Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-06-08
Life Among the Bells
Family Which Dwells Far Up IN
Cathedral Tower Overlooking
Mexican Capital.
From the Mexican Herald.l

VI ibiH ~ .htNiNaii il'iuiu.J
So far above the pavement that
those who walk in and out among
the hundreds Of passing vehicses ap.
pear like creeping insects, and so
high that the ordinary noises of the
city reach upward only as a con.
fused murmur lives the family that
has the distinction OF being the most
elevated In MeXico's capital. The
home of this family Is high up in the
eastern tower OF the Cathedral. and
there among the bells that for centur.
les have called the faithful to the
services OF the church. this family has
lived for years and there is every in.
dication that the tower will he their
home for many years 10 come. Two
years ago Manuel Brena. the head of
this family, died and now his widow,
Tulsa de la Brena. assisted by her
three sons and her daughter. look
after the ringing OF the bells and car.
ing 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 10 the little
home among the bells, births have
there been celebrated and death many
times has come 10 the occupants. 1t
was more than 100 years ago that a
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 a grand
mother herself. When her husband
died he was an old man and the
m is no longer young. but il is
probable that the time-honored posi-
ton of bellringer will not pass to
new hands when she is carried down
the winding fight of stairs. Doubtless
the work will fall to n or all of her
sons who now spend their time in
looking after the work OF ringing the
bells at intervals, the time OF which
is no doubt known TO the priests them
selves no better than to them.
City to Them an Open Book.
Few residents of this city have
witnessed from a better viewpoint the
tragedies and comedies of the great
CITY han the Brena family. Far above
every other human being these bell
ringers look down on the steamers.
hunting and flags that commemorate
a national victory and years ago mem
hers of the same family occupied the
same point in their view of the mar
tial array of troops that had to 40
much more intimately with the
that now is celebrated with gaudy
display and bunting. Like the man
in he watch tower of the castles OF
old these people gain knowledge OF
events from all OF the city
more quickly, for to them the entire
capital is like an open o belo"
them is spread out the entire CITY
and it's surrounding suburbs.
the ordinary resident must ride LOT
miles to see, these people see at a
glance from the windows OF their
tower home. In the outskirts OF the
citv the mother of the family now
living there has seen the tents OF en-
canned armies, but never mas tnere
heen ANYTHING but peace in the Old
Cathedral tower. ,-~
Political disturbances. wild revlnng
and noisy demonstrations nave reisn'
ed or the pavement below them, but
never have the bells failed to send
their call out to the worshippers. To
ring the bells and to care for the CLOCK
is the sacred duty of each member
Of the family. They are bell ringers
nv birth and by education. Those VINO
sing the masses before the affairs
know the time for the ringing and the
length of the performance no pettei
nor as we'll as the members OF I ne
Brena family.
There are three sons. Francisco
Augustin and Antonio, and n daush'
ter. Maria Gaudalupe. The mother
and daughter care for the home ano
the sons handle the ropes their father
their grandfather and their great
grandfather handled before them. Fol
I these men the intricate lot OF ropes
has no mystery, but if the bells them
selves did not refuse to peal wneI
swung by other hands it Is doubtfu
If any other could successfully handle
the ropes that are so simple In incl
hands. On the wooden railing ovel
which they have been drawn Tor SC
many years are long, deep creases II
which each rope fits accurately. VI
these men rests the responsibility O
ringing the bells at the proper TINE
and also for safety of those who wori
and worship beneath. They are TN
men who are charged with the care
of seeing that none of the cells become
loose and fall.
Ideal Home Life.
Probably not one man out of til
knows that a family Is living In on
OF the cathedral towers and probabl.
not one man out of a hundred know
ANYTHING of the condition of tina
home.By far the majority of those VIII
do know there is a family there 1t ]
imagined that they live like ordinar.
poems. The idea doubtless prevail
that the family lives like the poores
portero, but should anyone pay a visi
to this home above the city the,
would find a home far superior to tn
average home in Mexico City.
The Brena home is one of the mos
comfortable Of homes. Its sanitar
condition is naturally far superior t
that of nine.tenths of the homes on
level with the thousands OF building
that compose the city and the air tina
reaches the cathedral home seems II
tered of the nauseouj odors that ar
not uncommon to those who live b.
low. The fresh air of the countr
seems blowinp about one and 1t n