The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-24
William Gorham Rice Tells Story of
the Famous Carlton Playing
of the Low Countries

fire and when I ring there Is victory
in the land" Made in 1874. it was re-
cast in 1853. and will have again to be
reCast as "A crack developed in July,
1911. The smallest bell has both a
height and diameter of only about
eight inches and weighs less than
eighteen pounds. In some ways moth
ing gives a better idea Of a great caril-
Ion To- one who has not seen it than a
list Of bells composing it.
OF greater consequence. however,
than number or size or weight Is the
pitch relationship of the bells. For it
is to be borne in mind that throughout
virtually its entire compass the bells Of
every carlton progress by regular semi
tone or Chromatic intervals. Client has
these intervals complete through four
and one-half oCtaVcs. except that in the
lowest part of its bass two scmitnnes
are omitted. other carillons have some
what fewer bells. but this essentially
Chromatic scale is characteristic of all,
and the compass of the most importan,
IL from three to four octaves. Omission
Of bells in the bass is primarily because
Of their great weight and therefore
great cost. Hemonys spirited little book
upon this subject ana me declaration
Of the amusing Gouda verses, Each
stroke costs a pound. so It's said" will
be recalled. An examination Of the list
Of the bells of Client shows that if the
omitted bass bells had been supplied
they would have weighed about nine
IONS In other words, these two would
have weighed as much as the fortysiV
composing the middle and upper parts
Of the carlton.
There are to-day in Belgium about
thirty carillons of importance and in
Holland about twenty. II those Of
lesser consequence are included the tota,
FIR both countries will be We'll over 100.
Many authorities give higher figures,
Brockhaus's German Encyclopedia say
ing there are ll5 in the Netherlands
and nincty-scven in Belgium, but such
numbers must include many Carllons
now existing. The individuality Of their
towers and their surroundings Will
make all carillons Of interest To stu
dents and to travellers with ample time
at their disposal.
4 carlton Is played in two ways:
Automatically by means of a revolving
cylinder Thus played carlton may
be thought Of as a gigantic music box.
Its exact designation is then "CarIllon
a cyllndre" or "CArillon tamhour."
Before the hour strikes and at certain
other intervals this cylinder or drum Is
moved by a mechanism of its own
which is released at the proper moment
10y the great tower cock. on the hour
music is played for minute or more;
at the halves and quarters the play Is
for less time, and in some places at the
eighths there are tourishes of a few
notes.
Pins or studs Of iron are placed in
holes on the surface of The cylinder ar
ranged so that as the cylinder revolves
they trip levers connected with ham
mers which strike the outside of the
bells Sometimes there are 10000 or
more holes suitable to receive the pins
say 100 rows or measures of 100 holes
each. Thus an unlimited number OF
tunes can be played, In order To secure
the quick repetition of note single
bell Is sometimes equipped with as
many as six hammers. The pins are
varously offset from their centres;
thus bell may be sounded by the use
of properly selected pin at any one