The Queer, the Quaint and the Quizzical Part 20

_Mammoth Bell of Buddah._

Klaprath states that in an edifice before the great temple of Buddah, at Jeddo, is the largest bell in the world. It weighs 1,700,000 pounds, four times greater than the great bell of Moscow, and fifty-six times larger than the great bell of Westminister, England.

_Great Bell of Rouen._

The grand entrance to the cathedral of Rouen is flanked by two towers; the one was erected by St. Romain; the expense of constructing the other, which bears the whimsical name of _Tour-de-beurre_, was raised by the sum received for granting the more wealthy and epicurean inhabitants of the city permission to eat b.u.t.ter during Lent. It was in this tower that the celebrated bell was erected; it was named George D'Amboise, after its founder, who died from joy upon seeing it completed. It weighed 40,000 pounds, and was melted into cannon in the year 1793.

_St. Fillan's Bell._

In Sinclair's "Statistical Account of Scotland," the Rev. Mr. Patrick Stuart, minister of Killin parish, Perths.h.i.+re, says: "There is a bell belonging to the chapel of St. Fillan that was in high reputation among the votaries of that saint in old times. It is a foot high, oblong in form, and made of mixed metal. It usually lay on a grave-stone in the church-yard. When mad people were brought to be dipped in the saint's pool, it was necessary to perform certain ceremonies in which there was a mixture of druidism and popery. After remaining all night in the chapel, bound with ropes, the bell was set upon their head with great solemnity. It was also the popular opinion that if the bell was ever stolen, it would extricate itself out of the thief's hands and return home, ringing all the way."

_The Bells of Jersey._

The following is the bell-legend connected with Jersey: "Many years ago the twelve parish churches in that island possessed each a valuable peal of bells; but during a long civil war the government determined to sell the bells to defray the expenses of the troops. The bells were accordingly collected and sent to France for that purpose; but on the pa.s.sage, the s.h.i.+p foundered, and everything was lost, to show the wrath of Heaven at such a sacrilege. Since then, during a storm, these bells always ring from the deep, and to this day the fishermen of St. Owen's Bay always go to the edge of the water before embarking, to listen if they can hear the bells upon the wind. If so, nothing will induce them to leave the sh.o.r.e; if all is quiet, they fearlessly set sail."

_Subterranean Christmas Bells._

Near Raleigh, in Nottinghams.h.i.+re, there is a valley, said to have been caused by an earthquake several hundred years ago, which swallowed up a whole village, together with the church. Formerly, it was a custom for people to a.s.semble in this valley on Christmas morning, to listen to the ringing of the bells of the church beneath them. This it was positively a.s.serted might be heard by putting the ear to the ground and harkening attentively. Even now, it is usual on Christmas morning for old men and women to tell the children to go to the valley, stoop down, and hear the bells ringing merrily.-_Hone_, 1827.

_St. Sepulchre's Bell._

It has been a very ancient practice, on the night preceding the execution of condemned criminals, for the bellman of the parish of St.

Sepulchre to go under Newgate, and, ringing his bell, to repeat the following, as a piece of friendly advice to the unhappy wretches under sentence of death:-

All you that in the condemn'd hold do lie, Prepare you, for to-morrow you shall die; Watch all, and pray, the hour is drawing near, That you before the Almighty must appear; Examine well yourselves, in time repent, That you may not to eternal flames be sent.

And when St. Sepulchre's bell to-morrow tolls.

The Lord above have mercy on your souls!

Past twelve o'clock

_The Pa.s.sing Bell._

The Pa.s.sing Bell was so named from being tolled when any one was pa.s.sing from life. Hence it was sometimes called the _Soul Bell_, and was rung that those who heard it might pray for the person dying, and who was not yet dead. We have a remarkable mention of the practice in the narrative of the last moments of the Lady Katherine Grey (sister of Lady Jane Grey), who died a prisoner in the Tower of London, in 1567. Sir Owen Hopton, constable of the tower, "perceiving her to draw toward her end, said to Mr. Bockeham, 'Were it not best to send to the church, that the bell may be rung?' and she herself, hearing him, said: 'Good Sir Owen, be it so;' and almost immediately died."-_Ellis's Original Letters._

_Bell-ringing in Holland._

The Hollanders exhibit the most enthusiastic fondness for bells. Every church and public building is hung round with them in endless variety.

In Amsterdam not less than a thousand bells are kept constantly ringing, which creates a din that is almost intolerable to strangers.

_Babes of Bethlehem._

It is an ancient custom at Norton, Worcesters.h.i.+re, England, on the 28th of December (Innocents' Day) to ring a m.u.f.fled peal in token of sorrow for the slaughter of the hapless "babes of Bethlehem," and, immediately afterwards, an unm.u.f.fled peal, in manifestation of joy for the deliverance and escape of the infant Saviour.

_Ringing the Changes._

It is curious to note the number of changes which may be rung on different peals. The changes on seven bells are 5040; on twelve, 479,001,600, which it would take ninety-one years to ring, at the rate of two strokes in a second. The changes on fourteen bells could not be rung through at the same rate in less than 16,575 years, and upon four-and-twenty they would require more than 117,000 billions of years.-_E. F. King._

_Bell Inscriptions._

Epigraphs or legends on bells were quite common in England. We subjoin specimens-

_On the Six Bells of the Ancient Abbey of Hexham._

Even at our earliest sound, The light of G.o.d is spread around.

At the echo of my voice, Ocean, earth and air rejoice.

Blend thy mellow tones with mine, Silver voice of Catherine!

Till time on ruin's lap shall nod, John shall sound the praise of G.o.d.

With John in heavenly harmony, Andrew, pour thy melody.

Be mine to chant Jehovah's fame, While Maria is my name.

A not uncommon epigraph is-

Come when I call, To serve G.o.d all.

At Aldbourne, on the first bell, we read: "The gift of Jos. Pizzie and Wm. Gwynn.

Music and ringing we like so well, And for that reason we gave this bell."

On the fourth bell is-

Humphry Symsin gave xx pounds to buy this bell, And the parish gave xx more to make this ring go well.

At Broadchalk-

I in this place am second bell, I'll surely do my part as well.

At Coln, on the third bell-

Robert Forman collected the money for casting this bell Of well-disposed people, as I do you tell.

At Devizes, St. Mary-

I am the first, altho' but small, I will be heard above you all.

I am the second in this ring; Therefore next to thee I will sing.