When such works as those written by the Rev. Mr. Ellacombe, and when every local bell history, or encyclopædia of any note, give full information both as to the early use, construction, and form of bells, it is needless to add another word upon such topics in such a production as this; and when, as is the case at the present time, so many good books are to be so easily obtained, on Change Ringing and Bells, with examples of the various methods or interchanging of positions, by fixed rules or courses, they would at first sight and thought appear to be subjects, which have been literally exhausted, and in which no room remains for further attempts at description in letter-press. However, such is not the fact, for the young beginner now, especially if no experienced guide can be secured, to give advice in person, is in the position of a schoolboy who is called upon to work out a calculation in decimals, before he clearly understands the rule or the method of pointing, unless he has the good fortune to find and secure a copy of “Wigram’s Change Ringing Disentangled,” or, “Troyte’s Change Ringing to Six Bell Work,” which with some amount of study, he may in time get on and become proficient.
The want of something more, as the first steps to ringing, has been felt and acknowledged by many persons at many times; and to supply this want is all that is now attempted—not in any way to disparage the well-known works of others more skilled in the art of ringing, but to lead upwards and onwards to those works by short and easy words and lessons, is the wish of the Author in the following pages.
NOTE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
The appreciation and successful issue of the first edition of this work is duly acknowledged by the Author, as well as the many expressions of approval from persons at home and in foreign parts. It is a source of satisfaction and gratification to know that the attempt has produced a large amount of interest, and has also been the means of producing some ringers in several of our Colonies, as well as working up a desire for and supply of other productions, such as the second edition of “Banister’s Change Ringing,” Wigram’s new, better, and enlarged “Change Ringing Disentangled,” and “Snowdon’s Rope Sight,” which are worthy of a place in every bell student’s and every ringer’s library.
The continued demand for the “First Steps” has prompted this second edition, which is somewhat altered and extended, the desire of the Author being to make all things as plain and as easy as possible.