The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-05-28
An Old House in strassburu.

f1OllZ. MdIly WERE luc uIIlSlo WI"
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 it. Their
anonymous tribute is touchingly 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 1852, and was completed
two years later by Bishop John of
Lichtenberg. The clock originally oc.
cupied the space facing that which 1t
occupies at present in the southern
transept. Besides various astro-
nOmlcal devices indicating the true
solar time, it has great planetarlum
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 four ages Of man.
On a still higher platform is a nat
ural-slzed figure of Jesus, and at noon
the twelve apostles pass before the
feet of their master, bowling low. AS
Peter passes, large and marvel1
ously lifellke cock flaps his wings,
ruffles his feathers and crows three
times very loudly and naturally. The
clock was definitely completed in 1874,
to be destroyed during the revolution
of 1889. But in 1912, a Strassburg
artist named Schwielgue built the
clock which still exists and is 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,
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 1t also possesses a particularly
fine Renaissance doorway. The House
of the Crow, dating from the four
teenth century, is famous for it's re-
markable courtyard, and 1t 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 Cattle
dral place, dating from 1867, is OF
worldwide renown. Its three stories
were built at successive periods; but
coiffed with its high, slanting roof, SO
characteristic of Strassburg, 1t rather
resembles an immense dovecote with
its many windows.
During the thirty years. war, Alsace
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 Ryswlck in 1897. Vaubar
personally directed the construction Of
the citadel in 1882. But his fOrtifca
tons, strong as they were, could moi
resist the intensely terrific lombard
ment to which the Germans subjected
the old city in August and September
1870, and Strassburg was obliged t
capitulate after barely a months re
sistance. During the Smelling Of thu
city, many of its finest public edifices
which were for the most part Of tn
eighteenth century, were destroyed
Amongst these figured the pagnifcen
Library.