Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-24
"a IA II APR0TT 12O Main ST.,
w. Ill ~ AODO1 WaterviIe, Me.


lapsed. and was a heap of ruins in
1902. has been successfully rebuilt.
The disaster was attributed to the
insecurity of the foundations, in the
swampy bottom. and it was feared
that other historical structures, frons.
ing ON the show place. We're threat
ened with n similar fate. The fact
that this would be regarded as Il cat
as:rophe of world wide significance
induced the Italian government to in
Vestigate the conditions of these his
toriCal structures, which include the
Doge'S palace. the Church of St. Mark,
and the Tore dell Orologio (clock
toWer), So called from its being the
clock of Venice.
This last named building which is
seventy feet in height. and is of solid
white marble with decorations con-
sisting of panels of colored Carrara
marble and mosaics of gold and lapiZ-
lazuli. was erected for business pur-
poses as early as the 18th century. the
arehWaN in the centre giving access
to the Mercevia. the commercial CEN
ire of Venice. where the principal
stores are to be found and the best re-
tail trade is carried on. Pietro Lom
bardo was the architect OF the tower
which was built in 1894; the wings on
each side also built in the style of his
school. were not erected until the be-
ginning OF the sixteenth century.
The first clock installed in the tower
was made by Giovan Paolo Rinaldi of
Reggie, and Clan Carlo, his son. but
in 1850 1t was badly damaged by light
ming, and Ferracina of Bassano recon-
structed 1t in 17I5 Evelyn in his me-
moirs. under date of 1915, evidently
refers to the first clock. when he de-
scribes it as next to that al Strasburg
Cor its many movements, some OF
which he mentions, his description i'll
dicating that many of the features of
the original clock have been embodied
in the present timepiecc.
The dial bears on it's outer circle
the hours from one to twelve. in Ara
bic 1igures. twice repeated, making
the twenty four hours used in the
Italian system Of dividing time. but
sub divided. To make them comprehen-
SIJlt To lflOSe dtCUStbtllcu u OlueT
methods of division. The inner circle
shows the signs of the zodiac. and re-
wolves at such speed as to show the
months in their relation to the period
The hour is indicated by the single
hand, there being but one In accord
ance with the old system of clock
construction. The body of this hand
is concealed behind the centre of the
clock, only the point. in the form of n
blazing sun. showing beyond the
groove between the first and second
circles in which il travels around To
point the hours. The centre of the
clock is of black enamel. spangied
with golden stars to represent the
heavens. Its centre is occupied by Il
golden sun. around which globe,
half black. half gilt makes n complete
revolution in twenty-nine and IL half
days, reproduction the phases of the
moon.
Projecting from the front of the
tower above the clock is a balcony. in
the centre of which sits the Virgin
Mary enthroned. a gilded figure on
background of blue and gilded lattice
patterns. holding The infant Jesus on
her knee the figures being fanked by
two doors, overlaid with gilded work
Four times a day the doors open and
procession makes it's appearance
from the door on the right, first an
angel blowing on golden trumpet.
then in turn the three kings or wise
men from the East-Melchoir. Caspar
ana Balthasar Each in passing raises
his hand and bows his head, in saluta-
ton of the mother of God, enters the
door on the left and disappears, the