Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-07-22
Bells.

One of the most interesting SUBJECTS
which presents itself to the mind of a
musical student is that of bells. Being
ranked by musicians among the musl-
cal instruments of percussion, the study
of them, like all such inexhaustlble
subjects, admits of careful explanation,
which is likely to be long journey be-
fore the different branches which spring
from the parent subject are fully in
vestigated. In prosecuting sucha study
there are halting places and by-paths
thick as leaves in Valombrosa," with
historic treasures which the writer can
not reconcile himself to neglecting, and
vet to prepare bird d's-eye view of any
great whole there must be no lingering,
no stopping, but a hurried scanning
and rapid transilience.
As writer of the present century
says, bells have been neglected by mu-
steal antiquaries, and there are very
few records which are wholly correct.
This is matter of wOnderment 10
many people whose experience extends
TO the limit of knowing that certain
famous bell hangs in an accessible town
which is free TO the investigation of any
lover of research, But to the learned
there are very serious difficulties at
tending the examination of bells which
are hung. As an example. we quote
from the private diary of an enthusias-
tic music-loving friend who was col
lecting facts of interest concerning old,
celebrated musical instruments. For a
portion of his time he examined some
of those brazen-tOngued sentinels, and
describes one of his tours which, as he
says, was an experience oft repeated"
1--WE climbed up hundreds of stairs,
innumerable ladders, over beams black
with age and dust, to find at the last
moment an intercepting support which
prevented further progress. We could
see one-half of the bell, but perverse
chance made the half which was hidden
bear the date and name which we SO
desired to see." These are some of the
difficulties, and to any one who intends
to pursue his studies of bells we recOm-
mend the practice of patience and a
diploma as gymnast, From some ex-
perience in watching an investigation
of this kind we learned that frequently
ii is necessary to get through an apera-
ture too small to admit the whole body;
to hang from the ceiling with one hand
and with the other to hold light and
attempt to decipher date; or to crawl
close to the bell and try to rub off the
rust from the name with a prOspec-
tive fall of a hundred feet should your
foot slip or the rope prove treacherous.
Weighing these attending circum
stances our readers will readily see why
so little is known of some of these most
important musical instruments.
Bible savans will tell us that per-
haps the first mention of a bell was
made by Moses where he described the
dress Of the high priest. This is GER
tainly excellent authority and We know
from prOfane history that bells were
common at that time as ornaments. 1t
is unnecessary for us, in fact it is i'm
possible, in one article even to trace the
history of bells from that time up to
the Christian era; we therefore hastily
glance at few records taken from
different years, giving enough of the
fictiOns relating to bells to color plain
facts. In the year $40 we hear of
chimes. one peal in particular which
were a gift to the Abbey at CrOyland.
From this time, and years before, single
bells were used for church purposes, in
imitation of rude music, and were
principally associated with the joyous
seasons of the church. During Lent
they were muffled, and runners were
employed to assemble the cOngrega
tiOns, or pieces of thin board were
struck together which were the unhar-
monious substitutes for the silenced
bells. These boards have been pre-
served and in Florence sets of them are
still to be seen; they are called sacred
boards. AT the Easter festival the
bells were uncloaked, cleaned and rung
out in the most exultant tones to cele-
brate the feast of the risen Lord.