Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-12-30
ONTHEVERGEOFD
A GYMNAsIs ADVENTURE.

n " L vi IN A0 . AL v I4N l. ~ 1el1s
I had among my fellow stu
dents a special renown for my
skill in every kind of gymnastics.
Athletic exercise, in the widest
sense of the term, was to me a
pleasure to which I had surren-
dered myself, body and soul, and
in consequence of which / possess
ed, although not tall and strong,
some muscle and confidence, " lille
/ had acquired. in perilous situa-
tiOns, presence of mind, all of
which qualities form, even now, a
considerable portion of my char
acter.
When at last my studies were
ended, and l had obtained stu
alton as pastor in Western Germa-
ny, / did not give up my old in
clination for gymnastics,and there
was considerable talk one fine day
over the circumstance that the
young clergyman of the church of
st. BIasius had been had been seen
hanging in his garden by his legs,
and in this position caressing his
little son, who was crawling UNI
der him on the ground. possess
such an article of humanity, since,
on my accession to the pastorate,
/ had steered into the harbOr of
matrimony.
But my favorite diversion, when
/ had a few leisure hours, and the
sun was not too scorching, consist
ed in climbing to narrow projec-
ton on the lofty church roof, and
walking about there while ]
smoked my cigar.
What q magnificent place this
old church roof was! Quite an
other world than that which lay
far below me--a region of rock or
stone, without vegetation or wa
ter, except when it rained and the
cutters were filled, in which case
this special realm presented little
attraction. 1t was a world where
had often INDUCED in star-gaz-
ing.
Regarded this airy region as
my special province, where l
reigned in solitary majesty over
my subjects, consisting Of davis and
swallows often very noisy and
intolerable ones. 1t excited in me
merry, perhaps somewhat boy
ish feeling, as l thought what a
look the superintendent would
put on when he heard of my ex-
cursiens in the narrow, gloomy
towers, and the great grinning
stone heads, fat cherubs, scaly
dragons and cutters of zine, or on
the piunacles of the towers from
which was presented wide pros
pect, over picturesque land
scape.
Sometimes / 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 swal-
lows, and, below, the broad-paved
church square, on which, one hum
bred and twenty feet beneath, the
people crept about like ants.
1t was during one of these ex-
cuTSI0uS tDdG Lil6 cVGub OCCuTlcu
which / am about 10 relate, anG
which thoroughly cured me fol
several months, of my desire for
roof climbing.
Unjust inform you that, around
the outside of the cathedral, just
where the roof terminated, ran q
smooth, projecting edge about q
foot wide. Under this, considera.
bly, lower, just above the great en-
trance, was a huge stone projec.
ton, which formerly supported
a colossal figure of st. Peter, hold.
ing great iron lantern. The
statue had long ago disappeared
amid half the lantern was broken
off, 80 that what was left had the
appearance of an arm chair with
out legs.
Standing on the stone caves one
day, above this relic of past centu'
ries, the thought suddenly siezed
me that it would be an Amusement
ola new and original kind tc
swing myself down and enjoy my
cigar in this fantastic arm chair.
Without hesltating moment ]
turned around, Knocked down
siersu the caves with convulsive
grasp, and the next minute wa;
dangling in mid-air over the