The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-11
FAMILY LIVING AMONG BELLS.
Births, Deaths and Marriages in q Great
Cathedral Tower.
From the Mericon Herald.


So far above the pavement that those
who walk in and out among the hundreds
of passing vehicles appear like creeping IN
scots. and so high that the ordinary noises
Of the city reach upward only as confused
murmur. lives the family that has the dis
tnction OF being the most elevated in Mex
ico's Capital. The home of this family is
high up in the eastern tower Of the Cathe-
dral, and there. among the bells that for CEN
turtles have called the faithful to the services
Of the church, this family has lived for years.
and there ia every indication that the tower
will be their home for many years to come.
Two years ago Manuel Brena, the head of
this family, died. and now his widow. Luisa
de la Brena assisted by her three sons and her
daughter. looks after the ringing of the bells
and cares for the great clock that has marked
time for so many years for the residents
Of that part of the city.
Brides have been led to the little home
among the bells. births have there been
celebrated and death many times has come
to the occupants. 1t was more than 100 years
ago that man was placed in charge of the
bells and those who now live there are the
lineal descendants Of this man. This man
was the grandfather of Luisa de la Brena.
who now is grandmother herself. When
her husband died he was an old man, and
the woman is no longer young. but 1t is prob
able that the time honored position of bell
ringer will not pass to new hands when she is
carried down the winding fight Of stairs
Doubtless the work will fall to one or all Of
her sons, who now spend their time in looking
after the work OF ringing the bells at inter-
walls, the time Of which is no doubt known
to the priests themselves no better than to
them
They are bellrineers by birth and by edu-
cation. Those who sing the masses before
the affairs know the time for the ringing and
the length Of the performance no better nor
as well MS the members of the Brena family.
There are three sons, Francisco, AuRustn
and Antonio and one daughter. Maria Guada-
lupe. The mother and daughter care for
the hon e. and the SONS handle the ropes their
father their grandfather and their great
grandfather once handled.
Probably not one man out Of ten knows
that family is living in one of the Cathedral
towers and probably not one man out of
hundred knows anything Of the condition
of that home BY far the majority Of those
who do know there is a family there it is
ina sined that they live like ordinary poems
The idea doubtless prevails that the family
lives like the poorest portero. but should
any one pay visit to this home above the
city they would find home far superior to
the average home in Mexico City.
The Brena home is one Of the most COM
forta BILE Of homes. Its sanitary condition
is naturally far superior to that Of nine
tenths OF the homes on a level with the thou
sands Of buildings that compose the city,
and the air that reaches the Cathedral home
seems filtered Of the nauseous odors that are
not uncommon to those who live below. The
fresh air OF the country seems blowing about
one, and 1t requires no effort Of the ina gina
ton to believe it really is the same untainted
atmosphere of the hills that circle the city.
Instead Of living like poems the Brena
family lives among Injuries the poor OF the
city never have the pleasure of knowing. The
cement floors are covered with carpets, and
furniture and pictures give to the several
rooms that are located there a homelike air
that might cause the family TO be envied
in spite OF the immense number of steps
II is necessary to take in order to reach them.
At one side Of the parlor is piano. and Miss
Brena and one of her brothers are skilled
in its use The music of the church and music
that is never heard In the organ loft may
frequently be heard by those who sit in the
benches in front of the Cathedral Many
have wondered where the sounds came from.
and few have discovered that they come from
among the bells OF the old Cathedral
II was there the mother was married more
than thirty years ago and doubtless il will
be there that the daughter will be married
some day For the maidens of the Brena
family the bells of the Cathedral are wedding
bells, and on those occasions the men Of the
family perform a double duty when they pull
the ropes and those below seldom know that
the ringing lie for anything more than one OF
the regular services Of the church.