The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1876-12-28
Selected STORY,
ON The VERGE OF DEATH.
A GYMNAST'S ADVENTURE,

special renown for my skill in oyery
KIND OF gymnastics. Athletic exer-
else, in the widest sense of the
term, was to me pleasure to which
had surrendered myself, body and
soul, and in consequence Of which 7
possessed, although not tall and
strong, somo muscle and high de-
gree of confidence, while had &C
quired, in perilous situations, pres
enco Of mindful of which qualities
form even now q considerable por-
,tion of my character. When ct lnst
b hmy studios were ended, and l had
obtained situation It's pustor in
western Germany, + did not give up
my old inclination for gymnastics,
and there was considerable Talk one
tao dsy over the circumstance that
the young Clergyman Of the church
Of st. Blasius had been seen hanging
in his legs, and in this headiong
position caressing his little son, who
was crawling undor him on the
ground. possessed such al article
OF humanity, since on my accession
to the pastorate, I had steerei into
the harbor of matrimony.
But my favorite diversion, when
l had 4 few leisure hours, and tho
~sun was not too scorching, consist
ed in climbing to narrow projec-
ton on the lofty church roof, and
walking about there while I smoked
my cigar.
What a magnificent place this old
church roof was Quite another
world than that which lay far below
me--a region of rock and stone,
without vegetation or water, except
when it ralned, and the cutters wero
filed, in which case this special
realm presented little attraction. It
was world where 1 had often in
dulged in stur-gazing. I regarded
this niry region as my special pro
vince, where I reigned in solitary
anajesty over my subjects, consisting
O fdaws and sweIlows--often very
noisy and intolerable one. 1t excit-
ed in mo Il merry, perhaps somewhat
boyish feeling, Us l thought what a
look my superintendent would put
on me when he heard of my exrur-
sions in the narrow, gloomy towers,
between great grinniny stone heads,
fat cherubs, scaly dragons and gut
ters of zinc, or on the piDnacos of
the towers, from which was present
ed n vide prospect over pictur-
esque landscape.
Sometimes L climbed down in the
broad guttor in the middle of the
roof, from which nothing was to be
seen above but the blue heavens and
: the swarming swallows, and below,
tho broad paved church square. on
which, q hundred amp twenty feet
beneath, the people crept about like
ants.
TWAS during one of these cxcur-
sions that the event occurred Which
will relate, and which thoroughly
cured me for several months of
my desire for roof.cliinbing.
I must first inform you that,
around the outside of the cathedral,
just whore the roof Terminated, ran
q smooth projecting edge, about o
foot wide. Under this, considerably
lower, just above the great entrance
gate, was hugo stone projection,
which formerly supported colossal
figure Of st. Peter, holding q great
iron lantern. The s.atua had long
ago disappeared, and half Of the Ian
tern was broken OFF, SO that what
WAS left had the appearance of au
arm chair without legs
Standing Oh the stone caves one
day, above this relic of past centu-
ries, the thought suddenly seized
me that it would be an amusement
of a new and original kind to swing
mycelf down and enjoy my cigar in
this fantastic arm chair.
Without hesitating moment,
turned around, kneeled down, seized
the caves with convulsive grasp, and
dae next instant was dangling in
mid4air over the abyss, more than
q hundred feet from the earth.
As I looked, in this situation,
under me at the defective lantern,
I found that I was not directly over
it--indeed, it was too feet further
from the wall than I had thought.
This circumstance, however caused
me little anxiety. Giving myself
swing, by which I easily pressed one
foot against the building, sprung
safely into my resting place in the
broken lantern.
Here I sat long time, smoking
my cigar, drumming with my
heels on the wall, and complacently
enjoying the cool of the evening and
the magnificent prospect.
The sun was setting before I
Thought of undertaking my return,
which I was especially induced to do
by the sight Of one or two persons,
who were standing below and gazing
spp at me.
y 1t was not three minutes before
quite q crowd Of people had gather
cd about them to enjoy the spectacle
of a man sitting in ST. Peters Ian
tern.
"Hallo!" thought I, "It ia now
time to return Some one will find
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