The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-03-16
WESTCHESTER TOWER.

Some years ago had occasion to make
q short trip from London to visit my old
college friend, Maitland, who had settled
down as clergyman in connection with
the Cathedral of Westchester. 1t was a
pleasant excursion, chiefly by railway,
and I was Hospitality entertained. After
dinner my friend and I walked out in
the dusk of the evening, to look at the
antiquities of the place. la the course
of our rambIe the moon rose and threw
q charm over the scene. With the
moonlight streaming through the colored
windows we sauntered through the an
cient cathedral, enjoying the solemnity
of the edifce.
AS we approached the gates of the
choir, Maitland, though accustomed to
the place, became singularly silent. All
at once he called on me to notice that we
were standing under the main central
tower, and that In the vaulted dome
overhead was round black spot. " You
see that dark spot, said he: sit is a
covered hole opening up into the tower.
1t is sometimes used for the hauling up
of lead and timber for repairs on the
roof. call your attention to it now,
because am going to tell you something
about it by and by"
Seated once more at the freside of my
bachelor friend / listened to what he
had to. say about the hole in the tower.
I will try to repeat his story as he told it
to me.
e suppose it must be about five
Yeas ago, soon after came to the cath
eeiral, that I was engaged in this room
writing, when had occasion to refer to
a book not In my possession, but which
[ knew TO be accessible to me in the
cathedral library. To procure the work
Z sailed out with lantern and had
not gone very far when was assailed by
N CHEEKY shout from Symes-Geoffrey
SSymes-an Oxford man, who had been
my junior at Oriel. Symes was little
eccentric. He had taken fair degree,
and might have done well but, being
passionateIy fond of music, he took to
studying the organ, and this had brought
him to Westchestef, as professed pupil
of the organist. AS such he was allowed
to have constant access to the instrument
-one of wonderful compass-in the
cathedral.
sSymes would not, perhaps, have
been called scientific musician but he
had a wonderful gift of expressing
thought aud feeling on the organ, which
he almost made to speak, so extraordi-
nary was his power III bringing out
effects. When engaged In this way he
seemed to be lost in an enthusiastic
ardor He wildly revelied in musical
sounds. On this occasion he seemed to
resolve on display of his powers. Rush
ing away for few minutes, he brought
little Jim Oxley, son OF the verger, to
blow the bellows, aud with this neces-
sary aid he set to work ana produced
voluntary that was altogether marvel
Ions. AMI the effect of which was enhanc-
ed by the darkness. Well-known pas,a-
pes frou great masters We're skilfully
welded witt, harmonious links into one
another. One, however, a favorite Of
his as I knew, was complete and alone
zthe sQuando Corpus from Rossini's
{ Stabat Mater could compare it to
nothing but the strenuous forging
4ooather of solid bars of melody, SO
!, severe. SO nervous, SO weighty was the
working out of the theme. And last OF
all with most ravishing sweetness, came
stbe exouisite duet and chorus from Men
deIasohn's sDobgesang, waited for
the lord :: and as those delicate silvery
strains Of patience and thankfulness
sfreamed into one another and melted at
last with the chorus into the great tide
of praise. / was unconscious OF anything