It may be perplexing when consulting a variety of books, to determine what are the best plans for a beginner to adopt. And it may or should be known that bell ringing is a dangerous practice for a novice, should he commence it by himself without instruction, thought, or care. In such a case, he runs the risk of being hung by the neck, as was the case not long since, when, at a certain place in Essex, a man pulled the tenor of a ring of bells, left set for a company of ringers, without knowledge, the result being that he was confused, caught by the rope round the neck, pulled up and thrown with great force to the floor, but where fortunately there happened to be some thick cocoa-nut matting, which broke the fall and so saved him.

Now, although it may be dangerous to begin or to practise by oneself, yet a little help, such as we should seek in learning to skate or to swim, or in any other exercise or art, from an expert, will overcome and set aside all danger, as well as the mind at perfect rest on such thoughts. Therefore, as a precaution, wherever it is practicable and possible, the advice should be taken to obtain the assistance and counsel of a ringer at starting; and having secured the good offices and help of the teacher, the first lesson will be, as a matter of course, to see and take notice of the way in which he sets the bell, by repeated pulls, and catches at the sally or tufting of the rope, marking particularly, as is shown in the illustrations of the ringers in the ringing room, or that immediately following, the best plan to hold the rope, viz., with the rope near to its bottom or end, in the left hand permanently, and the right hand at liberty, to catch the sally or ease the bell on its slider and stay, and to pull at the hand or back strokes in their turn.[1]

Whilst watching, it will be noticed that after starting to pull the bell from the position of rest, as is shown in the sketch, to get the “bell up,” or “set the bell,” as it is termed, that the rope will begin in a very short time to dance, which is caused by the bell, and the wheel reversing sides, for the rope on the wheel, in swinging; and then it will be seen how that, as the bell approaches nearer the set point or balance, there is much to be gained by catching the sally or tufting, giving a slight pull as the rope reverses, until the point be reached, when the balance or set is obtained, and the bell is held or caught and eased to the hand stroke, in the position as is shown by the following sketch (fig. 1), where the stay rests against the slider on the one side, in which case it will be seen that the rope comes much in the position as when at rest, and is pulled off the set by the sally; then, when pulled, it will be noticed that the bell will swing to the reverse side, and set at the position called the back stroke, being eased to its proper place or point by the hands, in the position as is shown by the sketch (fig. 2), where the stay rests against the slider on the reverse side, in which case it will be seen that the rope is all round the wheel, and the end only is in the hands, and is so pulled off its set to the hand stroke.