The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-04-05
The Most Marvellous Clock in Existence.

DlIe just now mas rev attrac-
tions for a certain German watch
maker, for he has just completed
a colossal task which has occu-
pied every moment OF his tune,
excepting those spent IN eating
and Sleeping, during the past
nineteen years, and now that his
work is ended it is of little none.
tary value to him, for he is unable
to find a purchaser for the result
of hls years of toll.
The task he set himself was
that of constructing the mos I
marvellous clock IN the world, an
idea which suggested itself to
him as he was one day gazing up
on the world-famous tmepiece at
Strasburg Cathedral. Being a
matchmaker by trade, he knew
what an attempt to surpass that
marvel of hls art meant, but,
nothing daunted, he set TO work
with a will.
When he commenced he was in
fairly good circumstances, but,
us the years passed by and no
further supplies came in, one by
one his worldly possessions lett
him. His wife pleaded and threat
ened but in vain. Finally she
summoned him before a magis.
trate, who declared HIM insane,
and he was placed in lunatic
asylum.
After time, however, he re-
gained his liberty, and immed-
lately rec cJmmenced work on his
self.imposed task. But his home
was made so uncomfortable for
him that he transported himself,
hls tools, and his clock to Carls-
ruhe, Baden. Here he interest
ed some local officials in his work,
and he was given free board and
lodging But it only lasted for
eighteen months, and he was
forced to move.
This time he went to his son IN
Switzerland, and there obtained
help from many of the benevolent
minded, among his gifts beng
one from the German Emperor,
who had heard of his wonderful
clock And now, after twenty
four years, five Of which he spent
in confinement, the herculean
task is completed, and is, indeed,
what its maker claims 1T to be-
the most marvellous timepiece ev-
er constructed.
To begin with, 1t is enclosed in
glass, making every movement Of
the works visible, and every part
OF which there are no fewer
than 2,200-is the watchmaker's
own handiwork. The clock indi.
Gates the seconds, minutes, hours,
days OF the week, date of the
month, the seasons Of the year,
the signs of the zodiac, the rising
and setting of the sun, the chang.
es of the moon, and the positions
Of the celestial bodies. 1t also
shows the echpses Of the sun anc
the moon.
Besides all this, the clock Is
beautifully decorated with all
kinds of allegoricalfgures which
move at their own appointed
times. At each quarter, except
ing the full hour, two angels ad
vance, strike bell, and retire in
to a recess. At the full hour two
other angels appear, the one hold
ing an hour glass and the Other
sounding a trumpet.
AT another part Of this wonder
ful piece of work stands a cock
which al five minutes TO twelve
midday flaps its wings, stretches
its neck, and crows three times
There are also figures constant
ly appearing representing the
four ages OF man, while on the
right-hand side of the dial is {
beautifully carved statuette rep
resenting the angel of Death, who
points with his scythe to the face
Of the clock. Every tune the
clock strikes twelve, Christ, with
bended head, and His twelve apos
Ties advance from a hidden cor
nor mbila haInm a ,,,onlx a ,xx,e, N ,s