[2281] in Humor
HUMOR CLASSIC: Quasimodo
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Sharalee M. Field)
Thu Apr 23 17:25:18 1998
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 17:19:33 -0400
To: humor@MIT.EDU, mowu@MIT.EDU, "MEGallagh@aol.com" <MEGallagh@aol.com>,
wheger@wbc-architects.com, Kris_Kelly@notes.pw.com, jbran18610@aol.com,
dunbar@MIT.EDU, dahv@MIT.EDU, rpr@ma.ultranet.com, mtsai@bqa.com,
immer@MIT.EDU, tlawlor@palmerdodge.com, celia_kent@harvard.edu,
Maryellen Fitzgibbon <mfitzgib@fas.harvard.edu>,
Cheryl Guarino Buccelli <c_buccelli@harvard.edu>,
s_donovan@harvard.edu, leite@fas.harvard.edu,
Carlos Zalduondo <cjz@usa.net>
From: "Sharalee M. Field" <sharalee_field@harvard.edu>
>From: "Gingras, Jack (GEAE)" <<jack.gingras@ae.ge.com>
>To: "'ljr@mit.edu'" <<ljr@mit.edu>,
> "'Sharalee M. Field'"
> <<sharalee_field@harvard.edu>
>Subject: FW:
>Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 15:49:13 -0400
>X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.1960.3)
>
>
>>
>>
>>
>> After Quasimodo's death, the bishop of the cathedral of Notre Dame
>> sent word through the streets of Paris that a new bellringer was
>> needed. The bishop decided that he would conduct the interviews
>> personally and went up into the belfry to begin the screening process.
>>
>> After observing several applicants demonstrate their skills, he
>> decided to call it a day when a lone, armless man approached him and
>> announced that he was there to apply for the bellringers job. The
>> bishop was incredulous, "You have no arms!"
>>
>> "No matter," said the man, "Observe!"
>>
>> He then began striking the bells with his face, producing a beautiful
>> melody on the carillon. The bishop listened in astonishment, convinced
>> that he had finally found a suitable replacement for Quasimodo.
>>
>> Suddenly, rushing forward to strike a bell, the armless man tripped,
>> and plunged headlong out of the belfry window to his death in the street
>> below.
>>
>> The stunned bishop rushed to his side.
>> When he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the fallen
>> figure, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moments
>> before. As they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of them
>> asked, "Bishop, who was this man?" "I don't know his name," the
>> bishop sadly replied, "but his face rings a bell."
>>
>> (but wait, there's more...)
>>
>> The following day, despite the sadness that weighed heavily on his
>> heart due to the unfortunate death of the armless campanologist (now
>> there's a trivia question), the bishop continued his interviews for
>> the bellringer of Notre Dame.
>>
>> The first man to approach him said, "Your excellency, I am the brother
>> of the poor, armless wretch that fell to his death from this very
>> belfry yesterday. I pray that you honor his life by allowing me to
>> replace him in this duty."
>>
>> The bishop agreed to give the man an audition, and as the armless
>> man's brother stooped to pick up a mallet to strike the first bell, he
>> groaned, clutched at his chest and died on the spot.
>>
>> Two monks, hearing the bishop's cries of grief at this second
>> tragedy,rushed up the stairs to his side.
>>
>> "What has happened?" the first breathlessly asked, "Who is this man?"
>> "I don't know his name," sighed the distraught bishop, "but he's a dead ringer
>> for his brother.
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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