But the privilege was abused, as privileges always are.

In the dusk all kinds of things were done for a few sous.

The curate finally had the swing taken down and the room closed up." "And what is that over there ?" inquired Durtal, perceiving, in a corner, an enormous fragment of rounded metal, like half a gigantic skull-cap.
On it the dust lay thick, and and in the hollow the meshes on meshes of fine silken web, dotted with the black bodies of lurking spiders, were like a fisherman's hand net weighted with little slugs of lead.
"That?
Ah, monsieur!" and there was fire in Carhaix's mild eyes, "that is the skull of an old, old bell whose like is not cast these days.

The ring of that bell, monsieur, was like a voice from heaven." And suddenly he exploded, "Bells have had their day!--As I suppose Des Hermies has told you .-- Bell ringing is a lost art.

And why wouldn't it be?
Look at the men who are doing it nowadays.