Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-18
A P~RFsBYrERrAN BELL
That Wakes the Dismal Echoes
In New York.

- 4A 80 VIZ v
cinity Of Twelfth street and FIT
avenue, where stands the old tim
First Presbyterian church. The be
was swinging to and fro with slow an
ponderous stride, making the towe
culver and the pavements ring Wit
prolonged vibrations. The tone wa
deep and the volume of sound i'm
mense. Many neighbors say that tn
bell is harsh. They have for year
protested against it as q nuisance
What would have become Of them
century ago if they had dared to d,
this? But the time is past when t
oppose the privileged usages Of Felig
ious societies is deemed a crime. s,
there we're many ordinations of dis
content among the dwellers alonl
Twelfth and Eleventh streets, WHIT
had Just finished their evening re-
pasts and we're grouping themselves
for a postprandial chat near theil
open windows.
Again that blessed bell !" saiG
Colonel 4, II. U~nbekant, of No. 81
West Eleventh street. zone would
think we made no pretense to being a
free people, and were still back ridden
by a tyranical clergy. For six years
that | have lived in this spot, | and
my family and my maid servant and
my man servant have been afflicted
with this internal racket and have
freely expressed our opinions about
it. Still it goes on. One would think
that the first Presbyterian church de.
sired to see the Catholics and go them
one better by establishing q p~urgatory
on earth"
docs any harm result to health
from the ringing OF the bell?"
We'll, | should think so. 1t
wouldn't be SO bad if it had really a
musical tone; but it's the most dismal,
dOwn-in.t the. mouth, depressing sort of
bell that l ever heard. One time my
wife was sick and grew so nervous
under its ringing that the doctor said
she must be taken away so that she
could not hear it. 1t almost drove
her into fits"
did you ask the church folks to
stop ringing during that illnessl"
mo; what's the use? Some of my
had tried to abate the nui-
sance and failed. Two OF them moved
away from this neighborhoOd because
of the bell"
who were they2"
"Mr. Jones, who lived next door,
and Mr.. Lawrence, who lived across
the street" ?
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING CHIMES.
Mrs. Unbekant said that the ringing
of the bell on Sunday morning began
sometimes as early as seven o'clock.
and was resumed at nine, and again at
three in the afternoon. She did not
mind so much the morning tolling as
she did that Of the afternoon, when
desired a little tranquility. 1t
was 50 mournful a bell that it re-
minded one always of a funeral pro-
eession and caused a depression Of
during the rest of the day.
Mr.. Douglas Taylor, who lives at
No. 81 West Eleventh street, de.
nounces the bell as the destroyer of a
good part of his well-earned repose.
Being iu somewhat delicate health
and often sleeping unsoundly, be is
awakened two hours earlier
than be desires to be by the terrific
clangor from the neighboring steeple.
he knows Of several gentlemen who
have been forced BY the lusty voice of
the demon of the tower to change
their residences. Some Of them lived
10 Eleventh street and others in
Twelfth.
IN DEFENCE OF THE BELL
Mr.. Day, the sexton of the church,
was asked, "How often do you ring
your bcll?"
Only on Sunday and Wednesday
and on Friday four times a year. On
Sunday we commence to ring a quar-
ter before nine and ring until nine.
Then at half. past ten we ring for
another quarter of an hour. In the
afternoon the bell is rung for a quarter
Of an hour after three o'clock. 1t il
never rung on Sunday evening, but on
Wednesday evening it is rung from a
quarter to half-past seven"
Are there not frequent irregular
occasions for ringing it?"
mo, sir; it is never rung except al
the times | have stated"
And not for funerals and wed.
diugs2"
"Andnot forfunerals and weddings
| have heard that there is an attack
on the church on account of the bell.
| presume that it proceeds from Mr.
Taylor, who, a year or two ago ad.
dressed a scandalous letter concern.
ing it to the late Mr.. Lennox. III
blackguarded him shamefully, and il
appears to me that he is opposed :,
everything OF areligious character
1T is said that the bell is so griev
ously harsh that its sound is injuriouI
to health?"
Nonsense. Gentlemen who hav,
heard all the most celebrated chime
of Europe tell me that this is a mos
musical bell, and that they never hay,
heard one with a finer tone. 1t cos
us a great deal Of money, an,
| believe it is the larqes
in this country. 1t weighs about fou
thousand pounds. | think there ar
ten persons in favor of it where Their
is one opposed. Many people hav
told me that they liked to listen Ia il
Whenever there is dangerous sickness
in the neighborhood and we are re
quested to do so, we always suspen.
the ringing"
NOT A MATTER FOR THE HEALTl
BOARD.
The reporter saw Sanitary Superin
tendent Day and asked him il til
Health Board had ever received an.