The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-30
A WONDERFUL CLOCK.
Strange Things That a German
Matchmaker Has Accomplished.
London

London Telegraph.
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 monument at
Strasburg cathedral. He Immediately be-
gan to execute his design TO exccf-cvEn
this surprising piece of ingenuity. For
nineteen years he devoted all his time to
the project. At one time. his means being
Of the scantiest character, he had no
alternative but to sell by degrees every
thing he could spare. His wife, being ez-
tremely indignant at this procedure,
brought her complaints before the local
magistrate. He promised her his help. be-
ing convinced that a mans mind must be
deranged who thought he could make an
astronomical calendar clock even surpass-
ing that of Strasburg. His mental activity
and financial and domestic troubles told
upon the patient worker. 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
strait-jacket and sent to a lunatic asylum
AT length he managed TO regain his lib
erty, on the understanding that he re-
manned under police surveillance. He found
that his home was no place for him. so
he journeyed TO Carlsruhe (Baden), taking
the clock and his tools with him. In this
town he obtained, with the assistance OF a
privy councillor, free board and lodgings
at the permanent industrial exhibition.
After a stay OF eighteen months ne lost
this place of refuge. and fed with his work
- SIT " ms 81
Carlsruhe he had been able 10 make some
small savings, and a few friends gave him
assistance. The German Emperor. though
his Majesty thought his task hopeless. sent
MIN a sum OF money. AT last the clock,
however. was finished. but the constructor
had no funds for the case. On this occasion
a parish priest came forward with gener-
Gus and unselhsh help. and the project was
completed.
1t is claimed that this clock is as won
derful for its artistic beauty and workman
ship as for it's ingenious mechanical ar
rangements. II is inclosed in glass so that
its every movement can be seen. IL con-
Every detail is the watch makers own
handiwork. The clock indicates the Sec
onds. minutes, hours. dates. the days OF
the week. months 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. IL shows besides the moon
phases all the eclipses of the sun and moon.
Its calendar. IL is urged. will last forever
with minute accuracy. AT the beginning or
the year il fixes by Itself the OF
the astronomical practitioners In explana-
ton Of the everlasting calendar, as well as
Easter and the c~hangeable festival days
for the coming year. A glass ball repre-
senting the spherical globe exactly shows
the movements and positions OF the planets
Mercury, Venus, earth and moon, Mars.
Jupiter. Saturn and Uranus.
The work is beautined by over a hundred
movable pictures and figures. Every quar-
ter of an hour the figure Of a guardian
angel appears on the ieft Sl0e OF the Drln-
cipal field. The striking OF the quarters il
done by two angels standing In the second
recess on the left. while i'm the sixth recess
two figures at a time. representing the four
ages Of man. are changing alternately. On
the right side of the principal field the
angel Of death advances, pointing with his
scythe 10 the dial plate. When the fun
hour strikes the center angel OF the second
recess appears holding an hourglass. while
the angel on the right side above is sound
ing a trumpet. Under the roof an allegor-
ical figure represents symbolically the right
season of the year. while above I'm the prin-
cipal field the guiding star Of the year ap-
pears. On the left side OF the cabinet
stands a cock, which FIVE minutes befora
noon beats its wings. stoops it's neck. opens
its beak and crows three times.
When the picture shows spring there
appears a cuckoo above: with the season
summer" a quail comes forth on the left
side. both calling seven times. When the
picture autumn" appears a bull lying az
the feet OF the evangelist So. Luke roars,
and when winter" is Indicated a lion.
which lies close TO ST. Mark. raises it's
voice. Every time the clock strikes twelve
Christ. bending His head. appears with His
twelve apostles and a monk standing in the
portal below rings His Ave"
The work contains also a small chime.
which plays five minutes after the striking
OF an even hour. the melodies changing and
each lasting one minute. This work has
twelve little bells. and on the roller there
are 97 pins. which make the music.
Now that this patient worker has finished
his task he has been unable 10 find any one
10 buy IL from him