The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-04-03
4 eSend
ST. Mary Bell.
[origlnai1

lOrfginal1
This Is the legend of st. Mary's bell
pt Breslau, the capital Of Silesia, or,
rather, new version OF IL, for there
are number OF versions. including
one In verse by the German poet Null
: Ter. Since the bell was cast more than
500 years ago, It is not likely that more
than the main features cen be given
with certainty
There was great ado about the bell
10 BE- made for St Mary's. For long
while # was uncertain who would cast
IT. and at last, when an ironmaster was
found with sufficient reputation for
skill In bell casting, 50 great were the
expectations Of the people that he EN-
tered upon the work with fear and
trembling.
The ironmaster was ready for the
last act In work that had for years
taken mp his attention. A long time he
had been engaged on his calculations;
carefully he had prepared his mold; in
sently he had dwelt on the comblna-
ton Of metals. especially as to the
quantity OF silver on which he relied
to soften the harsher sounds produced
by the others. giving sweetness and
harmony. The component parts were
All in the huge crucible. under which
the fires had been burning sufficiently
long to dissolve them into enc molten
mass. The long continued effort was
ready for contamination.
But the result would the bell be a
wonder Of melody or give out q harsh
cIang? IT might be anything between
these extremes. IF thought, .ealcula-
fion. care. could make 1t perfect It
would be perfect. But in the calcula-
tlons might there not be some error
And tho casting If the mold should be
defective. It the melted metal should
not he at the proper temperature, all
this long continued effort would be lost.
Satisfying himself that the metallic
fluid was about readyto run off Into
the mold, the ironmaster, feeling that
he would be better able to bear The
last concentrated effort by preparing
himself for 1t physically, resolved to
60 to his house for a meal and glass
OF wine. During the whole Of his long
Iabors a young apprentice had assisted
him. Placing implicit confidence in
the young mans discretion, the master
left the cruclbIe, the fire under II, the
mold ready to receive the casting, IN
his care.
When be had gone the apprentice
stood looking up at the huge crueibIe
That contained what was to be the bell
ii the Church Of Sc Mary's. He had
watched every effort Of his master, as
aisting tt many Of them. and with the
enthusiasm OF youth believed It would
be one Of the famous bells of the
world. Mt the base of the cruclble was
the stopcock which held the metal IN
lts place and when opened would LET
1t run into the mold. THAT was all
there was to be done--open the stop
cock, and gravity would make the bell.
Just as the apprentices eye rested
Oh the stopcoclK thought lit, like a
bird on d branch on his brain Why
not himself open the stopcock7 he
would suffer the wrath Of BITS muster
but his name would 30 down through
the centuries as the custer Of the
world renowned bell Whenever Il
sent its musical vibrations far and
wide those who heard 1t would think
of the story Of the apprentice who per
formed the communicating act II itH
construction.
The impulse was Irresistible. Going
"a the stopcock. be pulled it.opeE, and