The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-22
THE BELLS OF MOSCOW.

The foreign correspondent of the N. Y. o.
server has the following article on "The Bells OF
Moscow" in the last issue Of that paper
At the foot Of the Ivan Tower in the Krem-
lin Of Moscow, supported by pedestal OF
stone, is the largest bell in the world, and pro-
baby the largest that ever toaS in the world
A piece is broken out of its side, and the frag
ment is lying near. The breadth Of the bell is
30 great-it is twenty feet across-that the
cavity underneath has been used as chapel,
where as many people can stand as in circle
sixty feet around.
In Russia the bell is an instrument Of music
for the worship Of God as truly and really as
the organ in any other country. This fact is
not mentioned in the accounts we have OF the
wonderful, enormous, aud almost incredibly
heavy bells that have been cast in Moscow,
but Il is the key to what would otherwise be
difficult to explain. II appears to be stupid
to cast bells so large as to be next to imrcsc,,o
for convenient use, in dagger always OF falling
aud dragging others to ruin in their fall. But
when the bell ID medium of communication
with the Infinite, and the worship of people
and an empire finds expression in the majestic
tones Of a bell, IL ceases to be wonder that
bell should have tongue which requires
twenty-four men to move, and whose music
should send thrill Of praise into every house
in the city and float away beyond the river into
che plains afar,
Moscow is the holy city of the Greek Church.
Pilgrims come hither from thousands of miles
of, and on foot, and sometim mes without
shoes. / have seen them, with slaves in
their hands, and their travel-worn feet wound
mp in cloths, vending their way to the sacred
hill. Aud when they draw nigh unto the
city, and on the evening air the music of these
holy bells is first borne to their ears they fall
upon their faces, PROSTATE, and worship God.
II they could 20 no further, they would be
content to die there for they have heard the
bells of Moscow and on their majestic tones
their souls have been taken up to heaven
This is the sentiment of the super5titious
peasant; and it is a beautiful sentiment, ideal
indeed, but all the more delicate aud ex alted.
AS long as five hundred years ago, this cast
ing of bells was an art in Russia. 1t is one of
the fine arts now. Perhaps our great bell
founders, the Meneelys, win not admit that
the founders there have any more skill in
their manufacture than we have, and | am not
sure that their bells have any tones more ex-
quisite than ours would have if we would put
as much silver and gold into our bell metal as
they do. But so long as those precious metals
are at the present premium, little or none of
them will find its way into our church BELLS
We have not the mistaken idea of the Russian
as to the use of bell. We use it to call the
people to the house of worship. They use the
bell for worship. Our bells speak to us. Their
bells praise God. They cast their silver and
their gold into the molten mass, and it be-
comes an Offering, as on an altar, to Him who
is worshipped with every silvery note and
golden tone of the holy bell.
This one great bell is the growth Of centu-
ries. In 1888 1t was cast, and weighed only
$4,000 pounds. 1t fell in fire and was recast
in 1854, being Increased to the astonishing
weight Of 299,000 pounds. This was too vast
weight to be taken up TO the top OF the tower
and 1t was sustained by a frame at the foot oft
In l706 it fell In another fire and was broken
into fragments, which lay there on the ground
about thirty years. 1t was recast in 1873, and
four years afterwards piece was knocked out
OF the side OF it, and it has been standing here
on the ground more than century. II
weighs Az, 900 poundsl In the .hickest part
1t is two feet through. 1t has relief pic
tures on it Of the Emperor and Empress, of
the Saviour and the Virgin Mary, and the
Evangelists.
Ascending the Ivan tower, We find on three
successive stories bells to the number of thirty
four. Some of these are of a size to fill one
with astonishment had he not seen the giant
below, The largest is on the first story above
the chapel, and weighs more than sixty tons.
1t swings freely and is easily rung. smote
it with the palm of my hand, supposing that
such blow could not produce the slightest
vibration in such mighty mass of iron but
it ruDg out as clear and startling as if a spirit
within had responded to my knock without.
Two bells are of solid silver, and their tones
are exqni5itely soft, liquid, and pure. II was
exciting to 60 from one to another and strike
them with their tongues, or with your hand,
and catch the variety and richness of their
several melodies.
The chapel below is dedicated to the patron
saint of all ladies about to be married. and it
may be readily believed that the bell that
gives expression TO their prayers will have
at least to their ears, the sweetest tone of all
the bells in Moscow
had come down from the Krsmitu to my
lodgings at Billot's, and, wearied with the TAI;-
derings of the day, was lying on the bed and
looking out on the city. 1t is Just before sun
set, and the day has been oppressively warm
a delicious glow from the gorgeous west is
bathing all the domes and roofs with splendid
Ccc"lnrs. and silence is stealing in with the set
ting sun 1rnn the crowded town. II is the
eve of one of their most holy festivals of the
Church. One vast church edlfce is directly
In view of my window, and but short way off.
AS lie musno from this church at hand
comes the softest, sweetest tone Of an evening
bell. Another tone RESPONDS. Il :H,Ea .s,Ea Is
heard. The Ivan tower on the height OF
the Krepliin utters his tremendous voice, like
the voice of many waters. And all the churches
and towers over the whole city, four hundred
bells and more, in concert, in harmony, "with
notes almost divine, lit up their voices in
an anthem of praise such as | never thought
to hear with mortal ears; waves of melody, an
ocean of music, deep, rolling, heaving, chang
ing, swelling, sinking, Using, sounding, over
whelming, exalting.
/ had heard the great organs OF Europe,
but they were tame and tritling compared
Nha a,,tI nf Nof, nj ro