Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-01-04
On the Verge OF Death.

On the Verge OF Death.
I 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 pleasure to which | had surreu-
dered myself, body and soul, and in
consequence of which / possessed, al.
though not tall and strong, some muscle
and high degree Of confidence, while
l had acquired, in perilous situations,
presence Of mind, all of which qualities
form even now a considerable portion
Of my character.
When at last my studies were ended,
and had obtained a situation as pastor
in Western Germany, did not give up
my old inclination for gymnastics, and
there was considerable talk one fine day
over the circumstance 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 crawl
ing under hun on the ground. l pos
sessed such an article Of humanity
since, on my accession to the pastorate
| had steered into the harbor of matri-
mony.
But my favorite diversion, when
had a 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 l smoked my cigar.
What magnificent place this old
church roof was! Quite another world
than that which lay far below me-a re-
gion Of rock and stone, without vegeta-
tion or water, except when it rained,
and the cutters filled, in which case
this special realm presented little attrac-
tion. 1t was a world where had often
INDUCED in stsr.gazing.
| regarded this airy region as my spe-
cial province, where I reigned in soli-
tary majesty over my subjects, consist
ing Of davis and swallows-often very
noisy and intolerable ones. 1t excited
in me a merry, perhaps some what boy.
ish feeling, as thought what look nv
superintendent would put on when he
heard of my excursions in the narrow
gloomy towers, and the great grinnins
stone heads, fat cherubs, scaly dragons
and cutters OF zinc, or on the pinnacles
of the towers from which was presented
wide prospect, over a picturesque
landscape.
Sometimes 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,
one hundred and twenty feet beneath,
the people orept about like ants.
1t was during one ofthese excursions
that the event occurred which | will
relate. and which thoroughly cured me
for several months Of my desire for roof
climbing.
! must first inform you that, around
the outside of the cathedral, lust where
the roof terminated, ran a smooth pro-
jecting edge about foot wide. Under
this, considerably lower, Just above the
great entrance. was a huge stone pro-
lection. which formerly supported a
colossal figure Of St. Peter, holding a
great iron lantern. The stature 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 seized me that i,
would be an amusement Of a new and
original kind TO SWING myself down and
enjoy my cigar in the fantastic arm
chair.
Without hesitating moment turned
around, kneeled down, seized the caves
with convulsive grasp, and the next in
slant was dangling in mid-air over the
abyss. more than q hundred feet from
the earth.
As | looked, in this eituation, under
me at the defective lantern found that
| was not directly over i,-indeed. j,
was two feet further from the wall th an
| had thought.
This Circumstance, however. caused
me little anxiety. Giving myself q
swing, By which ] easily pressed one
foot against the building, I sprung safe.
" into ny resting place in the broken
lantern.
Here | sat long time smoking nv
cigar, drumming with my heels on the
wall, and complaeentiy ENJOYING the
cool Of the eveains and the msguiReenl
prospect.
The sun vas .ettinx before thourh,
Of undertaking my return. which I va:
especially induced 10 do hv the sch, ),