CELEBRATED CLOCKS. 649 



The base of the clock contains a revolving horizon, which shows the mo- 

 tion of the constellations. A six-inch globe, representing the earth, turns 

 on its axis once in twenty-four hours ; and about this globe a moon 

 completes the circuit once in twenty-nine and a half days. All the 

 machinery for producing these movements is in plain sight. The cen- 

 tral part of the case above the base contains several dials showing the 

 tides, the season of the year, the phases of the moon, the day of the 

 week, and the day of the month. The largest of these dials has tin- 

 horn's and minutes. Just ever this dial there is an oval niche where 

 Youth, Manhood, and Old Age appear in turn as the hour goes by. An 

 alcove at the right contains Father Time with his scythe, bell, and 

 hour-glass. An alcove at the left holds a figure of ^ Death, which is 

 ready to strike the hour with a thigh-bone upon a skull. Above these 

 images are the doors where Christ, the Apostles, and Satan appear and 

 disappear. The figure of Justice is close at hand. Still above the 

 Apostles is an upper balcony where the three Marys appear. To 

 crown all is a battlement, whereon a Roman sentinel paces back and 

 forth. Ac the right of the main instrument above described a smaller 

 tower contains an organ, which gives forth music during the march of 

 the Apostles. Above the organ Orpheus and Linus appear with pipe 

 and harp, but only while the organ sends out its strains. At the left 

 of the main instrument a third tower represents the battle of Mon- 

 mouth, and Molly Pitcher with her well-known water-keg. 



The wonderful things that are done by the main part of the clock 

 may be described thus : When the hour-hand approaches the first 

 quarter, Father Time reverses his hour-glass and strikes one on the 

 bell with his scythe. Youth then appears. Three minutes before 

 the half -hour, a bell starts a tune from the organ. At the half-hour, 

 Time again reverses his glass, strikes two on the bell, and Manhood 

 appears. One minute afterward a chime is heard, and the Saviour steps 

 forth from a door. The Apostles pass by — Peter in the center and 

 Judas at the rear. The three Marys also come forth at the upper 

 balcony and stand facing the spectators. Each one of the Apostles 

 bows when opposite the Saviour, and the bow T is returned. But Peter 

 turns away — which is a signal for the cock to crow, for Satan to 

 appear at the upper window, and for Justice to raise her scales. 

 Judas does not look at the Saviour ; but Satan follows behind him in 

 the procession, to be sure that he does not bow, and then turns back- 

 ward and disappears, only to reappear at an upper window. In fact, 

 Satan appears in six different places. At the third quarter, Time 

 strikes three, and again turns the hour-glass. Manhood passes by, and 

 Old Age comes upon the scene. Three minutes before the hour the 

 organ sounds once more ; when the hour arrives, Death strikes the 

 number on the skull, and the Apostles once more begin to move before 

 the Saviour. 



What is known as the " Rittenhouse Clock " is, in many respects, 



