Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-26


Etnging-tfig Bell. of tho World
rhe .,i BEL ~ s'nstry and Song Some
Many of the nervous and overwrought
toilers of tie present day, who are, from
time to time, making vigorous complaints
against the custom of ringing church
bells, would probably arrive at a greater
riety Of changes that can be rung on
peai increases enormously with the num-
Der of bells ; three bells allow six
changes four bells, twenty-four twelve
bells give MS many rs four hundred and
sevcnty-nine million, six hundred
changes.
1t is said HAT there have been greater
changes in the uses to which bells are put
than improvements in their shape or
structure. Eight hundred years ago, in
England, the bell sounded ut 8 o'clock in
the evening ms n signal for cxtinguishing
the lights and fires i'll the houses now it
is rung at the same time ms a signal for
people to take their seats in n railway
tram The term bell itself is derived
from the Latin word pciUis, basin, or
moro properly foot-pan. Bells, at first,
were probably small pieces of concave
metal, producing II tinkling sound when
struck by tho hammer within were used
at first as ornaments, and then became
useful as II means of announcement
Moses speaks of ''bells of gold" suspend
ed to the robe of the High Priest, while
he was i'll the sanctuary, their ringing in
timatiug his presence to the congregation
when lie was bidden from their sight with
i'll the vail. Among the Persiaus they
were attached to the garments of women,
virgins and boys. Plutarch says that
when the city Of Xauthus was besieged,
q some of the Inhabitants tried to es-
c4e by swimming and diving through
ke river, nets with small bells attached
3ere let down to catch them, and by the
RGing sound each capture was announc-
In later times distinguished officers
kh Germany wore them on their garments,
pd horses, mules and asses have been
decorated with them in all ages and coun-
trYs OF the world in fact, little bells
hitlly came so much in use that they
were looked upon as ridiculous, and as
being only fit for infants and court fools.
Tn antiquity the trumpet took the place
of the larger bell, and in one Of the his
tories of Suffolk County, Long Island, it
is mentioned that the people used to be
called to church by means of drum. In
the Hindoo temples, bells were used to
frlghten away evil spirits. Anciently the
use of them was prohibited in mourning,
thoug h at present they constitute one OF
Its principal ceremonies. 1t was the an
cient custom to ring the bells for persons
at the point of death, and to advertise the
people to pray for them hence the pass
ing bells. The passing bell was original
ly rung Tor two purposes the one to be-
speak the prayers of all good Christians
for a soul just departing the other, tc
drive away the evil spirits who lured al
the foot Of the bed and about the house
ready to seize their prey, or at least tt
molest and terrify the soul in its passage
BY the ringing of the bell it was Thought
that evil spirits were madeafraid and kep
aloof, and the soul, like hunted hare
gained the start. As the big bell of til,
church was louder, evil spirits wer,
obliged TO remove farther off, to be ont o
its sound, and the poor soul obtained s,
much the better start besides, as it wa
heard Mt greater distance, it would pro
cure tile dying. person n greater numbe
OF prayers. The custom of ringing bell
at the approach OF thunder is OF some an
uquity but tho design was not SO mucl
to shape the air, and so dissipate tn
thunder, as to call the people to church t.
pray tha' the parish might be preserve,
ffom its terrible effects.
among some of the nations of the East
bells especially such as are of very larp
dimensions, are highly valued and vener
s'eu1 ihe ohihese, IN particular, mani
iesta strong prediction for very lare
Deiis. AT Nankin, we are told, were som
cast about 400 years ago, by the first En-
peror OF the preceding dynasty, of sucl
prodgious weight that they brough