New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-25
a BELL-RINGER'S EXPERIENCE.
FROM The Phflad,lphfn pr.sa


I've been bell-ringer Tor forty five years.,
said william Brown. he deity manipulated the be.
ropes in the 6eEy OF st. Stephens last night at mid
and many merry one thirteen years spent In the
can CHURCHES PROBABLY Pm the Oldest belirinser IA
service in the United states II not in the world"
Brown Is full-faced, heathylooking En.lishman of
perhaps hfy-iye. He has been ringing the chimes in
81 stephens Tor twenty years or Previous 20 tho
Cnuron lie has never been anything else but bali.
ringer and began TO learn the mysteries OF sharps and
flats at the age OF nine years IN his Native town OF stony
stanton, in Lecestershre, England sngulariy enough
is deaf put this affection does appear to interfere
with MIN at all. In cOnversing with HIM one must speak
in a loud tone OF voice, but let there be false nots
struck upon the chimes and he detects 1t immediately
He can detect faw IN new bell much better than men
with acute hearing and his services constantly in
demand throughout the country whenever set Of
chimes are 10 be tested.
Last night was the foty-thrd time that he had ush-
cred In the anniversary OF our saviours birth with
grand old Re Deum and he caused the bells TO peal
out their thmle paan OF praise he talked les bit
lonesome at tines said he TO be all alone here in the
beltower but one soon gets used 10 Ii. When Lad
was tritle mid about cropping through the church In
the dark aud climbing into the loft but that passed
away ana felt much at home handling the bell ropes
would in front OF my own fire. There used TO be the
usual tales about ghosts and hObgobns but Lord bess
you they never bothered me. Irtmember very well q
leicester sex tom Sho used q SSas BIS courage
They turned calf loose into the church where he was
engaged as bell ringer. and he came down from the
bery heard the patterng OF feet the floor
of the church. Back he darted into the belltowsr,
badly frightened, and when he heard terrific ba-ah
he locked himself In and remained there until morning.
" couldn't tell you how many funerals I've tOlled the
bell fora great many fOryve years you depend.
And then the wediings-what II contrast Young peo-
pie just beginning life would stand In the very Same
spot wncre perhaps few days before some poor soul
had reached the end of IT, Tears one day and bright
smiles the next Tue black pail aud bridal orange BIOS
sons and the bell for ALL still, IT'S the way all
Happy hearts listen 10 the merry peals, and
few years later the near he death kne tOed
maps by the hand 1 wonder how many OF That
happy thrOng in the listening St. Stephens
chimes now will be here next year. or whether
the hand will cause tho bells to sound that touches
tHem new
II is something OF art, this handling of the bells
You would hardly believe that IN what we cali change
ringing II takes eight men twenty-e3ht hours
plete the peal, wOula you None OF them must miss
note they throw the Whole change out OF harmony.
the pee change ringing Is not often attempted We
play portions of it, sometimes long three IL
very difficult thing TO have bell cast where only
oae needed which shall be IN complete accord with
tine rest Sometimes the founder gets the sound a half
note TOO high TOO low. No one but ringer, how
ever would be apt TO observe the fault unless II might
be musician, Christ Church has good set OF chimes,
and has ST. Marks both better, think than ST. Ste
phens The best in the world however, the chimes
ST. Pauls in ondOn-a setof twelve bells all tuned IN
perfect harmony. Be careful going down the stairs
they're tribe steep y; as the visitor made bis way
down the narrow, circular staircase day was daTntng.