The evening world., 1891-05-09
|AlPSLEOh STOLE THls BELL.
A Relic of the Alps Now Used
in Paterson School.
Brought to This Country by the
French Hero's Brother.

When Napoleon l.. in behalf OF Francs,
carried war to Switzerland he found in
ono of the cantons there an ancient con-
vent. During the course Of the war this
convent was destroyed, and the bell that
hung in its tower was carried off as q
trophy by the couqueror.
The bell was at that time reputed to be-
several hundred years old. It was cast
of copper and silver. The silver. accord
ing TO the custom of the times. was con-
tributed by the peasants of the canton,
who believed that their prayers and pros
poets concerning worldly and heavenly
affairs would be improved in accordance
with their sacrifices.
Napoleon carried tho bell with him To
France and retained it as q prize curl
osity until his downfall and Punishment
to st. Helena, when he gave II to his
brother, Joseph Bonaparte, who. likewise
being banished, brought the old relic to
| America and hung 1t in belfry at his
home in Bordentown.
There it remained, says the Paterson
IN. J.) Cal, serving as a dinner-bell ON
the farm, its history remaining unknown
until Joseph's recall from exile. Then it
was lost sight of and for years forgotten,
until one day some curiosity seekers
rummaging about in one of the subterra-
mean passages that honeycombed the
place came across 1t in some old rubbish.
People came from all sections to visit
the so-called catacom bs and see the his
toric bell. At that time the Camden and
Amboy Railroad had Just been built and
the old bell wa' sold TO the Company,
who placed it in their depot at Borden
town to tell the arrival and departure Of
trains.
It hung there for years, but finally,
through soEse channel or other. it fell
into the hands of (he Paterson and Hudson
River Railroad Company and wns des-
tined to another period of obscuracy.
At that time the Company operated its
road by horses, and the old bell was hung
in the jersey City station ut the foot OF
Bergen Hill to answer the same purpose
that 1t did at Bordentown.
When the great raill Dad revolution
took place aud steam-cnrS were substi-
tuted Tor the old horse-cars tho bell was
brought to- this city. In those days tho
terminus OF the rond was where st. Johns
Church now stands. Two trains were run
each way daily.
A small branch manipulated by horse
power however, ran from the main de-
pot on Market street at its conjunction
with Main street. Here ;he old bell was
hung ON post and its duty was to ring
for half nm hour before the departure Of
each train.
Passengers could board the horse cars
without extra expense AMI ride to the
main depot. whcnc" they could take the
train for New York. As time went on,
however improvements developed III the
railway service. lie Market street it
was then Congress street. branch was
abandon ell and tie old po-t On which the
bell hung rotted ant fell down.
But Paterson was MS begin ne to make
great strides forward. IEcn the only
educational facilities were private insti-
tutions and subscrlpiion schools.
The public-spiritod townsnen finally
concluded to erect public school and
selected the site. Iie,a a building was
constructed and tie Old bel! was placed
in its tower. IN years gone by scme of
our older citizens remeHber the peals OF
that bell. Then the pupils grew in num-
bers and the old school greN too small.
Another and more improved building
(now known rs school No. ~ was erected,
and the ancient hell whose mellow peals
echong from the walls OF the dizzy Alps
seven centuries ago called the humble
peasants to worship. now startles the
youths of Patterson from their morning
beds. Napolcon's voice may have made
the whole world tremble. but the voice of
the little Swiss bell rings further now
than his.