American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-04-25
An Old House in Strassburg.

Holtz. Many were the artists who
lovingly decorated this unique stone
jewel. The baptistery was the work
of John Detginger; the pulpit that OF
Hans Hammerer, and innumerable
humble artisans lovingly and piously
decorated and embellished 1t. Their
anonymous tribute is t%ouchingly re-
vealed in the slightest details of the
gigantic and splendid masterpiece.
The Astronomical Clock.
The great clock of the cathedral has
been for nearly six centuries an object
of public curiosity and amusement.
This astronomical clock was first
built by Bishop Bercthold of Birch
egg in 1882, and was completed
two years later by Bishop John of
L~ichtenberg. The clock originally oc-
cupied the space facing that which IT
occupies at present in the southern
trnnsept. Besides various astro-
nomical devices indicating the true
solar time, it has a great planetarium
in which the revolution of the planets
is represented, so that the relative
position of each at any time can be
seen at a glance. Then, on an ele-
waited platform, are moving figures
representing the our ages of man.
On a still higher platform is n nat
ural-sized figure of Jesus, and at noon
the twelve apostles pass before the
feet of their master, bowling low. AS
Peter passes, a large and narvel1
Ously lifelike cock flaps his wings,
rufles his feathers and crows three
times very loudly and naturally. The
clock was definitely completed in 1914,
to be destroyed during the revolution
of 1889. But in 1912, n Strassburg
artist named Schwielgue built the
clock which still exists and is a faith-
full copy of the old timepiece.
Houses Of the Renaissance.
During the Renaissance, Strassburg
enjoyed a prosperity of which some
idea can be gained from the numer-
Gus monuments which were erected at
that period. Many of these still exist,
especially those old houses which
abound in the little narrow streets In
the "neighborhood of the cathedral,
NltIt many picturesque plh 20
boards bear evidence to the past. The
Boecklin house, which once belonged
to a noble family Of lower Alsace, is
among the most celebrated of the
period. The courtyard of this house
contains q magnificent stone staircase
and 1t also possesses a particularly
fine Renaissance doorway. The House
- a. 49,, InEfa@ fpaVa fhn fnnT.
teenth century, Is famous for its re
markable courtyard, and it is said that
Frederick the Great lodged there In
1740. The House of the Dragon, re
Gently demolished, was In the four
! teenth century the residence of th'
: Knights of Endingen, whilst the ia
nous KamerZell house on the Cathe
! dral place, dating from 1467, Is o.
: worldwide renown. ItB three stories
| were built at successive periods; bu
coiffed with it's high, slanting roof. -
characteristic of Strassburg, 1t rathe
resembles an immense dOyecOte will
its many windows.
During the thirty years war, AlsacI
fell under the rule Of France Strass
Q burg became French on the Both 0
5 September, 1851, whilst the annexa
j ton was definitely ratified by tn
D Peace Of Ryswick In 1897. YaubaI
( personally directed the construction o
y the citadel in 1852. Put his fortified
s I%tions. strong as they were, could no
G resist the intensely terrific lombard
e ment 70 which the Germans subjecte
g the old city in August and September
= 1870, and Strassburg vas Obliged I
Z, capitulate after barely n months r.
a s~istance. During the Smelling Of tn
e city. many Of its finest public edihcei
l. which were for the most part Of IN
eighteenth century, were destroyed
n Amongst these figured the magnihceI
n library.