Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-19
BEAUTIFUL BELLS.
Something abOut the Great Bells Of
MOscew-Their Music The Towers,

A very interesting account of the bells
Of Moscow is given by correspondent at
that place. He says:
At the foot of Ivan Tower in the Krem-
lin of Moscow, supported by pedestal Of
stone, is the largest bell that ever was in
the world. A piece is broken out of its
side, and the fragment is lying near.
| The breadth of the bell is SO great
twenty feet across--that the cavity under.
meath has been used as chapel, where as
many people can stand as in a circle
sixty feet around.
In Russia the bell is an instr ument Of
music for the worship of God as truly
and really as the organ in any other
country. This fact is mentione d in the
accounts we have of the wonder ful, enor.
nous and almost incredibly he avy bells
that have been cast in Moscow, but it is
the key to what it would othe r'wise be
difficult to explain. 1t appears to be
bound to cast bells so large as to Zoe next
to impossible for convenient use = in
danger always of falling and dr. agging
others to ruin in their fall. But when
the bell is means of communicate with
the Infinite, and the worship Of people
and an empire finds expression in the
majestic tones of bell, it ceases to be a
wonder that bell should have a. tongue
which requires twenty-four men to move,
and whose music should send q thrill of
praise into every house in the city, and
float away beyond the river into the
plains afar.
Moscow is the holy city of the Greek
Church. Pilgrims come hither from
thousands of miles off, and on foot, and
sometimes without shoes. l have seen
them, with slaves in their hands and
travel.worn feet wound up in cloths,
vending their way to the sacred hills.
And when they draw nigh unto the city,
and on the evening air the music of these
holy bells is borne to their ears, they fall
upon their faces, prostrate, ar d worship
God. If they could go 40 further, they
would be content to die there, for they
have heard the bells of Moscow, aud on
their majestic tones their souls have been
taken up to heaveni This is the senti-
ment of the superstitious peasant, and it
is beautiful sentimeu Ideal, indeed,
but all the more delicate and exalted.
As long as FIVE hundred years ago, this
casting Of bells was All art in Russia. 1t
is one of the fine arts now. Perhaps
our great bell founders, the Meneelys,
will not admit that the founders there
have any more skill in their manufacture
than we have, and l am not sure that
their bells have any tones more exquisite
than ours would hive if we would put as
much silver and g old into our bell-metals
as they do. But as long as the precious
metals are at their present premium,
little or none of them will ind it's way
into our church bells. We have not the
mistaken idea of the Russians as to the
use of bell. We use the bell 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 becomes 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
centuries. In 1868 it was cast, and
weighed only $4,000 pounds. 1t fell in a
fire, was recast in 1854, being increased
to the astonishing weight Of 5000
pounds. This was too vast weight to
be taken up to the top of the tower, and
il was sustained by frame at the foot of
il. In 100 it fell in another fire, and
was broken into fragments, which lay
there on the ground about thirty years.
1t was recast in 1879, and four years
afterward piece was knocked out of the
side of it, and it has been standing here
on the ground more than half century.
1t weighs 444, 900 pounds In the thickest
part il is two feet through. 1t has relief
pictures on it Of the Emperor and EN-
press, of the Savior and the Virgin Mary |
and the Evsngelists.
Ascending the Ivan Tower, we find on
three successive stories bells to the num-
ber of thirty four. Some of these are of
q 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 easily. / smote it with the
palm of my hand, supposing that such
blow could not produce the slightest vi
bration in such q mighty mass Of iron,
but it rung 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 exquisitely
soft, liquid and pure. 1t was exciting to
90 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
and it may be readily believed
that the bell that gives expr ession to their
prayer will have, at least TO their ears,
the sweetest tones Of all the bells Of Mos
COW.
had to come down from the Kremlin
to my lodgings at Billotts, and, wearied
with the vanderings Of the day, was lying
on the bed aud looking out on the city.
It is Just before sunset, and the day has
been oppressively warm. A delicious
glow from the gorgeous vest is bathing
III the domes and roofs With splendid