The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-11-27
BY DIR. r. SHELTON MACKENZIE

machinery necessary for the con-
struction OF such diminutive watches
would be very great. AS the French
proverb has II. the game is not
worth the candle"
Yet even now marvels OF miniature
time-piece construction are by no
means uncommon. In the shop vim
dows OF many jewellers. in numerous
great cities. proofs OF this are visible.
One, which / had in my hand
and heard with its gentle but unde-
niable tick, tick, tick. was gold
Geneva watch. so small that one OF
our little silver fve-cent pieces
would entirely cover its face.
Assurance was given that Il was
"a good 'un TO go"-in a word, that
its miniature works were as perfect
as any of the huge hunters that rest
ed heavily in the fobs of a bygons
generation.
In fiction, the wach has occasional
ly flourished. In this connection, IL
is scarcely necessary TO go beyond
the watches of the elder Mr.. Weller.
OF Pickwickian memory, and the re-
doubtable "turnip" of Captain Ed
ward Cutie.
1t is in an early chapter of Mas
ter Humphreys Clock" that the elder
Mr.. Weller's immense double-cased
silver watch" with a key of corre-
spending magnitude, is introduced.
After winding it up. applying II to
his ear to ascertain that was still 60
ing, Mr.. Weller gave il some half.
dozen hard knocks on the table to
improve its performance, and de-
clared that falls and conclusions only
improved It's going.
Captain Cuttle's horologue - re-
peatedly mentioned in "Dombey and
Sons introduced as being so big
and so tight in his pocket that II
came out like a bung"
When Walter Gay is going to sea.
Cutie wishes him to accept IL as "a
parting gift, my lad" adding, by way
OF character. Put II back half an
hour every morning, and about an
other quarter toward the AFTERNOON.
and it's a watch that'll do you cred
it."
In another chapter, he uses the
self same words, adding, that II
treated in this repressive manner.
you've a watch as can be ekelled by
none and excelled by few"
In Switzerland, and throughout
Germany, the cuckoo clock is in great
request-particula in farm houses.
Hour after hour. rfe shrll cry OF
"Cuckoo!" is repeated, greatly to the
delight of children.
Ingenuity and science have been
exercised, time out of mind, in tho
construction and Improvement Of
time-pieces. Navigation largely de-
pends on good chronometers.
In the year 1914 very large re-
wards were offered by the British
Parliament for a trustworthy instru-
ment, of the best order, by which tho
longitude could be ascertained with
in sixty. forty or thirty miles.
In 1876 John Harrison, a rural
clock-maker, invented a time-piece
which scarcely ever lost five seconds
in six months. To him. in 1867, was
paid 100000, as the first prize for
all but an infallible time-keeper.
He invented the going fusee, by
which a watch can be wound up with
out interrupting it's movement. To
this uncouth, countryfed, but won
derfully able man, navigation owes
more than words can express.
By-the-way, it is singular that
there is no knowledge Of the time
when the striking mechanism Of the
clock was first applied. 1t was adopt
ed for the use OF the clergy, 20
arouse them to their morning deyo.
tions.