Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-11-23
ON THE VERGE OF DEATH.
A GYMNAsTS ADVENTURE.

1 had among my fellow students a
special renown for my skill In every
kind of gymnastics. Athletic exercise,
in the widest sense of the term, was to
me pleasure to which l had surrender
ed myself, body and soul, and in conse-
quence of which I posses ssed, although
not tall and strong, some muscle and a
high degree of confidence, while had
acquired, in perilous situations, pres
ence of mind-all of which qualities
form even now considerable portion OF
my character. When at last my studies
were ended, and had obtained situa-
tion as pastor in western Germany, / did
not give up my old inclination for gym
nastics, and there was considerable talk
one fine day over the circumstance that
the young clergyman of the church OF
st. Rlasius had been seen hanging in his
garden Ly his legs, and in this headlong
position caressiug bis little son, who was
crawling under him on the ground. l
d assessed such an article of humanity,
since, on my accession to the pastorate,
r had steered into the harbor Ut matri-
nony.
But my favorite diversion, when had
a few leisure hours, and the sun was not
too scorchinG, consisted in climbing to
q narrow projection on the lofty church
roof, and walking about there while l
smoked my cigar.
What a magnificent place this old
church roof was! Quite another world
than that which lay far below me-a re-
gion of rock and stone, without vegeta-
ton or water, except when it rained, and
the cutters were filed, in which case
this spt cial realm presented little attrac
ton. 1t was world where had often
INDUCED in star gazing.
/ regarded this airy region as my
special province, where reigned in soli-
tary majesty over my subj cts, consisting
of DAVIS and swallows-often very noisy
and intolerable ones. It excited in me
merry, perhaps somewhat boyish
feeling, as I thought what look my
superintendent would put on when he
heard of my excursions in the narrow,
gloomy towers, between great grinning
stone heads, fat cherubs, scaly dragons
and cutters of zinc, or on the pinnacles
of the towers, from which was present
ed wide prospect over picturesque
landscape.
Sometimes I climbed down in the
broad gutter in the middle Of the roof,
from which nothing was to be seen
above but the blue heavens and the
swarming swallows. and below, the
broad paved church square, on which, a
hundred and twenty feet beneath, the
people crept about like ants.
1t was during one of these excursions
that the event occurred which will re-
late, and which thoroughly cured me
for several months of my desire for
roof climbing.
Imust first inform you that, around
the outside of the cathedral, just where
the roof terminated, ran smooth pro-
jecting edge, about foot wide. Under
this, considerably lower, just above the
great entrance gate, was 8 huge stone
projection, which formerly supported q
colossal figure OF st. Peter, holding q
great iron lantern. The statue had long
ago disappeared, and half of the Ian
tern was broken of, so that what was
left had the appearance OF an arm chair
without legs.
Standing on the stone caves one day,
above this relic of past centuries, the
thought suddenly seized methat it would
be an amusement of new and original
kind to swing myself down and enjoy
my cigar in this fantastic arm chair.
Without hesitating a moment, 1
turned around, kneeled down, seized
the caves with convulsive grasp, and
the next instant was dangling in midair
over the abyss, more than a hundred
feet from the earth.
As I looked, in this situation, under
me at the defective lantern, I found
that was not directly over it-indeed,
it was two feet further from the wall
than l had thought.
This circumstance, however, caused
me little anxiety. Giving myself q
swing, by which I easily pressed one
foot against the building, sprung safe
ly into my resting place in the broken
laptern.
Here sat long time, smoking my
cigar, drumming with my heels on the
wall, and complacently enjoying the
oool of the evening and the magnificent
prospect. ~
The sun was setting before I thought
OF undertaking my return, which 1 was
especially induced to do by the sight
of one or two persons, who were stand
ing below and gazing mp at me.
II as not three minutes before quite
q crl of people had gathered about
the enjoy the spectacle Of man
sit ST. Peters lantern.
p thought /, sit is now
tiu1 urn Some one will find out
end then there will be apretty