Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-09-01
BELLS AND BELL RINGING.

entitled THE Belfry.' After sketch
ing the history of bells and belfries,
from the earliest period, the writer
says:
Let us next consider the duties OF
the bells as they hang, a musical oc-
taye. in their airy home. These du-
ties are threefold-to chime, to ring
in peal, and to toff--and they are
fthus defined in some quaint old YER
sicles:
To call the folk to church in time.
| We chime.
When joy and mirth are on the wing,
We ring.
| When We lament departed soul,
| Uncommon as the practice is-at
least in this part of the country
only to chime the bells as the call to
church, (this being generally done
by a half an hours good round
ringing with changes, and closing
perhaps by tolling single bell, }
there is, nevertheless, no doubt of
its being the proper way. Lest any
of our readers, however, should not
understand what Ginning is, it con-
sists of swinging the bell to and fro
by the rope, so that it moves like
the pendulum of clock, and comes
in contact with the clapper, which
remains nearly stationery inside,
owing to its weight and the loose
manner of suspending it. Nor let
any one despise this method as a
substitute for the wilder peal, which
seems to cheer the people on their
walk to church by its sonorous
tchanges. 1t is possible that those
who object may never have listened
to good chimes. If so, let them
withhold their judgment; for We can
assure them that eight sweet-toned
bells, if well chimed, afford as beau
tiful music rs ever charmed Chris
tian's ear. The effect too, being
more solemnizing than inspiriting,
is only more becoming the occasion;
and this influence, though varying
according to circumstances of place,
time, health and state of mind, will
seldom fail to induce feelings in har-
mony with devotional exercises, and
to move the sensitive with tenderest
impressions.
| Ringing Il peal has next to be no.
ticed. This is done on all occasions
of congratulation or festivity, such
as marriages, births, victories, elec-
tions, the arrival of distinguished
persons. etc. A peal in technical
language, is performance on the
bells of more than five thousand
changes; and it occupies the ring
ers considerable period of time.
generally more than three hours
But touch or flourish OH the bells.
which is the ordinary method of no.
tifying any joyful occurrence. is
round ringing varied by changes at
the option of the ringers, or accord
ing to the custom of the belfry. 1t
is usual, in the first instance, to set
the bells-that is, to throw every
bell with its mouth upward, in a sta
tionary position on the frame. And
then, every ringer being ready in
his place, the treble bell is first drop
ped, and off they all go in quick
succession, closing the round with
the stroke of the heavy tenor. This
performance, often repeated, is call
ed round-ringing, to distinguish it
from ehange-ringing; and formerly
it was the custom to close every
change, as well as every round with
the tenor bell. But this practice is
discontinued, as any bell may con-
clude change.
A common peal of rejoicing might
be arranged thus: First, round-ring-
ing for 100 times; then firing a num-
ber of cannOns, which means a sim
ultaneous crash from all the bells;
then the bells trip off lightly again,
l, 3, 3, 4, 8, 6, 7, s, from treble to
tenor. And again, and yet again,
they go quicker at each rotation,
until the sounds flash past the ear
just as the strokes of turning
wheel dazzle the eye; and then, on a
sudden, they all stop, as if the whole
peal were demolished. But no; the
bells are only set-mouths up again
in their cage-and first one of them
drops for single stroke, and then |
another, just to prove that they had |
not lost their voices.
Let us try a wedding peal, which
our fair readers may practice for
amusement on the piano-forte, since
it is certain that they will not attend
to it when it gilds their own nuptial
morn. We will first ring - rounds
in regular order, |, J. 3, 1. ). 6. Z, s:
then II changes on the bells in the
following rota: l, >, ,. 6, 3, Z, /. 5:
then II changes thus: |. 3. ). !, ).
4, G, s; then - chords thus =
and conclude the peal with l2
rounds rs at starting.
All! was it not the merry peal just
described which holds that poor
lads attention, who leans against a
milestone at Holloway on certain
cold November morn: His small
wallet is over his shoulder, contain
ing all he has in the world. He hasl
run away from his employer. He is
going he knows not whittier: any
where to which a chance or Il kind
word may invite him. But who is