The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-01-11

HE ringing OF Dells ~ the new
Year comes in and the old departs
is gradually aod slowly being re-
- garded as an old-fashioned custom.
and many Of the churches in the
larger cities have already discarded 1t.
Others which in the past have prided them
selves upon their large and melodious
bells have disposed Of them because Of
their growing unpopularity and expense.
Since the faraway days Of Jubal. the
sire Of harmony" to whom the harp
and organ owe their origin, bells have
been the universal method Of appeal to
every emotion, from the regular, orderly
stroke of the clock calling the hour and
ito diversions. to the wild, tumultuous
shrek Of the fre-alarm, which sends a
thrill of terror through the listeners. The
joyous marriage chimes. SO slowly meas
ured. are full Of promise and happiness,
and there is the passing bell that tolls
out the age of the departed, with condo
lence for the dead and sympathy and
warning for the living.
Bells of some sort have always been
associated with religious observances.
Among the Greeks those who made the
nightly rounds of the camps and garrt
sons rang bell at each sentinel box 10
make sure that the soldier on duty was
awake. Bells were also placed upon the
necks Of criminals to warn people to
move out of the way of such an omen of
III luck as the sight of a criminal OF
his executioner was supposed to be.
The Romans announced the hour Of
the day and also the hour of the bath
by the ringing of a bell. According to
tradition. they were introduced into
churches In the early centuries Of Christi
anity. their first use in this capacity
being in Campania about 400 A. D.
- - -
uries. the use Of bells in churches
spread all over Europe. greater por
tion Of these bells were of the Land
variety, made of thin plates of ham,
mered iron, bent into foursided shapes,
and fastened with rivets and bronzed.
One Of these early bells was called 1.-THE
Bell of Patrick's WILL and is still pre-
served In Belfast.
Gradually. as bells began to be hung
in the belfries or steeples, they became
larger until the extreme was reached in
the construction Of the Great Bell Of
Moscow" the largest In the world. which
was cast In 1894, and which weighs
1913 tons. 1t Is over % feet in height and
diameter.
Other large bells are tie Great Bell Of
Peking." whose weight is 50 tons: the
.'Kairerglocke, Of Cologne Cathedral
made out Of 90 French cannon, and the
Great Paul. and big Ben" of West
. minister. whose weight is between 10 and
IA tons each. The largest bell in Amer
lea is In the Cathedral of Notre Dame
Montreal. and has a weight OF $1,000
pounds.
In the manufacture of bells the ma
terial most used In all ages and In all
countries has been u mixture Of copper
and tin called bronze. For long time
IN Europe the proportions were two parts
Of copper and one of tin. but now more
copper Is used the ratio being about 10
parts of copper 70 four of tin. Iron,
steel, gold. silver brass and even glass
has been used. In the formation of bells
the glass giving good sound. but being
too fragile for practical use.
Chimes are very popular in Belgium
and England. Large carillons Of 40 or
more bells are rot uncommon. Many
churches have peals or chimes upon
which tunes are played. and these are
very appropriate for ringing out the old
and in the new year. Tune-playing bells
are sometimes sounded by means Of cylin-
ders, just as In Z barrel organ, while
others have a keyboard and are played
by q musician. The best chimes are
claimed to consist of from 3 to ~ bells.
The mufiled peal which gives one the
finest effect. is rung with leather cap
over half of the clapper. This makes
the chimes first clear and then dull In
casting the bells the core. or part which
oils the inside of the bell, is made first