Levi Strauss ring a bell? (m) (archive)

After Quasimodo's death, the bishop of the Cathedral of Notre Dame sent
word through the streets of Paris that a new bell ringer 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 had decided to call it a
day.

Just then, an armless man approached him and announced that he was there
to apply for the bell ringer's job. The bishop was incredulous. "You
have no arms!"

"No matter," said the man. "Observe!" And he began striking the bells
with his face, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon. The bishop
listened in astonishment, convinced he had finally found a replacement
for Quasimodo.

But 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."

(WAIT! 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, the bishop
continued his interviews for the bell ringer 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, twirled around, 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? Who is this man?" the first monk asked breathlessly.

"I don't know his name," sighed the distraught bishop, "but..."

( . . . Wait for it . . . )

(. . . It's worth it . . . )

(. . . Here it comes . . . )

"He's a dead ringer for his brother."

Dave out

Follow Ups:

If the jeans are great, I call them Primo Levi. Cargogal 18:45 8/09/2001 (5)
- If you weighed 22 pounds at birth, you'd be Primo Carnera (m) ZeattleDave 18:53 8/09/2001 (4)
  - And if you had a womb with a view, you'd be Louise Brown. Cargogal 19:22 8/09/2001 (3)
    - Naah...my Wombat has a Brownstone - no view (e) ZeattleDave 19:34 8/09/2001 (2)
      - I know him - he was on CarTalk: Cargogal 20:14 8/09/2001 (1)
        
        Mmmmmmm Semiotics: That'll cure ya! (e) ZeattleDave 23:07 8/09/2001 (0)

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