Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-01-04
Sheprdaown Jefferson Wea Virginia, Thursday January


SAINT mary'S bell.
One of the fascinating though sad
legends of the middle ages is about the
casting Of st. Mary's bell at Breslau, the
capital of SiIesia, in 1886. In those days
these cathedral bells were only second in
importance to the edifice that held them.
The composition and casting Of one Of
them were matters Of great skill. Many
man was made or marred by his sue
cess or failure to make a bell that would
produce marvellous tones.
caspar Ulrich, who had served an ap-
premiership at bell casting. was the
nephew of the bishop Of cathedral in
Brabant and through his uncie's influence
obtained an order to cast the big bell that
was TO be swung in one ofthe great tow
ers OF the church that had been hundred
years in building.
Caspar began his work with all the
confidence of youth, but as he proceeded
it evaporated. He prepared his mold,
which must be Of exact dimensions. Amy
deviation from his calculations in the uni
fonnitY of space into which The molten
metal was to be poured would ruin the
bell. The combination of metals was
easier, though if his calculations were not
correct the result would be unfortunate.
But the most dangerous part OF the work
was the running off of the metal from the
crucible into the mold.
BY the time Caspar Ulrich came TO this
last step in the manufacture OF the bell he
had lost all the confidence with which he
had started. The only thing remaining to
be done was to turn the stopcock in the
bottom Of the crucible, giving free egress
to the metal fluid. He could not bring
himself to take this last step. He SAT
down on bench before the embryo bell,
resting his elbows On his knees and his
chin on his hands and gave himself up TO
gloomy forebodings
He was awakened from them by a
stranger who had silently entered the
building--a man tall and slender. who
moved with such catlike tread that Cas-
par did not hear 1t. He was dressed In
workmsn's clothes and wore leather
apron.
"Who are your" asked Caspar, looking
up at him.
"An ironworker. have made many
BELLS"
"Have you spoiled many?"
To this there was no response except
a low chuckle. But the stranger said;
81 can make this one wonder"
"How can you do that2"
"By adding certain metals to those you
have already put in"
Caspar produced paper giving the list
of ingredients in the bell and the quantity
of each and handedit 1t to the stranger, who
glanced at il hastily and said:
There is not enough irou."
Caspar went over his calculations while
the stranger waited and, having done so,
said that he feared the criticism was Just
Nevertheless he was demoraIized and
notcertain ofanything. But the stranger,
who was avery aggressive person, took
up crucible of molten ison-for there
was melted metal OF every kind used in
the bell at hand--and was about to pour
some of IT into the composition when
Caspar's young wife, Ursula. entered the
foundry. She had come 10 sympathize
with and encourage her husband. Seeing
the stranger, she paused and shrank back.
And the stranger shrank back too.
Swinging aside the crucible from which
he was about to pour the iron, his eyes
were fixedon a gold cross that hung from
Ursula's neck on her bosom. With
cringing step he sided to the door and
went out like dog with his tail between
his legs.
"Who is he2" asked Ursula Of her hus-
bard, "and what was he about to do2"
"Who he is know not, but he told me
that he had made many bells and could
make mine a success. After looking al
my constituent metals he said had not
sufficient iron and was about TO add iron
to the mixture when you entered"
at seems to me, Caspar," said the
wife. "that instead Of listening to a stran-
ger we should ask the Virgin to tell US II
anything is needed"
And, sinking on her knees, she prayed
to the Virgin TO siguiiy what would add to
the melody Of the bell. When she had
finished her prayer she touched bar OF
iron. Then she put her hand on some
copper. Atonce she fell aiingIing sensa-
tion running up through her arm.
"Put in copper, Caspar," she said.
Caspar poured in a stream Of copper.
Suddenly his wife called on him TO stop.
The tingIing In her arm ceased. She put
her hand on other metals with noresponse
till she came TO a lump Of silver, when
the tinglingrecommenced. When Ursula
called again Caspsr ceased to pour the
metal, and there being no other metal at
hand no more was added
Then Ursula bade caspar turn the STOP
cock, but he declined to do so, telling
her TO do II herself. She did so. and the
metal was soon cooling in the rod.
Caspar told his uncle, the bishop. Of
the stranger. and the bishop said that he
was undoubtedly Satan. who wished 10
prevent The bell from influencing people
to piety with its sweet tones. He would
have ruined the mixture bat for the en-
trance Of Ursula wearing ne cross.
The bell proved a marvel OF sweetness