The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-08-14
WEDNESDAY, AUG. IA, 1889.
III the rover Of Antwerp Cathedral.


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Up. up. higher and higher | mount
ed, constantly finding the stone steps
more and more worn and cracked. 1t
became lighter, and soon a brilliant
shaft OF sunlight appeared through
narrow Gothic window in the tower.
was now considerably above the roof
Of the cathedral. just beneath the
window huge gargoyle shaped like
dragon stretched out its length above
the roofs far below. From the square
beneath, doubt if one could have dis
tinguishod its form, but from where /
stood above him, the stone dragon
seemed TO be at least twelve feet long.
About him, all carved in stone, were
huge roses and leaves-each rose as
large as q bushel basket. Doves were
flying around at that great height, or
resting upon the grim figures, cooed
softly to one another. AS stood gaz-
ing out at the wonderful carvings for
which this cathedral is famous, mas
sive, fiat piece of metal came jerkily
up before the narrow window out OF
which was looking. For moment |
was puzzled, but then suddenly it
dawned upon me that the object had
seen must be part of tho minute-hand
of the huge clock in the tower. 1t was
quite near the window, and put out
my hand and touched it. In three jerks
the minute-hand had passed on, max
ing its mighty round at the rate OF a
foot minute.
From the window where l rested,
the panorama was unsurpassed. 1t is
said that one hundred and twenty
Btaeples may be counted, far and near,
upon clear day. / did not attempt
this, however. Toward the north, the
river Scheldt wound its silvery way
until it was lost in the mist of the hori-
zon as it Joined the North Sea. Look
ing east, toward Holland, saw dimly
the towns shining in the sunlight.
When the atmosphere is clear, the
guide-book says, one can see towns
fifty miles away. Below, the great
square seemed to have contracted,
and the few lazily-moving cabs, drays,
and people looked like flies creeping
across piece OF coarse bagging. Soon
day and that il / wished to see the
famous carlton should lose no time.
The bells in the tower of Antwerp Ca
thedral are doubtless quite as interest
ing to many tourists as are tho great
pictures by Peter Paul Rubens in the
cathedral itself. These bells have GU
rious histories, and quantity worded in
scriptions may be deciphered on many
of them. Besides the forty bells COM
prising the Carlton, there are five bells
of great interest in tho tower. The
most ancient Of these is named "Hor.
rida," and is said to date from 1916,
It is peculiar pear-shapod bell, and
is rarely rung. Next in importance
comes the ..Curfew," and tits the sweet
note of this bell that is heard far ovel
the polders of Belgium, every day al
five, at twelve, and at eight o'clock
Next in rank is the bell called Este
Marie" said to weigh between foul
and five tons. Charles the Bold heart
its first peal as he entered the city II
l467. At its sides hangs "Silent st
Antoine, so called because its voie,
has not been heard for nearly q cen
fury; and. finally, we come upon grand
.'Old Carolus," the greatest of them
It is called Carolus because it was Civ
en- by the Emperor Charles V. Tn,
popular belief is that gold, silver, AM
copper enter into its composition, an,
II Is valued at nearly 100000 / saw
where the elapper, from always strik
ing in the same place, has worn ava
the metal from the sides. Far belov
hangs the rope, by which it is rung O.
rare occasions, with sixteen ends 70
as many ringers; and even .sixteel
strong bell-ringers are mono too many
George Wharton Edsoards, IN 81