The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-07-27
ABOUT BELLS.
Various Memorable Incidents II
Which They Have Figured.

Various Memorable Incidents in
Which They Have Figured.
Almost the first thing that attracts
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
TO the gods, promising if the deities
would hear their petition and save them,
TO have 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
it reached San Francisco still remains a
mystery. II was bought at auction on
the water front by J. Y. Davis and pre-
scented to the State Mining Bureau. The
tone is perfect and the workmanship
excellent Its weight is about 500
pounds.
Like the wandcrer from Japan. all the
great bells of the world have stories of
their own; while one recalls the MEN,
DRY of war and rapinc, the other speaks
of filial 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
event. Their influence on architecture
is not less remarkable, for to them indi-
cctly is probably due the erection of
al the most famous towers in the world.
t;rose, 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 Sch
ate. or Christians to Church. They
sounded the alarm in fire Oh. turlult.
and the rights Of the bnrghcrs in their
bells were jealousy guarded. Thus
the chief bell in the cathedral often be-
longed to the town. not 10 the cathedral
chapter. The Curfew in England. the
t'arolus 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, a, a moments notice, he could
rally and concentrate his adherents
Hence conqueror commonly acSnowl-
edged the political Importance of bells
h. melting them down. and the cannon
of the conquered was in turn melted 10
supply the garrison with bells TO be
used in the suppression OF rcv0lts.
In Cologne Cathedral is an immense
bell weighing twenty-five tons. which
will be known as kaiscrglOcke. or En-
llcror's bell. 1t bears an Inscription re-
corlinC that William. the most august
Emperor of the Germans and King of
Prussia, mindful Of the heavenly hclp
granted 10 him whereby he conducted
the late French war to prosperous
issue and restored the German Empire.
caused cannons taken from the French
10 he devoted to founding. bell 10 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 q Quatrain in the style of the medi-
:aval conccits. praying that as devout
hearts rise Heavenward> at hearing the
sound OF the bell. 81 may the door
keeper of Heaven open wide the gates
of the celestial mansion. On the OppO-
site side is inscribed sextei ia German,
of which the translation is:
Il am called the Ernperor's bell;
lprociaim the Emperor's honor:
On the holy watchtowCr am placed:
pray for the German Empire,
That peace and protection
God may ever grant il.
This bell was so!emnly blessed in the
cathedral by the Archbishop of Co
lOgne. according to the elaborate ritual
provided for such ceremonies By the
Roman Catholic Church. The cere-
mony was very long. many psalms be-
ing chantcd by the clergy and cilo,is-
tiers. While the bell was being sprink-
led with blessed water and Gnointod
with chrism. the portion of Luke Y. S.
A. Was chanted by a deacon. Incense
and myrrh we're burnt within il, and
many symbOiical rites performed.
Many bloody chapter in history hes
been rung in and out 10y bells. On the
third day of Easter. 1872. a. the ring
ing Of the Siciiian vespers. 5000 French
were massacrcd in cold blood by John
OF Ptocida. who had thus planned TO
free Sicily from Charles OF Anjou. On
the oath Of August. st. Bartholomew :
day. lJ1i. bells ushered in the memoir
able massacre of the Hugenots in
France.
Bells rung alike over slaughtered and
ransoHed cities; and far and wide
throughout Europe, in the home of VIC
tory or irreparable loss. At the news
of Nelson's triumph and death at Ira
faigar, the bells of Chester rang q mer-
~ peal. altcrnated with one deep toll,
and similar striking incidents could be
indefinitely multiplied.