The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1877-03-01

90 AA'" PPC@LCuJ anu nail OF the lantern
was broken off, 50 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 a new and
original kind to swing myself down and
enjoy my cigar in this fantastic arm
chair.
Without hesitating a moment, l turn
ed around, kneeIed down, seized the
caves with oonvulsive grasp, and the
next instant was dangling in midair
over the abyss, more than a hundred
feet from the earth.
As I looked, in this situation, under
ME at the defective lantern, found that
I 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 a swing,
by which I easily pressed one foot against
the building, I sprung safely int my
resting place in the broken lantern.
Here 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 1 thought
of undertaking my return, which I was
especially induced to do by the sight of
one or two persons, who were standing
below and gazing up at me.
1t was not three minutes before quite
crowd of people had gathered about
them to enjoy the spectacle of man sit
ting in St. Peters lantern.
HallOo y' thought I, sit is now time
to return! Some one will find out who
l am, and then there will be a pretty
gossip in the place" But suddenly
became aware that return was not so
easy.
My seat was so constructed that I
could no; rise in my usual way. The
sides of the lantern were of smooth iron,
and so high that I could get no hold.
There was nothing left me but to press
my hands upon the seat behind me,
raise myself SO, and draw my legs after
me until they could rest between my
hands upon the lantern. Then could
rise to my full height, and turn around
on my own axis.
This way of raising yourself every
gymnast knows and practices, but every
one knows, too, what an exertiOn of
muscular strength in hands and arms is
necessary in this procedure, and that any |
mistake would occasion a failure-per-
h8ps, too, fall below.
Now, there is vast difference between
a bar erected on level ground, and an
iron lantern on the wall of a church a |
hundred feet high, from which a fall |
upon the rough pavement must have an |
absolutely fatal effect.
The more 1 considered my situation !
the less it pleased me, and there sat |
and smiled feebly at the multitude be-
low, which increased every mement,
ashamed to cry for help, or make known |
my fear.
"Well," said to myself, "it 1 sit |
here any longer I shall lose every favor
able chance to escape. 1t is ludicrous
to become bewildered, like a child that
has gone astray in climbing, quite aside
from the establishment that the story |
must cause, if it comes to the ears of my |
parishioners and supporters. Up, then!
I will close my eyes and act as if l were
perfOrmingon the soft turf of my garden"
In the space of a minute stood on my
legs in the lantern, and wondered at my
foolish weakness, when observed, to my
terror, that still had the most difficult
part of my undertaking to perform.
Raising my hands above my head to
seize the smooth stone caves, became
aware that they were at least foot and
a half beyond my reach. In vain did
rise on my tiptoes and stretch out my
arms convulsively; it seemed highly
probable that 1 should have to spend the
night in this situation.
This was truly no agreeable oonsidera-
+;OD. far the scat was ODly inst large