Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-09-13

ones have been added since. The simple
fact that Russians regard the sound OF
bells not only as a holy summons to
church, but also as part of the very act
of worship, accounts for their love OF
bells and their extravaganza in procuring
them The Russians never tire of ring
ing their bells, and in Moscow the sounds
which are produced on the Sabbath, with
out regard to harmony, are absolutely
painful.
The ''Great Belle of Moscow" or
Gear Kolokol' emperor of bells) is by
far the largest in the world. It's weight
is about 40, 600 pounds, and its cost in
simple structural material was about
$500, 600 To this were added precious
jewels and plate amounting in value to
81, 200, 900 by the Russian mobiles at the
time of the casting. The dimensions of
this bell are twenty one feet in height and
twenty-five feet in diameter 1t was cast
by order of the Empress Anne in 1884
from the metal of gigantic predecessor,
which had been greatly damaged, and is
ornamented ON the sides by several fig
ures, one of which represents the En-
press in flowing robes. The bell was
ordinarily suspended from beams, which,
being destroyed by fire in 1884, permitted
the heated bell to fall to the ground and
break, since which time it has been
dumb The Emperor Nicholas had it
raised in 1887 and placed upon low
circular wall in the Kremlin. 1t is now
consecrated as a chapel, the opening in
its side being large enough to admit two
men standing abreast. The bell is care
fully guarded, and the Russians will not
allow particle of it to be carried away.
The cathedral of Moscow has another
monstrous bell weighing 120, 900 pounds
1t is suspended in the tower of Ivan
Veliki, and when it is rung, three times
a year, all the other bells are silent. The
ringing is said to produce a trembling
effect throughout the city. In the same
tower are forty other bells, each of
which weighs many tons. The bells of
Russia are fixed, immovable, to their
beams. Their tongues are slung by
means of leather bands, and are moved
by ropes drawn in such manner as to
cause the blows to fall on the surface at
three points directly opposite to each
other.
The bells of China rank next in size to
those of Russia. In many parts of China
can be seen enormous bells lying on the
ground, their weight having broken
down the towers in which they were sus-
pended. The bells are of excellent
workmanship and are adorned with in
scriptions inside and outside. They are
of inferior tone, however, and not of a
good shape. The dulness of their sound
is increased by the fact that they are
struck with wooden mallets instead of
iron clappers. The great bell of China,
in Pekin, weighs 120, 900 pounds. 1t is
fourteen feet high and twelve inches in
diameter. In Nankin there is bell,
now lying on the ground, which weighs
$4,000 pounds.
In Japan there are many large bells.
They are of the same shape and compost
tion as those in China, and are by no
means musical. They are suspended in
low towers near the temples, and are
sounded by means of wooden beams
swinging from the roofs, to which straw
ropes are attached. The bells of Holland
and the neighboring countries come next
in point of size. They are hung about
every church and public building in end
less variety, and as the people are exceed
ingly fond of the tone of bells, they are
never left at rest. In some cases a single
tower contains not less than fifty bells.
Here is partial list of the biggest
bells in other countries In Vienna and
Olmutz there are two bells weighing each
10000 pounds. A bell in Rouen,
France, weighs Sc, 900 pounds. The
largest bell in Westminster, England,
weighs 30, 900 pounds; one in Erfurt,
Germany, the same weight; one in Notre
Dame Cathedral, Paris, 10000; one in
St. Peters, Rome, 1900; the ''Great
Tom" at Oxford, II, 600; one at Rennes,
France, 10000; the Jacqueline, Paris,
cast in A. d. 1400, 5000; the "Great
Tom of Lincoln, Eng, 1000; and the
bell of st. Paul's, London, II, 500. The
weight of the bells in the United States
falls considerably below these figures, al
though IN tone they are, perhaps, better.
The composition Of bells has been
about thc same i'm all aces namely CON