Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-04-01
CHIMES OF GRACE CHURCH
Pretty Fingers Tire Keys That Cause
qhem to Ring Out.


Pretty Fingers The Keys That Cause
mem to ring Out.
Just a narrow little instrument. look
ing for all the world like the half OF an
old-fashioned melodcon. 1t liz In u tiny
queerly shaped room---alm0st closet.
In fact-the entrance to which Is Il
small door at the right of the great
portals of Grace Church, New York.
At the keyboard sat young and
pretty woman. Quickly and deftly her
deft fingers pressed the keys An in
slant after came the distant sound of
melodious chimes from the belfry far
away. The girl played lightly, care
lessly, II seemed. upon noiseless
organ which nevertheless set In motion
and harmonious ringing the great bells
overhead. No force was exerted other
than the organist always uses lii play
Ing. The performer sat comfortably In
her little room.
The bells pealcd out cheerful invi-
tation 10 the passers-sy- 1t was a
familiar tunc-an old hymn which
most of the busy throng had learned In
childhood
Men half paused, looked up and re-
membcred that Lcntcn service was
about TO begin. A few turned their
steps toward the church and silently
passed IN. Busy women, their arms
filled with parcels. stopped their spring
shopping for a few moments and en-
tered the quiet. restful sanctuary
Still the bells rang entreatingly. The
girl kept her eyes fastened on clock.
At certain minute the chimes ceased.
and theNslow, warning tQlling of the
bells was heard. The player was pres
sing one note over and over again aud
at regular intervals.
Finally that, too. ceased, the roll of
the great organ overhead was heard
and the service had begun.
Miss Bertha Thomas has been the
assistant organist and player Of the
chimes in Grace Church for a number
Of years.
Miss Thomas Is a New York girl Of
German parentage. and Is In every es-
sential finished musician. Nearly all
her time is devoted TO her work in
Grace Church. although she manages
to give few lessons during spare mo-
ments on the organ and piano.
Miss Thomas has exclusive control
of the chimes. She looked a modern
St Cecilia as she sat I'm the dimly
lighted chime-room. her fingers on the
keys and her hair forming golden
halo about her head.
THE sound OF my chimes" said Miss
Thomas, has gone all over the world
Mr.. Edwin Clarence came here one day
and received the music of the bells In
his monograph. believe that he
has taken II all over, and that Grace
Church chimes have been listened to
and admired in England. Japan and
Australia"
Miss Thomas evidently loves her
BELLS. During the Lenten season there
are so many services that the chimes
are rung number Of times during
the day. and Miss Thomas is constant
~ found at her post
"You See" said the young musician
as she prepared to play the chimes
again, "you can hear the bells per-
fectly well here. There IL tube run
ming from the belfry to this room. At
the end of this funnel or tube, you see,
here Is diaphragm, to which are at
tached rubber receiving tubes such as
are used on monographs. BY placing
these in the ears You will notice that
the SOuuQ ~ lUttuSt. Oilt ml&Ut Ill
most be I'm the belfry itself. l never
use that apparatus unless at wedding
for instance, when the chimes must
peal out at the same time that the
organ is playing overhead. When the
organ is sounding the music OF the
bells Is confused, and ] use the tele-
ohone attachement.
II want You to notice great advan-
tage of this electrical arrangement"
continued Miss Thomas.
Zone Of the chief faults Of ordinary
chime music has been the discordance
iue TO the resonance Of the bells; but
you will observe that / can regulate
hat difficulty by the use of these
iampeners. which, you see. manage
with my feet.
III long note at the end of tune,
FOR example. is desired. simply hold
the key little longer and take the
iampener or. The clapper Is then held
next to the bell and the resonance is
prolonged.
''It is quite possible, you know. to
aot only play tune with the chimes,
tut to play 1t with expression
Miss Thomas went on to say that In
line she supposed the electric wttach-
nent could be made from bells At any
distance.