Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-04-03
CHIMES OF GRACE CHURCH
Pretty Fingers This Keys That Cause
Them to Ring Out.

Them to Ring Out.
lust narrow little instrument, look
ing for all the world like the half of an
old-fashioned melodeon. 1t is in tiny
queerly shaped room-almost closet.
i'll fact-the entrance to which is
small door at the right of the great
portals of Grace Church, New York.
At the keyboard sat a 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 beltry far
away. The girl played lightly. care
lessly, it 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 in play
ing. The performer sat comfortably in
her little room.
The bells pealed out a cheerful invi-
tation to the passers-Jy. 1t was
familiar tune-an old hymn which
most of the busy tbrong had learned in
childhood.
Men half paused, looked up and re-
membered that Lenten service was
about to begin. A few turned their
o''pS loNdlh lllt tuuiNu anu Siithtiy
passed in. Busy women, their arms
filled with parcels, stopped their spring
shopping for few moments and en-
tered the quiet, restful sanctuary.
. Still the bells rang entreatingly. The
girl kept her eyes fastened on Il clock
At certain minute the chimes ceased
and the slow, warning tolling of the
bells was heard. The player was pres
e,i,, IL
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 number
of years.
Miss Thomas is New York girl of
German parentage, and is in every es-
sential a finished musician. Nearly all
her time is devoted to her work in
Grace Church, although she manages
TO give a 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 in the dimly-
lighted chime-room, her fingers on the
keys and her hair forming golden
halo about her head.
''The sopnd 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 phonograph. | believe that he
has taken it 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
ly 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 we'll here There is tube run
ming from the belfry to this room. At
the end of this funnel or tube, you see,
there is a 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 sound is intense. One might al
most be in the belfry itself. | never
use that apparatus unless at a 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.
phone attachement.
Il 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
due to the resonance of the bells; but
You will observe that | can regulate
that difficulty by the use of these
which, you see, | manage
with my feet.
IF Il long note mt the end of tune.
for example, is desired, l simply hold
the key n little longer and take the
dampener off. The clapper is then held
next to the bell and the resonance is
prolonged.
1T is quite possible you know. to
not only play tune with the chimes,
but to play it with expression"
Miss Thomas went on to say that in
time she supposed the electric attach.
ment could be made from bells &t,any
distance.