The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-24
On The Verge Of Death.
From the New York Herald,

AoAAA AoAA
4 GYMNAsT's ADVENTURE.
had among my fellow-students a
special renown for my skill in every
kind of gymnastics. Athlete exercise,
in the widest sense of the term, was to
me pleasure to which I had surren-
dered myself, body and soul, and in
consequence OF which I possessed, al
though not tall and strong, some mus.
Gle and a high degree Of confidence,
while had acquired, in perilous sit.
uations, presence of mind, all of
which qualities form even now a con-
siderable portion of my character.
When at last my studies were ended
and had obtained situation as pas
tor in Western Germany, I did not give
up my old inclination for gymnastics,
and there was considerable talk one
fine day that the young clergyman of
the Church of St. Blasius had been
seen hanging in his garden by his legs,
and in this headlong position caressing
his little son, who was crawling under
him on the ground. I possessed such
an article of humanity since, on my
accession to the passionate, had enter
ed into matrimony:
But my favorite diversion, when I
had few leisure hours, and the sun
was not too scOrching, consisted in
climbing to narrow projection on the
lofty church roof, and walking about
there while I smoked my cigar.
What magnificent place this old
church roof was Quite another world
than that which lay far below me-a
region of rock and stone, without veg
citation or water, except when it rain
ed, and the cutters were filled, in
which case this special realm present.
ed little attraction. 1t was a world
where l had often INDUCED in star
gazing.
regarded this airy region as my
special province, where I reigned in
solitary majesty over my subjects, con-
slstlng OF DAVIS and swallows-often
very noisy and intolerable ones. It
excited in me merry, perhaps some:
what boyish feeling, as I thought what
look my superintendent would put
on when he heard of my excursions in
the narrow gloomy towers, and the
great grinning stone heads, fat cher
ubs, scaly dragons and cutters of zinc,
or on the pinnacles of the towers, from
which was presented wild prospect
over picturesque landscape.
Sometimes I 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 swallows and below the
broad paved church square, on which,
100 feet beneath, the people crept
about like ants.
1t was during one of these excur-
sions that the event occurred which l
will relate, and which thoroughly
cured me for several months of my de-
sire for roof climbing.
must inform you that around the
outside of the cathedral, just where
the roof terminated, ran a smooth pro-
jecting edge about a foot wide. Under
this, considerably lower, just above
the great entrance, was huge stone
projection, which formerly supported
colossal figure of St. Peter, holding a
great iron lantern. The statue had
long ago disappeared and half the Ian.
tern was broken off, so that what was
left had the appearance of an arm.
chair without legs.
Standing on the stone caves one
day, above this relic of past centuries,
the thought suddenly struck me that
it would be an amusement of a new
and original kind to swing myself
down and enjoy my cigar in this fan.
tastic armchair.
Without hesitating moment Turn
ed around, kneeled down and seized