The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-04
SILENT BELLS OF N0TRE DAME WILL SOON RING AGAIN
Electric Motors to Replace Ringers of Generations Past-Customs Put
 Into Writing

PARlS, MarCn S.-lBy aSSoClateu Press)-The famous bells of Notre Dame silent since the early days of the war, will ring aagin soon for state occasions. but electric motors will replace the expert bell ringers who in generations past swung the great clappers or in modern times operated pedals that sounded the bells.
 The motors will bring to an end the long line of bellringers of whom Victor Hugo wrote. The chief ringer at present is woman-Mme Her bet. widow of the last of the old bell ringers who in a long line from fath- CT to son. lived with the bells high in the tower.
 She alone knows all the traditions of Notre Dame bell ringng-how many times and when the bells should ring for the death of personages of various ranks. and other events. It was for this knowledge and because she belongs to the family that always rang the cathedral bells that Mime Herbet was made chief bell ringer, although not strong enough herself to dc the actual work.
 All the customs are being put into writing ready for resumption of the ringing of the massive bells when the motors are finally installed.
 WANT BULL FIGHTS
 Toreadors and parliamentary dep- uties headed a parade of bull fight fans in a recent demonstration at Bordeaux to show the authorities that they are ready to resist efforts to abolish their 'imprescriptible right" to the sport that has become q part of the life of the southern provinces.
 The bull fight fans. who have of ten been prosecuted but remain un- discouraged, uphold the "inalienable right" of man to fight bulls. They declare they cannot see why there should be a fuss over bull fighting as long as heavily -muscled gentle men of the colors are treated as na- tional heroes for punching each other noses in the prize ring.
 They have made one concession to the humane societies, however, by adopting body protectors for the horses used in the bull rings.
 GIVES DEMONSTRATION
 The Russian chess master. Alexis Alechine, recently gave another ex- hibition of his marvellous skill when he played 12 of the leading French students of the game simultaneously standing with his back to his op- ponents and carrying all the moves in his head. At the end of the match, which requested five hours, Alechine was apparently unfatigued and his sole request was fer cigarette.
 GET ARTISTS CONFUSED
 still life painting ascrbed to Whistler and priced at 150000 francs has been declared by the courts to be in reality the work of French painter, Stanny Stassy The French man is said to have painted it IS years ago in one day on bet; then he sold 1t for 80 francs and/ next saw it as a famous picture with Whistlers name in the corner.
 It was the reproductitn of the pie ture in book on Whistler in which it was learned they commented as revealing Whistler's peculiar gen. jus. that brought about the expose NJ. Stassy and fellow painter named Bebin, it was shown, in court, paint ed tl:e same group of flowers. a pipe, jug and glass of wine on a wager. with two of their pretty models as judge.
 Sometime ago when Bebin sold his copy, the dealer indignantly charged that it was merely a copy of Whistler's. and for proof showed him the photograph in the book. Be- bin told Stassy of his experience and the latter searched until he found the picture. which had travelled at in- creasing prices from dealer tC dealer.
 Stassy filed suit to recover the pie ture and have the signature changed and ask ed for damages. Experts sup ported his contention and the courts now has upheld it to the extent or ordering Stassy's signature to re- place that of Whistler.
 The dealer who last bought the picture. paying for it 100000 francs, says he will seek redress from the dealer who sold it to him, and con tinuous litigation on down the line