The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-09
MIND BELLS of THE JAPS

The wind bell. as its name implies, IS
made To ring by the action of the wind
In fact, the wind bell is not a bell at an
strictly speaking. but a contrlVanee eenl1
posed of a number of pendants suspended
in a circle from a ring and hung close
together so that they will come into CON
tact and produce sounds when sWayeu py
some wind bells produce sounds that are
pleasing and musical. Some are mace
with glass pendants. some with penuanls
of metal: some are small and very simple
in construction, others are large and
massive and elaborate.
Wind bells range in price from . cents
to $500. The original home OF the wlha
In its simplest form the wind bell is
composed of a number of narrow. Strlps
of glass, perhaps six inches IN length,
suspended .lengthWise from d MIS tbs ms
| circle formed by the strips thus sus-
pended is hung by one corner a niue
square piece of glass half way down ine
length Of the long strips, the strips ana
the square piece being ornamented with
various Japanese characters and designs.
This wind bell may be hung up wherever
a breeze will strike it and blow the STRIPS
into contact with one another ana with
the square suspended among them.
But slightly more expensive than TINS
simplest form of wind bel! are others OF
glass, with pendants of different lengths
and with a number of squares or d1fterent
sizes. such a wind Sbell producing a
greater variety OF tones.
Another inexpensive sort of wind bell
has a number of small bell-shaped metal
objects suspended on n cord at difterenL
heights. with a corresponding number OF
little glass balls hanging. from cords, TO
come into contact with the metal objects
when the bell is swayed by the wind.
Still another costly form of vino bell has
for pendants a number OF yariously cOlofeu
leaf-shaped pieces of metal, metalnc leaves
of various forms and sizes, suspended
around from a ring by cords. The wind
blows these leaves together, producing
the leaves being of different sizes and
thicknesses-a variety of musical tones
A metallic wind bell that sells for $35 and
occupies vertically n space of about three
feet has, suspended around from n ring
about a foot in diameter, a number OF pend
ants, each composed of a number of curl
GUS metal objects strung one below thC
other. Below this circle of pendants and
hanging from the centre of the support oil
the bell Is q cylindrical lantern OF metal
the lantern being about n foot in height.
a larger wind bell of metal. one that sells
for SIS, has no lantern. but a bigger hooT
and longer and larger and more numerous
pendants, these each composed of SeVera
metal objects attached one below the other
A strange If not grotesque wind bell oil
metal. one that sells fo~ 500, has for &
top piece a solid metal construction two feet
or more In length around from its outer
edge. The pendants of this great wind bel.
each composed of Il number Of oddly shapet
objects suspended one below the othel
along II, vary in length, and at the end OF
a number of the pendants hang odd small
bells with tongues.
Wind bells In their less expensive ant
more familiar forms are hung on porches
in summer, where the breezes can play
with them and make them tinkle or pro.
dCce their musical sounds In winter such
wind bells may be hung at windows more
or less likely to be opened at the top, where
the wind can strike them.
The wind bell of metal with the Lantern
hanging below It would probably be hum
In a hall, where it would be sounded wheI
the door was opened. The great wind bel
would. In Japan, be hung in some temple
grounds and probably near the gate. Her,
It would be hung in a garden.-Chicag,
Chronicle.