The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-22
Church Bells.


on the subject of firing the cannon in
the city, other noises and abuses have
been freely discussed by writers of all
shades Of opinion in our columns.
The STATESMAN, it will he observed,
has hitherto been neutral on the sub
ject, but its neutrality does not come
as the result of an entire absence of
feeling or interest in the subject. We
are determined to make the paper an
impartial and perfectly fair reflector
of all manner of opinions, but
while thus according others the
privilege of free discussion, we
will. upon every fitting occasion,
frankly speak and determinedly urge
our own opinions claiming for them
no more consideration than what
we freely accord to those who differ
from US.
One gentleman, or rather several
gentlemen, cavil at the use of church
bells, call them nuisances and other
like pet names. Now this we submit
is going too far. Another hints at
the mate barbarianism of the bells
because the custom of their use comes
down to us from the medieval days
and that it is relic of monasticism
etc. 1t is trEe that the origin and use
of the bells are just as he says, but
it does not follow that they
are nuisances for all that. AS vel
say the chivalry, the veneration fol
religion, the devotion to woman, ant
that works of philanthropy and the
| relief of human suffering and pain
are relics of barbarian age. If they
are, they are certainly worthy of close
imitation in this age of enlightment
We are inclined to cling closely to al
the old customs which have beer
found to be either useful, just OF
harmless, if in the latter, they harper
to be calculated to keep alive thu
poetry and the sentiment of those
days OF simple trust and exalted
purity of life and conduct. Whe1
we stop to reflect it is surprising
how much of the poetry of life il
founded upon or illustrative. of tn,
bells. Church bells, monastery bells
alarm bells, wedding bells and indeed
bells of every description and OF ever,
use. History, poetry and romance ar,
all full of the notes of the bells
Sweet bells tangled For our par
we would not sign away the right t,
enjoy the bells of history, of poetry ant
of romance for a halidom, and hear n,
more of those sweet bells which cal
the church goers to the house of Go,
every morning. Their music i
sweeter than the huntsman's horn OF
Sunday morn, or the click of the Sun
day billiard ball, and, withal their dir
discord, as one writer calls it, give u
the noise of the bells rather than tn,
noises of commerce or amusement
either Of which is active on the Hol,
Sabbath day.
| No poet ever taught and applied t,
this life the lessons of love, poetry
music, and all the train of associate
fancies which elevate and purify
who forgot or moderated the impor
lance of the bells. Moore, Scott
Gray, Shakesrear, Byron, all, all rate,
the bells as the very embodiment
of the poetry of mere sound. Tn
bells have stood the test of the centu
RES, they will stand all those of tn
future. We freely concede that tn
world is full of discords, discordan
hideous voices from the commerce O
the passions OF greed and gain. TIL,
heavy wagons on our rocky pave
ments the hoarse calls of maj
and beast, but surely, sure
ly these differ vastly from tn,
the sweet music of the bells
Who has ever buried a dear friend,
loved brother, child, or, mayhap, near
er tie, who can ever forget the mourn
full, but soothing music of the toIline
bell which told in softened cadences
of the birth of another sorrow into
the world, and the new claim upon
humanity for that sympathy which is
almost God-like in its gentle, pitying
sorrow Tor the woes of another? No
mol Let US have the bells. Let us
part with the sectarianisms. the
envies and jealousies, which, alas
are sometimes found in the christian
church, but let US keep the dear old
bells.