The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-23

ancient berry tower, or steeple IN Ialf
Florence, none claims more absorb ng an
terest than Che old bell of the Pahazzo
Vecchio. As far back as the thirteenth
century II was associated with the poih-
cal life of Florence. During the frequent
p1Dular strifes for supremacy its deep
voice summoned the citi2ens to fight for
the posses. ion of their beloved bei. But
when the city was threatened by a for.
oign foe then-whether Guelph or GhlDe-
lne-the citizens were of one MIND, ana
when proud Charles Of Anjou sent his
Dlumed heralds 10 summon the beleaguer-
ed city 10 surrender, Pier Capponi gave
this sublime answer: BLOW your war
trumpots-we Will ring our bells
But no other bells in Florence can boast
Of such a glorious setting as the chimes OF
the Campanile. Standing out as the
church does against the deep blue sky.
almost as white as the field flowers in Inc
far-away sunny Dir hplace of Giotto, one
designer and part builder of this beauliful
bell tower) and set with richly coIored
marbles. ana adorned with choicest sculp-
lures. Ruskin calls 81, the only building
in the world in which power and beauty
exist in the highest degree" A traveller
saws: Il have listened to The noted bells
OF many a foreign city. but have not
heard The sweetness nor felt the charm az
in these Florentine ones. Hear In the
ners on Joyous fete days or IN he deep
ION which calls the Misericordia to their
GRAND of mercy-faithful still 10 their
duties through six centuries and more,
that grand band Of men, from artisan to
King. serving Their fellowmcn-the Cam
panile bells thrll you with their ricn'
soothing tones. beginning, ms 1t were, with
the deep rich notes of an organ ana dying
away into the choicest strains. All ltay
ie nroud of her Florentine bells, and wen
she may be"
Legends of Cbinn's Great Bell.
The largest hanging bell in the world is
in a Buddhist monastery near canton
china 1t is eighteen feet high and forty
Eve feet in circumference and is of solid
bronze Ii is one of eight great bells which
we're cast by command of the Emperor
Yune-Io about A. d. 400, and is said to
have cost the lives of eight men, who
were killed during the process OF casting.
The whole bell, both inside and out. il
covered with an inscription OF embossed
Chinese characters about half an inch
long covering even the handle the total
number being $4,000. The characters cell
a single story-one of the Chinese clas-
sizes
Canton has a pretty little fable connect
ed with it, The story is told by Mrs j.
P. Newman, in one Of her sketches Of
travel The life Of the FOUNDER or the
greatest bell Of China had been threatened
nv the Emperor, because of his unsuc-
cessful attempts to make a bel having
nerfect purity of tone. The bell found
er's beautiful daughter, witnessing her
fathers agony while imporing the En-
peror for one more trial. consulted the
gods as 90 the reason for failure. Being
told that should the blood Of a fair maiden
mingle with the oell metal the result would
be secured she, waiting beside her father
until able to see her face In the hoiten
ore. plunged in and was destroyed. To
the sacrifice of this maiden the Chinese
attribute the beauty and sweetness of the
tone OF the great bell of Ta-Cung-tz.
one of the most novel propositions sub
mitted to the management Of the coming
Omaha exposition is that Of Wong Chin
Foo. the Chinese commissioner. He offers
70 reproduce on the exposition grounds
the great bell Of Canton. 1t would be cast
according tc his proposition, by workers in
iron. to be imported from China.
Historic bells of America.
II was once complained by a noted Eng
lsn critic that America lacked interest for
the learned traveller. because Il was de-
void Of ruins. And IL might be said also
that Il had not many bells TO which any
special interest attaches Still there are
mare Interesting bells in this country than