The Greenville times., 1891-06-20


Whsn Esaoieou T. in behalf Of
ssaaa. es17Ied Taf g Switzerland he
found IN ona Of lhe cantous there sn
ancient coneenk During tho course
of I6e war this convent was destroyed,
hna tha hsIi lhat hung IN it, tower
vas carried oI IS . trophy By the con-
4aeEer.
The bsn Eas g that time Eepnied 10
b. several hundred years old. IL was
essz of copper and silver, according 10
lhs custom Of the times, Vas contrib
uled by The peasants Of the canton,
WHO believed that their prayers and
prospects concerning worldly and
heavenly affairs would be improved in
accordance with their sacrifices
KapOleon carried the bell with him
ts France and retained il as prize
curiosity until his downfall and ban
ishment 10 81. Helena, when he gave
Il % his brother, Joseph Bonaparte,
who, likewise being banished, brought
the old relic to America and hung It
IN belfry At his home in Bordentown.
There it remained, serving as a din-
ner-hell on the farm, its history re-
manning unknown until Joseph's recall
from exile. Then il was lost sight OF
aud for years forgotten. until one day
some curiosity-seekers, rnmmaging
about In ono Of the subterranean pas
sages that honeyeombcd the place,
came across it in some old rubbish.
People came from all sections to
visit the so-called catacombs snd see
the historic bell. At that time the
Camden and Amboy Railroad had
lust been built, aud the old bell W.
sold to the company, who placed i n
their depot at Bordentown to io.. .o
arrival and departure of trains
II hung there for yesr hus llAl.g
through some chan = ~ ether, It lya
into The hands u t1e Paterson sud
Hudson Rive mod Compary laa
was desti- = ofher pagi0l of OBJ.
scuritv lhat tme tho esmpany
ope l,as 8 road by horses, and ths
old beiI was hung iu the Jersey Cit,
station, at the foot ol Bergen Hill, L
answer the same purpose II did q
BcrdentoWn
When to great railroad revolution
took place, and steam cars were sub
stitu.ed for the old horse cars, the be-
vas brought to this city. In thos
days the terminus OF the road wa
where ST. Johns church now standi
Two trains were run each way daily.
A small branch, manipulated b
horsepower, however, ran from tn
main depot on Market street, at il
conjunction with Main street. Her
the old bell was hung on the post, an
its duty was 10 ring for half an hou
before tho departure Of each train.
Passengers could board the hors
cars without extra expense and rid
TO the main depot, whence they coul
take the train for New York. a
time went on, however, improvement
developed In the railway service. III
Market strect-it was then Congre;
street-branch was abandoned, an
the old post Oh which the bell hun
rotted and fell down.
But Paterson was also beginning I
make great strides forward. The
the only educational facilities wer
private institutions aud subscriptio
schools.
The public spirited townsmen final
concluded to erect a public school, an
selected tho site. Here building wa
constructed, aud the old bell was plac
ii its tower. In years gone by som
Of our older citizens remember tn
peals Of that bell. Then the pupil
grew In numbers, and the old schoc
grew too small.
Another aud more improved build
ing (now known as school No. y wa
erected, and the ancient bell who's
mellow peals echoing from The wall
Of the dizzy Alps seven centuries az
called the humble peasants to worship
now startles the youths of Paterso
from their morning beds. Napoleon
voice may have made the whole worl
tremble, but the voice Of the littl
Swiss bell rings further now than hi
Paterson IN. J.) Call.