CLOCKS, CURIOUS. Among remarkable clocks, one of the best known is that in the Strasbourg cathedral. Another, illustrating the elaborateness to which clock-work is sometimes carried, was placed on exhibition in New York in the summer of 1880. It is the work of Felix Meier, who spent more than 10 years on its construction. It is 18 ft. high, 8 wide, and 5 deep. R has 2,000 wheels, runs by 700 lb. weights, and is wound .up once in 12 days. Above the main body of the clock is a marble dome, upon which Washington sits in his chair of state, protected by a canopy which is surmounted by a gilded statue of Columbia; on either side of Washington is a servant in livery, guarding the doors, which open between the pillars that support the canopy; on the four corners of the main body of the clock are black walnut niches; one of the niches contains the figure of an infant, the second the figure of a youth, the third of a man in middle life, the fourth of an aged graybeard. and still another, directly over the cen ter, contains a skeleton, representing father Time. All of these figures have bells and hammers in their hands. The infant's bell is small and sweet-toned; the youth's bell larger and harsher; the bell of manhood strong and resonant; that of old age dimin ishing in strength, and the bell of the skeleton deep and sad. A figure of William C. Bryant, and another of prof. Morse rest upon the pillars that support the planetary sys tem. The astronomical and mathematical calculation, if kept up, would show the correct movement of the planets for 200 years, leap years included. When the clock is in operation it shows local time in hours, minutes, and seconds; the difference in time at Chicago, Washington, San Francisco, Melbourne, Pekin, Cairo, Constantinople, St. Petersburg, Vienna, London,-Berlin, and Paris; the day of the week, calendar day of the month, month of the year, and seasons of the year, the signs of the zodiac, the revolutions of the earth on its own axis, and also around the sun; the revolutions of the moon around the earth, and with it around the sun; also, the moon's changes from the quarter to half, three-quarters, and full; the correct movement of the planets around the sun, comprising Mercury, which makes the revolution once in 88 days; Venus, once in 224 days; Mars, once in 686 days; Vesta, once in 1,327 days; Juno, once in 1,593 days; Ceres, once in 1,681 days; .Jupiter, once in 4,332 days; Saturn, once in 10,758
days; Uranus, once in 30,688 days. There is, therefore, a movement in this wonderful piece of machinery which cannot regularly be repeated more than once in 8-I years. But the inventor has a crank attachment to the clock, by means of which lie can hasten the working of the machinery, in order to show its movements to the public. By turn ing continuously 12 hours a day, for 16 days and 8 hours, a perfect revolution of the planet Uranus around the sun would be made. At the end of every quarter hour the infant in.his carved niche strikes with a tiny hanuner upon the bell which be holds in his hand. At.the end of each Mill hour the youth ktrikes; at the end of three-quarters of an hour the man, and at the end of each hour the graybeard, death then follows with a measured stroke to toll the hour. A large music box, manufactured at Geneva expressly for this clock, begins to play at the same time that the skeleton strikes the hour, and a surprising scene is enacted upon the platform beneath the canopy. Washington slowly rises from his chair to his feet, extending his right hand, presenting the declaration of independence; the door on the left is opened by the servant, admitting all the presidents from Washington's time, including president clayes. Each president is dressed iu the costume of his time. Passing in tile before Washington, they face and raise their hands as they approach him, and walking naturally across the platform disappear through the opposite door, which is promptly closed behind them by the second servant. Washing iugton retires into his chair, and all is quiet, save the measured tick of the huge pen dulum, and the ringing of the quarter hours, until another hour has passed.