THREE ON A TOWER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 189, 8 August 1908, Page 15

THREE ON A TOWER.

G BUM AN OFFICERS' ESCAPADE, Zlttau, a Saxon town of over 100,000 In-, habitants, has provided Mr Thomas Hardy with material lor a story entitled "Three on a Tower," which might pernaps be incorporated in "Lite's LdtUe Homes.' , The three were a captain and two lieutenants of the infantry regiment which forms the garrison of the town. They had been sitting tor some time in a restaurant sipping .sett, the Uermuu imitation of champagne, wuich coula not uiiwarily be taken as v substitute for the original article, when cue oi the party was seized by ihe original unu lofty iaea of continuing tnelr pouiuons ou the summit of the tower of the neigh bouring Church of St. John. The proposal was hailed with acclamation, and the three officers, seizing the bottle and glasses, and ordering the waiter to follow them with additional supplies, hastened acroee the street and up the steep staircase which leads to the summit o£ the tower. Scarcely had they emerged into daylight before their behaviour attracted the attention of pas-sers-by, and a rapidly-increasing crowd began to assemble iv the street beneath. Presently one of the officers took oft his coat and attempted to climb over the safety rail which surrounds the summit of the tower, apparently with the object of hurling himself down. His companions seized hold of him, and a vigorous struggle eneued. The news that a free military entertainment of the most diverting nature was being given on the top of the church now ran round the town like wildfire, and the inhabitants poured to the scene by hundreds and thousands. Soon there was a shout, and a sudden movement among the crowd, as an object was seen to come flying over the parapet of the tower. It was recognised In its descent as a sekt bottle, and the conscientious reporter who advises of these things is careful to add that It was broken by the fall. Soon It was followed by a champagne glass, which, it is interesting to learn, shared the same fate. But by this time a section of the inhabitants of Zittau, which objected to the top of the tower being converted to the uses of a taproom, had succeeded in persuading the police, reluctant to think that there could be anything wrong in holding a corroboree on a church tower so long as It was done by officers in nnlform, that it might be advisable to do something, and a constable ascended to parley with the revellers. He is said to have warned them. What the nature of his warning was is not mentioned. Possibly, that a fall Into the street might be attended by discomfort. If so . It was needed. On the other hand. If It sUftßestcd that tt was unseemly, and, possibly Illegal, to celebrate bacchanalia on a sacred building, it was uttered without avail. Meanwhile clouds had been gathering, and now a thunderstorm burst with tremendous fury. But neither lightning nor rain conld diminish the jollity of the festive three aloft, or assuape the anger of the patient crowd below. Fven the best of jokrs. howpvor. must have nn end. and when darkness fell, and the clocks struck ten. the three left the tower, where they had held bibulous watch for no less than four hours. They were received with loud hisses and hoots from the pertinacious crowd, from whose race they hurriedly took refuge in the restaurant in which theii escapade had been extemporised. The matter is being Investigated by the military authorities.