Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-26

cially the monks, was captivated by this
new idea of timekeeping. so that by the
end of the fourteenth century many iarge
cathedrals were provided with belfry
clocks. Many not only struck the hour,
but were equipped with mechanical de-
vices which indicated the motions of the
heavenly bodies.
During the fifteenth century belfry
clocks provided with automatons became
very popular. The mechanism causing
the motions of the figures probably ow-
ed its origin to the Chinese and rabians,
who had used such devices for automa-
tons years before
In the middle ages. when religious cere-
monies demanded so much of the time of
the people, the belfry clocks with Their
heavy gongS We're of great Importance
in calling the peasants and town folk TO
their devotions. The famous old horo-
loge OF Wells Cathedral, England, per-
formed this duty for five centuries be-
fore the works were entirely replaced In
1880 by new mechanism Peter Light
foot the monk, who made this clock,
arranged for the twelve knights on the
top of the clock to march around in a
rotary motion at the striking OF the
hours.
The most celebrated ancient clock tow
er of England was the old stone Go
chard' at Westminster, near the present
clock tower of the house of parliament.
The clock in this tower struck every
hour on a great bell to be heard In cam
weather throughout London. The large
bells in the tower were usually rung at
coronations. triumphs and funerals OF
princes 1t is tabled that the ringing OF
these bells soured all the drink in town
Henry vi trusted the keeping of TINS
timepiece to one of his loyal subjects
with the remuneration of sixpence "a
day. which were received at the eXche-
quer Great Tom of Westminster, the
big bell of this tower, was later Installed
in st. Pauls.
OF all elaborate clocks that ever pointed
out the time, gave information of the mo-
ton of the heavenly bodies or entertained
the people the old Strasburg clock ranked
first 1t was a perpetual almanac, for by
lis remarkable construction the auto
matte adjustment of large plates ndi-
Gated the motions of the sun, moon, earth
and other planets The day OF the month
pointed out by statue 10 strike
the time there were four large ngures.
The first quarter hour was struck by a
boy who pounded the bell with an apple
The half hour was announced by youth
striking the gong with an arrow Inc
third quarter hour was sounded by man
with IL staff, while the last quarter
hour was proclaimed by an old man who
struck the bell with his crutch. The hour
Itself was announced by the figure or an
angel that opened the door and bowed to
a statue of the Virgin Mary. Another
angel standing near turned an hour glass
at the striking of the bell and at the same
time a golden cock Tapped its wings,
stretched forth its neck and crowed twice
The old clock at Venice made in the
fifteenth century remained for many
years as an example of automaton
clocks which enacted religious panto-
mines Every hour two Moors struck the
time and the three kings of the orient en-
tered at a door. bowed in alteration to the
infant Savior and then marched away
again by another door.
Fer about one hundred and fifty years
the Dunstant clock outside of the old
church in Fleet street amused the frolick-
ing children of London. At every quarter
hour two life-sized figures of savages
struck two hanging bells with clubs The