Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1919-04-11
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 Ct
Hans Hammerer, and innumerahte
humble artisans lovingly and piOusiy
decorated and embellished it. Their
anonymous tribute is touchingiy 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 firsS
| built by Bishop Bercthold of Birch
egg in 1852, and was completed
two years later by Bishop John Of
Lichtenberg. The clock originally &C.
| cupied the space facing that which ft
| occupies at present in the southern
transept. Besides various astro-
nomical devices indicating the true
solar time, it has 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 Gle
waited platform, are moving figures
representing the four ages of man
On still higher platform is a 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 marveht
ously lifelike cock flaps his wings
ruffles his feathers and crows three
times very loudly and naturally. The
clock was definitely completed I'm 1878.
to be destroyed during the revolution
of $780, But in 1912, a 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 I'm
the neighbOrhOod of the cathedral.
where many picturesque old sign
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 a magnificent stone staircase.
and it also possesses a particularly
fine Renaissance doorway. The House
of the Crow, dating from the four
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 the
Knights of Endingen, whilst the IA
nous KamerZell house on the Cathe-
dral place, dating from 1867, is Of
worldwide renown. It's three stories
were built at successive periods; but
coiffed with its high, slanting roof. 80
characteristic of Strassburg it rather
resembles an immense dovecote with
its many windows.
During the thirty years war, Aisace
fell under the rule of France; Strass-
burg became French on the Both Of
September, 1881, whilst the annexa-
ton was definitely ratified by the
Peace of Ryswick in 1857. Vauban
personally directed the construction or
the citadel in 1852. Bns his fortifica-
tons. strong as they were, could not
resist the intensely terrific lombard
ment to which the Germans subjected
the old city in August and September.
1870, and Strassburg was obliged tn
capitulate after barely months re-
sistance. During the Smelling of the
city, many of its finest public edifices.
which were for the most part of the.
eighteenth century, were destroyed
Amongst these figured the magnificent
library.