IN MEMORIAM BELLS.

Otaki Mail, 1 October 1923, Page 4

IN MEMORIAM BELLS.

A WONDER CAIULLON. LOUGHBOROUGH, ling., July 2-7. Forty-seven belts,, blending Hke the notes ol an organ, pealed the soulful music oi Chopin's Funeral March far over the low-lying Leicestershire countryside around LougEborough tins afternoon. More than IUO.OOO people thronging the streets ol the small town stood silent with heads bowed. It was the ijown's reruurk'abie tribute 4jo the memory ol DUO ol its men who fell hi the war. A picturesque mjemorial lower ol red brick, rising out ul glistening white Portland stone to the green caliper cupola 100 feet high, has been built on the border of a slumbering lake of water-lilies in Queen's Park on the fringe ol the town. It was from this tower, and lrom what is claimed to be the most wonderful carillon in the "world, that the bell iinisio carne. Fvery bell, from the deep-toned giant weighing lour tons to the midget of barely twenty pounds, responded like an orchestral performer to the magic touch of Chevalier J el' Denyri, the grey-haired oarillonneur of Malines Cathedral. SPELLBOUND. A clavier in the belfry—a keyboard ol levers—communicates by quivering wires with the bells, which are responsive to the player's most delicate touch. The chevalier, an impressive figure as he stood at the clavtei'. held every one spellbound with the refrain of Elgar's "Land ol Hope and Glory." It might have been the crescendo of a mighty organ, so full of feeling were the notes. Mme. Melba, the great singer, stood on the tiny platform, near Field-Mar-shal Sir William Robertson, who unveiled the memorial, she listened, evidently moved, and her lips seemed to be l'onnng' the words as the beauliiut chimes rang out. Below her were sad-faced mothers and fathers, youstg widows weeping quietly, and wondering children, who glanced down frequently at the. medals pinned on their collars—tokens of saerifice .won by fathers some of them had never seen. WORKERS' SAVINGS. The achievement of this war memorial is full of wonderful human touches. The bells have cost £7OOO, and the workpeople of the town saved less instances even a few pence, each week in order to liUse. the sum. The bells were made in Loughborough, which Is famous throughout the world for its bell-casting. The tower cost more than £IO,OOO