The Osceola times. [volume] (Osceola, Ark.) 1870-current, 1888-07-28
ABOUT BELLS.
Various Memorable Incidents in
Which They Have Figured.

the attention OF the visitor to the State
Mining Bureau is beautiful and elab-
orately ornamented japanese bell. On
one side of it is an inscription in Chi
nese characters, which experts say tells
the story OF the danger and deliverance
from shipwreck of certain japanese
sailors. The men were in sore peril, so
they Frustrated themselves and prayed
10 the gods, promising if the deities
would hear their petition and save them,
10 have a bell cast in their honor.
The gods heard the petition, the land
was reached in safety, and the bell was
cast and dedicated as promised. How
1t reached San Francisco still remains
mystery. 1t was bought at auction on
the water front by j. Il. Davis and pre-
sented to the State Mining Bureau The
tone is perfect and the workmanship
excellent. Its weight is about 800
pounds.
Like the wanderer from Japan, all the
great bells Of the world have stories OF
their own; while one recalls the men,
Dry of war and rapine, the other speaks
OF lilial piety and sacrifice. and still an
other is used as a house of prayer. Yet
all are full of romantic interest In
civilized times bells have been intimate
ly associated not only with all kinds Of
religious and social rights, but also
with almost every important historical
frb..f,, I'D 4.
Is not less remarkable, for to them indi-
rectly is probably due the erection of
all the most famous towers in the world.
Crosse, in his Antiquities, observes:
flowers at first scarcely rose above
the roof, being intended as lanterns for
the admission of light. An addition in
height was in all likelihood suggested
on the more common use Of bells"
Bells early summoned soldiers to
arms, as well as citizens to bath or Sem
ate, or Christians TO Church. They
sounded the alarm in fire or tumult,
and the rights OF the burghers in their
bells were iealously guarded Thus
the chief bell in the cathedral often be-
longed to the town, not 10 the cathedral
chapter. The Curfew in England, the
Carolus in Spain and the St. Mary's bell
in Antwerp, all belonged to the town;
the rest are the property OF the chap
ter. He who commanded the bell,
commanded the town, for by that
sound, at moments notice, he could
rally and concentrate his adherents.
Hence n conqueror commonly acknowl-
edged the political importance of bells
by melting them down, and the cannon
81 the conquered was in turn melted TO
supply the garrison with bells to be
used in the suppression of revolts.
In Cologne Cathedral is an immense
bell weighing twenty-five tons, which
will be known AS Kaiserglocke, or En-
peror's bell. 1t bears an Inscription re-
cording that William, the most august
Emperor OF the Germans and King of
Prussia, mindful of the heavenly help
granted to him whereby he conducted
the late French war TO prosperous
Issue and restored the German Empire,
caused cannons taken from the French
10 be devoted TO founding bell TO be
hung In the wonderful cathedral then
approaching completion" A likeness
OF St Peter, the patron saint of the
church, is on the side, beneath which
Is a quatrain in the style Of the medi-
teval conceits, praying that as devout
hearts rise Heayenwards at hearing the
sound OF the bell, so may the door
Keeper Of Heaven open wide the gates
OF the celestial mansion. On the oppo-
site side is inscribed a sextet in German,
u which the translation is:
y am called the Emperors bell;
proclaim the Emperor's honor;
on the holy watchtower | am placed;
pray for the German Empire,
That peace and protection
God may ever grant IL
ms bell was solemnly blessed in the
calhedral by the Archbishop of Co
iogne' according to the elaborate ritual
provided for such ceremonies by the
hoinan Catholic Church. The cere-
niohy was very long, many psalms be-
ing ehantcd by the clergy and choris-
ers' While the neil was being sprnk-
ioa with blessed water and anointed
WIN chrism, the portion of Luke x S.
W. was chanted by deacon. Incense
and myrrh were burnt within it, and
many symbolical rites performed.
Many bloody chapter in history has
.een rung'in and out by bells. On the
''iru day of Easter, 1899, at the ring
ny OF the sicilian vespers, 5000 French |
"ore massacrcd in cold blood by John
" rroelda, who had thus planned to
,Ve sicily from Charles of Anjou. On !
sue zlth OF August. st. Bartholomew's |
S' 1911, bells ushered in the memoir
e. o'o massacre of the Hugenots in
nelis rung alike over slaughtered and |
Snsonod cities; and far and wide |
throughout Europe, in the home of vic.
y'y or irreparable loss. At the news
-; = WILSON'S triumph and death at Ira
.a'g'd' the bells of Chester rang n mer- !
~ peal alternated with one deep toll.
H.. 'a similar striking incidents could be
1'4'paiisly multiplied