The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-29
WESTMINSTER TOWER.
from Chambers Jounal.l

W
tiquities of the place. In the course of
our ramble the moon rose and threw a
charm over the scene. With the moonlight
streaming through the colored windows
we sauntered through the ancient cathe.
dral, enjoying the:solernnity of the d.
fee.
AS We approached the gates Of the
choir, Maitland, though accustomed to
the place, became singularly silent. All
at once he called Oh 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, lit is a COW
cred hole opening up into the tower. It
is sometimes used for the hauling up
lead and timbers for repairs on the roof:
call your attention to it now, because I
am going to tell you something about it
by and BY
Seated once more at the fireside Of my
bachelor friend, I listened to what he
had to say about the hole in the tower.
! will try to repeat his story as he told
it to me.
II suppose it must be about five years
ago, soon after came to the cathedral,
that I was engaged one evening writing,
which had occasion to refer to book
not in my possession, but which I knew
to be accessible to me in the cathedral
library. To procure this work sailed
out with a lantern; and had not gone
very far when was assailed by CHEEKY
shout from Symes-Geofrey Symcs--an
Oxford man, who had been my junior at
Oriel. Symes was little eccentric. He
had taken fairish degree, and light
have done we'll but, being passionately
fond of music, he took to. studying the
organ, and this had brought him to West.
chester, as a protested pupil of the organ
list. As such he was allowed to have
constant access to the instrument--one
of wonderful compass--in the cathedral.
''Symes would not, perhaps, have been
called scientific musician but he had
wonderful gift Of expressing thought and
feeling on an organ which he almost made
to speak so extraordinary was his power
in bringing out effects. When engaged
in this way he seemed to be lost in an
enthusiastic ardor. He wildly reveled
in musical sounds. On this occasion he
seemed to resolve on display of his pow
ers. Rushing away for few minutes, he
brought little Jim Oxley, son of the ver-
ger, to blow the bellows, and with this
necessary aid he set to work and pro-
duced voluntary that was altogether
marvellous, and the effect of which was
enhanced by the darkness. Well-known
passages from great masters were skill
fully welded with harmonious links into
one another. One, however, favorite of
his as I knew, was complete and alone
the 'Quando Corpus from Rossini's
'Stabat Mater l could compare. it
with nothing but the strenuous forging
together of solid bars Of melody, so Sc.
we're, so nervous, so weighty was the work
ing out of the theme. And last of all,
with most ravishing sweetness, came the
exquisit duet and chorus from Mendels-
shon's 'Lobgesang,' 4 waited for the
Lord ; and as those delicate silvery
strains of patience and thankfulncss
streamed into one another and melted at
last with the chorus into the great tide
Of praise, was unconscious Of anything
but the music. and could have staid there
without further thought until the morn
ing:
IL was aroused from my ecstasy by little
Jim, who had been BLOWN. the bellows
all this time, asking me il he might 20
home, as his father did not know where
he was. let him out, and as the door
fell behind him heard the low, dying
vail Of the organ as Symes struck one or
two Intellectual notes and exhausted it's
last breath. He came down and Joined
me, and as was taking up my book and
lantern previous to our departure he sud-
denly cried j: Hello ! that tower hole is
open. Just fancy looking down through
there into the nave.'
"'Yes,' said I L dare say it would be
very pretty in the meanwhile l am 20.
ing home however,
"'All right said Symes. Lend Inc
your lantern, and III bid you good
night
'Why, what are you going to do p I
said.
"'Going up into the tower he replied.
Gin vain / tried to dissuade him, using
every argument to represent to him the
folly, the uselessness, the danger of such
a proceeding. Good .humoredly but OBJ.
stantly he threw aside my remonstrances,
and when at last found him resolved l
made up my mind reluctantly, and that
in the best of humor, to accompany him
on his fools GRAND. Thank God that 1
didn't leave him alone, as had intended.
81 was little disposed, however, to
respond to his lively sal'ies as I followed
him into the staircase which led to the
tower. The lantern was of little use to