The Port Gibson reveille., 1906-03-22

Forest Mechanic.
A clock which Ii In many respects
one Of the most notable In the world
has been constructed, says the Jew
elers' Circular-Weekly. after FIVE
years Of hard labor by August Nol.
q skilled mechanic of vflingen. one
of the German Schwarzwald and the
former capital OF the province Of
Baar, which came into the possession
OF Baden in 1906. The peo7le Of
this region are diligent and talented,
and the making OF clocks has been
for 200 years a native industry among
them
Those first made we're wooden
clocks with a sort of balance. and
were very simple IN construction
Gradually the work grew In perfec-
tion and the pendulum took the place
OF the balance: In still later times
came metallic clocks with main
springs, until now the most elaborate
and artistically designed timepieces
OF every kind are sent all over the
world, into the humble dwellings OF
the middle classes and the palaces OF
the wealthy.
The astronomical clock finished by
August Noll almost surDasses in in
genuity OF construction, v~riety OF
mechanism and number ol lgures not
only the famous clocks of Prague and
Goslar, but even the renowned mas
terpiece OF Isaac Habrecht. the won
der OF the strasburg Cathedral. II
is at present on exhibition In Munich,
and Il is unlikely that 1t win ever be
permitted to leave that city.
The case, OF walnut wood. about IA
feet high, II feet wide and feet
deep, is fashioned In the form Of a
church OF the early Renaissance style
OF harmonious design and pleasing to
the aesthetic sense. The calendar
mechanism, rollers, chimes, striking
works, etc, are arranged to work for
100 years. During a whole century
the clock viii show not only the sec
onds, minutes, quarter hours and
hours, the days, weeks, months and
years, but also the movable festivals
Of the Christian year. The different
days and seasons are introduced by
professions Of appropriate figures,
skIllfully carved, accompanied by mu-
sic. with bugle solos and watchmen's
horns, or with cock crow and cuckoo
calls.
The centre is occupied by an artis-
tfcally decorated and Illuminated
chapel, whose doors open every
morning at o'clock and bring to
view congregation Of worshippers.
IN the schwarzwald costume. who file
past the altar amid the strains OF a
choral. Once every hour the figure
Of death appears at the left side wing,
and figures representing the four
ages OF man pass by him; at the
same time twelve Apostles are seen
passing before the figure Of Christ In
an attitude Of blessing. AT the right
of the portal, above. is an idealized
representation Of the four seasons,
and beneath. morning and evenins,
six CaDuchin monks march slowly, to
the accompaniment OF chimes and the
chords of a choral. from their pic
turesque forest hermitage to the
church.
The time Is marked on the clock
face In the upper part Of the central
space, not by ordinary hands, but by
figures which spring out at the prop
er moment, and two angels strike the
changes on melodious bells. Below,
as II in the side aisles Of the church,
the strong and carefully constructed
mechanism is visible in action; at the
foot is an astronomical tellurium, and
at the gables OF the side wings two
large faces show the time in Calcutta
and New York. as compared with the
central European time.
The whole structure weighs $500
pounds; and is valued at $4,000
marks. Most interesting and origi-
nal. 1t exhibits the great intelligence
and inventive gifts and the wonder
full perseverance Of its maker.