The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-02-09
A GYNGNASTS ADVENTURE.

l had among my fellow students 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 had surrendered my
self body and soul, and in consequence Of
which possessed, although not tall and
strong. some muscle and a high degree of
confidence, while | had acquired, in per
ilous situations, presence Of mind-all of
which qualities form even now a consid-
cradle portion of my character. When
at last my studies were ended, and l had
obtained a situation as pastor in western
Germany, L 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. Blasins 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. possessed such an
article of humanity, since, onsAmy aces
sin SIGN nll.S te the Rastoraie aad zsaesed ins
But my favorite diversion, when j -
few leisure hours, and the s19;7;ng 10 > 4,
too scorching, consisted ig loftv cburel,si
narrow projection o0ont there while /
root, and walkS5iIr
Sinokeu nor, "a a magnificent place this old
,amrch roof was Quite another world I
than that which lay far below me-a re-
gion of rock and stone, without vegeta-
ton or water, except when it rained, and
the cutters were filled, in which case this
special realm presented little attraction.
It was world where had often INDUCED
in star gazing.
regarded this airy region as my spe- {
cial province, where l reigned in solitary
majesty oyer my subjects, consisting Of
DAVIS and swallows-often very noisy
and intolerabIe ones. 1t excited in me
a merry, perhaps somewhat boyish feeling,
as thought what look my superin-
tendent would put on when he heard OF
my excursions in the narrow, gloomy
towers, between great grinning stone
heads, fat cherubs, scaly dragons and gut
tiers of zinc, er on the pinnacles of the
towers, from which was presented a
wide prospect over a picturesque land
scape.
Sometimes l climbed down in the
broad gutter in the middle of the roof,
from which nething was to be seen above
hut the blue heavens and the swarmlng
swallows, and below, the broad paved
church square, on which, hundred and
twenty feet beneath, the people crept
about like ants.
1t was during one of these excursions
that the event occurred which l will re-
late. and which thoroughly cured me for
several months of my desire for root
climbing.
! must first inform you that, around
the outside of the cathedral, just where
the roof terminated, ran smooth pro
iecting edge, about feot wide Under |
this, considerably lower, just above the |
great entrance gate was a huge stone |
projection, which formerly supported al
colossal figure of st. Peter, holding a
great iron lantern. The statue had long
ago disappeared, and half of the lantern
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 seized me that it
would be an amusement of new and
original kind to swing myself down and
enjoy my cigar in this fantastic arm
chair.
Without hesitating a moment, turn
ed around, kneeled down, seized the
caves with convulsive grasp, and the
next instant was dangling in midair
over the. abyss, more than a hundred
feet from the earth.
AS l looked, in this situation, under
me at the defective lantern, ! found that
| was directly over it-indeed, it was
two feet further from the wall than had
thought.
This circumstance, however, cased me
little anxiety. Giving myself swing,
by which easily pressed one foot against
the building, / sprung safely into my
resting place in the broken lantern.
Here l sat long time smoking my
cigar, drumming with my heels on the
wall, and complacently enjoying the
cool of the evening and the magnificent
prospect.
The sun was setting before l thought
! of undertaking my return, which l was