 'lunatic asylum. At
length he managed to regain his liberty
on the understanding that he remained
under police surveillance. He found
that his home was no place for him, so
he ~journeyed to Carlsruhe, Baden, TAX
ing the clock and his tools with him.
In this town he obtained, with the as
sistance of a privy councillor, free board
md 1nduinp C nj tho nprppannnt indus
trial exhibition. After a stay Of IS
months he lost his place of refuge, and
fled with his work by night to his son
in Switzerland. In Carlsruhe he had
been able to make some small savings,
and a few friends gave him assistance.
The German emperor, though his
majesty thought his task hopeless, sent
him a sun of money. At last the clock,
however, was finished, but the o n
structor had no funds for the case. On
this occasion a parish priest came for
ward with generous and unselfish help,
and the project was completed.
1t. is claimed that this clock is as
wonderful for its artistic beauty and
workmanship as for its ingenious
mechanical arrangements. 1t is in
closed within glass, so that it's every
movement can be seen. 1t consists of
2,200 parts, 112 of which are wheels.
Every detail is the watchmaker'S W
handiwork. The clock indicates the
seconds, minutes, hours, dates, the days
of the week, month, and the seasons of
the year. the pictures Of the signs Of the
zodiac, the sun, moon and stars, and
) the rising and setting, as well as the
exact position of the celestial bodies.
[ 1t shows, besides, the moon phases, all
t the eclipses of the sun and moon. Its
I calendar, it is urged, will last forever,
l with minute accuracy. At the begin
ming of the year it fixes by itself the
l statements of the astronomical practi-
= TONERS in explanation of the everlast-
l ing calendar, as well as Easter, and the
changeable festival days for the com
ing year. A glass ball, representing
5 the spherical globe exactly, shows the
movements and positions Of the planets
Mercury, Venus, earth and moon, Mars
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus.
The work is beautifed by over 10C
movable pictures and figures. Every
quarter of an hour the figure of a
guardian angel appears on the left
side of the principal field. The strik-
ing of the quarter is done by two
angels, standing in the second recess on
the left, while in the sixth recess two
figures at a time, representing the four
ages of men, are changing alternate
ly. On the right side of the principal
field the angel of death advances, point
ing with his scythe to the dial plate
When the full hour strikes the center
angel of the second recess appears
holding an %hourglass, while the ange
on the right side above is sounding
Pm p, nnt ITt1np tha ,onf on a111-A,faa
figure represents symbolically the righr
season Of the year, while above in the
principal field the guiding star of tn,
year appears. On the left side of thu
cabinet stands a cock, which, five min
utes before noon beats its wings, stoop.
its neck, opens its beak, and crow
three times.
When the picture shows Spring
there appears a cuckoo above; with tn,
season summer a quail comes fortl
on the left side, both calling sever
times. When the picture autumn APP
pears a bull lying at the feet of tn
evangelist st. Luke roars, and whel
winter is indicated a lion, which lie,
close to st. Mark, raises its voice. Ev
cry time the clock strikes IL, Christ
bending his head, appears with his 1.
apostles, and a monk, standing in tn
portal below, rings his ave"
The work contains also a small
chime, which plays five minutes afte
the striking of an even" hour, tn,
melodies changing and each lasting on,
minute. This work has IL little bells
and on the roller there are 997 pins
which make the music.
Now that the patient worker has fin
ished his task, he has been unable t.
find anyone to buy it from him.