Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-11-28
FAMOUS CHIN ES.
Description of the Most interesting
British Peals of Bells.

description OF tne MOST interesting
British Peals of Bells.
The Great Paul" at our Metropol-
itan cathedral weighs nearly II tons.
Sometimes an interest is given to
clock by its bells being visible and
being struck by hammers which are
welded by special mechanically
worked figures. The introduction OF
figures into clocks is by no means a
new one. as is instanced in this coun-
try by the knights in armor who used
to strike the hours at Wells cathedral
with their battle axes. In the cele-
brated clock at Strasburg, among the
host OF figures presentment of death
is allowed to strike the hour on the
bell, using a human bone for the pur-
pose. The real work of striking in
large clocks is done by special part
quite separate from the timekeeping
portion. In the mechanism the most
important arrangement is a barrel
after the fashion of that in a musical
box. while outside the framework is
placed a wheel with slots at varying
intervals corresponding in length with
the time taken up in striking one, two,
three and so on up to twelve. The
chimes of the Westminster clock
have been repeated far and wide. The
hour bell is, of course, big Ben
which originally weighed 16 tons, and
cracked When recast the weight was
decreased about two tons, and the bell
has been cracked for the second time
this many years. The quarter bells
range from about four to a single ton.
and are in very good tune.
The hour bell of the royal coorts
OF justice and IFS attendant quarters
collectively weigh five tons, and yet
can barely be heard, so great is the
traffic that runs beneath them. The
Doncaster or Scarborough chimes are
practically the same, but they do not
sound at the half hour. For Ginning
tunes a carrillon machine, in addition
to the clock, is a necessity. The tunes
which can be successfully played de-
pend upon several conditions. First
OF all, the most suitable music is that
which goes smoothly ON it's way and
in which the same note is not required
to be repeated too quickly. The num-
Der of bells available is, however the
most important consideration. IL there
are enough of these. By the substitu-
ton of one barrel for another a great
variety of airs can be produced.
Among secular tunes, Home, Sweet
Home, Caller Herrin' and The Old
Folks at Home are often chosen.
The chimes of the old Royal Rx-
change, among other things, played
There is Nae Luck About the Ho~se
and we may recall the fact that when
the historic building was burned in
1888, and while the flames were ut
their height, the bells rendered the
melody and then fell with a crash
among the blazing ruins. As a rule.
seven tunes are arranged on a barrel
six being secular and one sacred
suitable for six week DAYS
and a Sunday. At Sligo cathedral
for instance, tune is played foar
times during the day on the nine bells.
and as the carrillon is furnished with
seven barrels. a different tune is pro
vided for seven times seven, or forty
nine days. At Worcester, where there
Is a splendid peal of bells, thirty-fye
tunes are played; Manchester town
hall has twenty-one bells, and thirty
one tunes are provided. Several Lon
ION churches still enliven their sur
roundings with their chimes-for IN
stance, St Giles. st. Brides. St Di-
'nis and st. Clement Danes. The
clock at the last-mentioned building IL
peculiar, as it strikes the hour twice:
'nce on the tenor. or largest bell OF
ne peal, and then on a small bel at
he top of the tower.