The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-01-24
entirely in the same style Of architecture

eutTeiy III the SdIDc etJLc VI oiShtSSs"iS
they are exclusively built OF wood, one sto- |
ry projecting beyond the other: the exter' |
icr is generally dirty red, and the win
dows. which are seldom glazed, are cover
ed with grating so closely reticulsted as
barely to admit the light. The interior is
divided into two parts, the one appropria-
ted TO the women is termed Harem and
is never entered, even by the male rela-
tiyes of the wives. The shops are all OPP
en- warehouses (; the proprietor sits cross
legged near the entrance; the principal
artcl les Of merchandise are saddery sweet
meats. and tobacco--the three great sta
pies Of Turkish commerce. The streets are
very narrow that they are not passable IN
any carriage Whatever. The roof OF the
houses nearly meet, so that air and sun
shine have scarcely any ingress where, a
bove all places in the world, they are most
wanted.
The ticking of a clock in the night has
nothing very interesting nor very alarm
ing IN IT, though superstition has magnihed
il into an omen. In state OF vigilance or
debility, it preys upon the spirits ike the
persecution Of a teazIng pertlnacious IN
sect, and haunting the Imagination after 1t
has ceased in reality is converted into the
death watch. Time is rendered vast by
contemplating its minute portions thus re
peatedly and painfully upon its attention,
as the ocean IN its immensely is composed
Of water drops A clock striking with a
clear and silver sound is a great relief III
such circumstances breaks the spell. and
resembles u syph like and friendly spirit in
the room. Foreigners, With all their tricks
and contrvances upon clocks and time pie
ces, are strangers 10 the sound of village
bells, though perhaps a people that can
dance, may dispense with them Ihey
mpart pensivc, wayward pleasure TO the
mind, and are kind of chronology OthaP'
py events often serious IN the retrospect
births, marriages, and so forth. Colerldge
calls them "the poor mans only music"
village spire in England, peeplng fIom It's
cluster of trees, ia always associated IN i'm
aglnation with this cheerful accompanl
mcnt and may be expected to pour lts JOY
Gus tidings on the gale. In Catholic coun-
tnes, you are stunned VII h the everlasting
tolling of bells to prayers, or for the dead.
In the Appennnes, and other wild and
mountainous districts of Italy, the little
chapel bell, with its simple tInkIlng sound,
has a romantic and charming effect. The
Monks in former times appear to have Ia
ken pride IN the construction OF bells, a
well as churches; and some Of those of ID"
great cathcdrals abroad Gas at Colonge anc
Rouen), may be fairly said to be hoars"
with counting the fight of ages. The
chimes in Holland are nuisance. They
lance in the hours and the quarters. They
eave no respite to the lInaginatnD. BE
fore one set has done ringing in your ear.
another begins. You do not know Wheih
or the hours move or stand still, 60 back
wards or forwards, so funtastlcal and pol
picking are their Accomplishments. Tim
10 more stald parsonage, and not so fui
Of gambols II puts you in mind OF time
with variations, or of an embroidered dress,
Surely, nothing Is more simple than time.
His march is straight forward hut we
| should have leisure allowed MS to look back
lpon the distance We have come, and moi
| 10 be counting his footsteps every moment
Time in Holland ia foolish old fellow
With oil the antics of youth, who "goes
20 church in coranto, and lights his pipc
in cinqucpace" The chimes with us,
On the contrary, as they come IN ever
three or four hours, are like stages in The
Journey of the dny They give flip to
The lazy creeping hours, and relieve the
assitude of country place. At noon,
their desultory, trivial song is diffused
through the hamlet with the odour OF rash
ers Of bacon, at the close Of the day they
send the toll worn slecpers TO their beds
Their discontnuance would be 3 great los.
the thinking or unthinking public. Mr..
Wordsworth has painted their effect on the
mind, when he made his friend Matthew
| IN fit of inspired dotage,
"Sng those witty rhymes
About tho crazy old church-clock
And the bewildored chimes"
The tolling of the bell for deaths and eX-
ecutions is a fearful summons, though, as
it announces not the advance Of fate, it
happily makes no part Of our subject. 9th
erwise, the "sound Of the bell" for Mac
hsath's execution in the "Beggars' OPERA
or, for that of the Conspirators IN "Venlce
Preserved" with the roll Of the drum al u
soldiers funeral. and a DEPRESSION to that
Of My Uncle Toby, as it is so finely de
scrbed by Sterne, would furnish agreea-
BILE topics 10 descant upon. If | were =
moralst, ! might Gisapprove the ringing in
the new and ringing out the old year.
"Why dance ye, mortals, DER the grave OF
Time ,"
ST. Pours bell tolls only for the death Of
our English kings, or distinguished per.