The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1898-02-26
The New Year Chimes

moods, sad or joyful, perhaps none
speak as forcibly as the midnlgn'
chimes which usher In the glad Ne"
Year. The reason Of this may be &C
eocnted for I'm q measure BY the tae'
that at such an hour people stop to
mediate. and they allow the sentiment
OF the season to take possession OF tnelr
thoughts, says the Christian Standard
While there are those In every COM
munity whose natures are 50 repose-
full and meditative as to listen 70 the
ringing OF the bells, the majority We
fear, at least in this land Of ours, are
in large part devoid Of much sentiment
so crowded are their lives with mater
ial interests. But when abroad one Is
touched over and over again BY the
sound OF bells. The oft-heard exclam-
alton, "Hark. hear the bells" suggests
at once that a subtle human feeling Is
accorded even to metal when in the
form Of a bell. One does not forget
amid his many memories Of foreign
lands the delightful sound Of the
church bells in England, Scotland and
Wales, not only in the cities. but in the
quiet villages and retired country
places; nor how worshipful and rever-
entail the people seem as they respond
to the call and wend their way to the
churches.
Familiar to US all Is that exquisite
picture of Millet, in which he has por-
trayed with marvellous beauty the vor-
shipful attitude Of the peasants in the
fields Of sunny France, as, at the sound
Of the distant vesper bell, when all
the air a solemn stiffness holds" they
bow their heads reverently and lift
their hearts at once to God and to
heaven.
Many a traveller journeying through
Alpine passes, and slowly climbing the
wonderful mountains, has listened with
Joy to the vesper bell of some little
chapel perched far aloft on Alpine
height, or in the shelter Of some rocky
point shielded from the wild and win
try winds, as 1t called in kindly tones
to the peasants in the green valleys
far below, and to the mountaineers
above. to come at the twilight hour
and listen to the chanting Of swee.
hymns and to words Of comfort and
cheer from the pastor.
The deep and solemn tones Of cathe
dral bells seem to call the worshiDers
to a more formal stately service. As
they enter the sacred edifice and sand
with uncovered heads in attitudes OF
awe and reverence, listen to the notes
Of the organ as they rise and I'LL the
vaulted arches, their hearts are often
lifted above and far away from earth,
and for a brief time they seem Il
breathe a heavenly atmosphere and live
in n heavenly cline.
Who that has fingered even for a few
months IN Italy. that land Of sunshine
and OF song, can ever forget its bells
and its chimes as they rung out in the
clear air from hoary monasteries, IT. |
churchly cathedrals and its matches |
campaniles? Not alone at mathis and |
at vespers. and many times a day. bu |
often, too, in the still nights, the priests |
in the churches and the monks in the |
monasterics ring the bells, say over |
tntir prayers and call many a worn bu, |
credulous believer from his pallet IT, |
worship in those midnight hours.
But OF all bells In all climes, from |
those with silvery notes, which, in the
far Orient, float out from airy nina
rets on the soft and languid air, to those
which are harsh and unmusical, hone \
have so fcrcible a language, or per- |
haps, speak so directly to the heart as
the New Year chimes.
As midnight draws near, and we
watch with bated breath the last mo-
ments Of the dying year which pass so
slowly and 20 solemnly, how full Is the
heart Of the listener, and how with /
each stroke Of the bell the experiences
of the departing year come throngine
to the mind.
The joys which the year has brought
brought to others; the weary burdens .
which have been carried by some, or
the help in the carrying of them which
has come to others; the gladness over
the birth OF q dear child, or the bitter
sorrow experienced in laying one away
in the grave; the prosperity which has
come to one, the adversely which has
another; the opportunities
for good which have been improved and
have brought blessing to many during
the year Just closing, and the oppor-
tunities unimI roved, and now gone for
overall these and more come throug-
Ing to the minds Of thousands claiming
their thought in the last hour Of the
departing year. 1t is not strange,
therefore. that as the stroke Of twelve
rings out on the midnight air unusual
feelings Of solemnity should possess US
md dispel every trivial thought.
Charles Lamb. in one Of his charm
Ing essays has expressed, In those
words. his sentiments on the New Year
bells:
"Of all sounds Of all bells-bells-l
he music highest bordering upon
solemn and touching Is
he peal which rings out the Old Year.
| never hear II without a gathering M
II my mind TO a concentration Of ali
he Tina COS that haya haon dffruuad 80.