Des Arc citizen., 1859-10-12
MOSCOW AND ITS BELLS.

The Russians have q penchant for bells in general, which rises to the quality oi solemn reverence for large bells. In a
 building, adjoining the grand tower of St. John the Great, there Is one bell, weigh ing 2l9,000 English pounds. It is only rung once a year, and upon occasions of coronation The strength of six men is required for pulling the hammer one side
 to give the strokes. The great bell itself remains to be noticed This now rests upon a pedestal raised four feet above the ground, in front of the tower. Its exact height is 20 feet and 7 inches. It mea- sures about Is feet across the base and is just 2 feet thick, weighing 43S,O 900 pounds { (English.) I do not recollect having anywhere met with correct history of this bell. There is tradition very prevalent among the people of Russia that it once hung in the tower, from which it fell and
 was broken. An account generally cred
 iled in our country says the bell was hung on temporary wood frame, which was burnt with the Kremlin, the bell falling with such force as to break 1t and bury 1t in the earth. Perhaps you may remem. Der the picture in the old school geogra- phy, representing it as mounted upon a frame, say sixty feet from the ground, with an army of men tugglng at the ham, mer. The truth is the bell was never any further from the ground than at present. The inscription in raised letters upon Its surface tells its weight, and that Il was cast in l793, during the reign of the Elm
 press Joanavana. The mould, or form of the bell, was made in the ground, and lit- tie cupalos for iusing the immense mass of metal were set up in every direction within the Kremlin. The common peo- pie were invited to take an interest in the affair, and they came up to Moscow by thousands and tens of thousands, bearing their contributions of copper. When at length the requisite amount of metal was gathered, and all was ready, the fires were lighted and the metal rivers began to flow. Scarcely had they ceased. when the anxiety of the multitude to see the new wonder became so great as to overpower the discretion and common sense of the managers, and they stupldly began to un- cover it. The cold air coming Tn contact with its surface, and causing unequal con- traction. il soon cracked in all directions
 one piece weighing several tons ultimate ly becoming entirely detached. No soon- CT was the mischief discovered, than the earth was hustled back to conceal 1t, and in due time orders were gwen to let the monster remain in it's position, every oth CT but the true reason being assigned therefor. And there it did remain for l03 years, when it was again uncovered {; three generations of men having passed away. and there being none left to doubt the silly stories which the ignorant and superstitious priesthood are forever weav. ing around everything calculated to in' spre the awe of the multitude. It was finally placed as now in 1856, by order oI Emperor Nicholas, given several years before. The broken piece is out of place
 resting against the pedestal. The other cracks are quite obvious to careful ob' server extending vertically up the sides. -TCor. Springfield Republican.