Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-03-30
WESTMINSTER TOWER.
from Chambers Jounal,1

dinner my friend and walked out in tn
dusk of the evening, to look at the an
tiquities Of the place. In the course O.
our ramble the moon rose and threw ,
charm over the scene. With the moonlight
streaming through the colored window.
We sauntercd through the ancient cathe
dral, enjoying the. solclnnity Of the di
fee.
As We approached the gates of tn,
choir, Maitland, though accustomed tt
the place, became singularly silent. Al
at once he called on ME to notice that W
were standing under the main ccntra
tower, and that in the vaulted dom,
overhead was round black spot. "Yol
see that dark spot,' said he, lit is GOV
cred hole opening up into tho tower. II
is sometimes used for the hauling up .
lead and timbers for repairs on the roof
call your attention to it now, because
am going to tell you something about il
by and by
Seated once more at the frcside Of my
bachelor friend, I listened to what Re
had to say about the hole in the tower.
I will try to repeat his story as he told
it to me.
Il suppose it must be about five year:
ago, soon after I came to the cathedral
that was engaged one evening writing
which l had occasion to refer to book
not in my possession, but which knew
to be accessible to me in the cathedral
library. To procure this work I sailed
out with lantern; and I had not gone
very far when was assailed by CHEEKY
shout from Symcs-Geoffrey Symes- an
Oxford man, who had been my Junior at
Oriel. Symes was little eccentric. He
had taken a fairish degree, and might
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 professed pupil OF the organ.
list. As such he was allowed to have
constant access to the instrument--onc
of wonderful compass--in the cathedral.
''Symes would not. perhaps, have been
called scientific musician; but he had a
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 a display of his pow
ers. Rushing away for a 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 a 70 'untary that was altogether
marvellous, and the effect of which was
enhanced By the darkness. We'l.known
passages from great masters were skill.
fully welded with harmonious links into
one another. One, however, iavoritc of
his as I knew, was complete and alone
the 'Quando Corpus from Rossini's
'Stabat Mater 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 ravishlng sweetness, came the
exquisit duct and chorus from Mcndels.
shon's 'Lobgesang,' 4 waited for the
Lord : and as those delicate silvery
strains Of patience and thankfulness
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.
''Iwas aroused from my ecstasy by little
Jim, who bad been blowing the bellows
all this time, asking me if he might 20
home, as his father did not know where
he vas. let him out, and as the door
fell behind him l heard the low, dying
vail of the organ as Symes struck one or
two Intellectual notes and exhausted its
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: Hello that tower hole is
open. Just fancy looking down through
there into the nave
"'Yes,' said l; 4 dare say it would be
very pretty in tho meanwhile l am 90.
ing home however,
"'All right said Symes. Lend me
your lantern. and I'll bid you good
night
"why, what are you going to do 2" 1
said.
Going up into the tower he replied.
"1n vain tried to dissuade him, using
every argument to represent to him the
folly, the uselessness, the danger of such
q proceeding. Good humoredly but OBJ.
stantly he threw aside my remonstrances,
and when at last I 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 /
didn't leave him alone, as had intended.
II was little disposed, however, to
respond to his lively sal;ies as followed
him into the staircase which led to the
tower. The lantern was of little use to
us as we climbed the worn steps. A cold
strip of moonlight came through nm
open slit in the wall now and then, but
otherwise VIC were in the dark. After
some few minutes ascent We came to a
doorway that led over the top of the
transept arch under the leads Of the roof.
Begging Symes. to look about him and
tread carefully, passed after him through
the darkness into the main tower. From
where We stood, the upper side Of the
dome.like ccaling Of the center Of the
nave, between the two transcpts rose like
an inverted cup before US; and at the
apex of the dome, through the opening
which had suggested this hayward under.
taking, the moonlight streamcd dimly up
into the darkness OF the tower. To car.
" out his purpose, Symcs now proceeded
10 crawl up the dome, in order to look
down through the orifice. I knew it was
IF no avail to say anything, so / stood
md watched him with anxiety, as he
leaned over the verge of the chas,n.
"As I gazed I became aware that immc.
lately above the opening . stout rope
vas swinging, to which was attached a
args hook. remembered that some re.
,airs had been going on for few days
N the roof of the cathedral. and that
lad cen one or two rolls Of lead wound
lp through the hole on the previous day.
these thoughts were passing through my |
mind when Symes, catching hold Of the
ope, jerked it to ascertain that it was
astened above, and leaned forward with |
lis Wight upon it, as he looked down.
yards with ansexclamation of delight. |
Come un sir, and see: dot no cried. |
It's worth oil the.trosble Of . climb
II WAS Just shout to creep up, that
night share his i gratifid Asiop, when q
uddan Whirring. grating sound Of wheels
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