Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-05-02

breast high, within two incEes of my face.
To raise my head was Impossible, Tor, as |
before remarked, a row o(sharp Soew-ends
technically called "tapped wires") was
directly over the nape of my neck. All
this time, though it was but a few seconds,
was acutely conscious Of the steady pro-
gress of the sermon. can even now re-
member every word ofthe sonorous Deans
pcroration. A sudden thought flashed
across my mind: "What fool am =
why not open the escare-valye Z" Now,
the escapc-ya!ve, which is an arrangement
for preventing the bellows from bursting,
was, as usual, in the middle of the wide
expause ofthe bellows-top. II | could onl
press this down, the air would escape, the
bellows would sink, and might yet get
free. strained and reached, but in vain;
my longest finger could not be got within
six inches of the valve. thought OF my
two-foot rule; but, alas! in my CONSERVATION
had let it drop. On went the sermon;
''bcat, beat" went my heart The bellows
top vas now touching my nose, and the sharp
points were being gradually driven into
the back of my neck. | struggled, but in
VAN. 1t was no use. | was wedged in,
like some poor victim in torture machine
of the InqMsition. "Pump, pump" went
the bellows handle; down came the blood
from innumcrable punctures in the back OF
my neck. My agony was intense. My face
was literally jammcd between the ever
rising bellows below and those hidcouS
spikes above. dare not cry out for was
not the Dean in the finest passage Of his
peroraton? In the midst of my agony |
heard sound, and felt movement in the
mechanism near me. 1t was the organist
pulling out the great organ stops. At the
same instant my eyes caught sight Of the
pull-downs" leading from the great organ
wind-chest. Some little demon whispered
inmy ear and in amoment saw my only
hope Of release from the intense and in
creasng agony | was suffering. must
open the nearest pipes, and thus release the
aCcumulating wind. l.knew, of course, the
unroor should cause, and still heard the
interminable Dean at his interminablc SER
mon But could not help it. With one
hand 7 grasped about eight OF the bass
"pull downs" and with the other hand
laid hold of the nearest pedal crackers. A
roar of the most awful character ensued
it was as though fifty healthy bulls and
five active volcanoes had burst into the
chapel. The Deans sermon was cilcctual-
ly qucnchcd. One of his finest periods
was brought to an unexpected full-Stop.
The unfortunate organist bounded oil his
stool, and swore audIbly. The bellows
blower rushed oil, thinking, no doubt, the
devil was inside the organ. But, oh joy
the bellows sank, and in faintng state
clambercd over the top. stumbled out
through the little side door, and fell into
the arms of two Senior Fellows who haC
FASTENED up to the scene of the disaster
The commotion among the gownsman IL
the chapel, I was afterwards told, bcogarct
description. Laughter, horror, eXclama
tions of surprise and Indignation, were al
to the front by turns. The blessing wa
pronounced amidst the greatest confusion
and altogether the scene was such as thos'
sacred walls had never witnessed before
was politely conducted to my rooms
The next morning [ appeared before tn
Master and Seniors, and, though | plc0de'
loud and long, was rusticated for tw'
terms. | never went back to Cambridge
I always considered that had been yer.
badly treated.