Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1859-08-05
For tho star ! Chronicle.
An Hour in Independence Hall.
BY S. II. L.

merrily along the gravel walks. Dozens
Of negligent looking men, young and old,
are sitting on the little backless stools,
planted here and there, looking idly at
these happy groups of merry children, and
with envious eyes on TIE well-fed and dozy
nurses who are enjoying the sport with
their young wards !; while, around thc
windows Of the Court rooms, which fence
in one side of this pleasant square, crowds
of men and boys, generally of the lowest
sort, are lounging-smoking, chewing,
splitting, sweaTlug-conyersing in groups
with knight Of the green bag, here, or
consulting policeman there, on some nice
point Of criminal law. (IfI were disposed
to be funny, | should say, consulting
'thcir stars, but puuning is vulgar: in
deed, | have sly notion that sacrificed
fortune once by playing on a lady's
name, and am very cautious, ever since,
how indulge in that sort Of witt To be
brief, gentle reader, am lounging il IH-
DErENDENCE SQUARE, PHILADELPHIA, and
within few feet of the very spo, from
which tLa Declaration of Independence
was first read TO the public. If you peep
through those green blinds on the right,
you can see hanging there the chandelier
which lighted up that very room On the
evening of July Sd, l776.
As many of the readers of the Chronicle
may not have been favored with a sight of
that old chamber, if they have no Oljec-
tiOn "I'll put them through"
No "trOuble" at all, my dear "Stars
and Chronicles" have not an earthly
thing else to do, and it will quite relieve
me Of the insinuatious Of certain name
less old gentleman who is represented as
making himself continually busy in "Gnl-
ing some mischief STILL" &c, SO, come
along.
You see the venerable Superintendent
is ready to admit US into this sacred spot,
and to show US around. As have been
here before, l'li act the ci.erone myself,
and save him the trouble.
A PLAIN old room is this, but crowded
with memories, and memorials, dear to
every American. From that chandelier
streamcd down the ligh: Of many a wax
candle on the heads of the venerable men
Of the Continental Congress. Iu those
two leather covered arm chairs sa. the
tru'h-loviug and faithful Secretary Charles
Thompson, and the diguiied President,
John Hancock; and on that piece of gran.
lite stood the man who first read, to the
public, the Declaration.
Mr.. LOSING, in his valuable work, "Thc
Field Book of the Revolution" rather
knocks the history of this slab on the head,
on what authority, | cannot at present say
lie says, "From the platform of an obser-
vatory, erected near the Walnut street front
of the State House, by Rittenhouse, many
years before, for the purpose of Observing
a transit Of Venus, John Nixon read the
Declaration to vast concoursc of people
gathered from tho city and surrounding
country"
at this plain desk with drawers, the
philosopher, mechanic, politician-Frank-
lin-pOstcd his books, wrote his letters,
and many Of his wise sentences signed
his checks, paid his journcymcn, and
thought out his wonderful plans. 1t was
his office table, but it has been robbed of
much Of its interest by scraping, polishing,
and recovering with bright green baizc.
What would you not give, if, like the
famous table Of Wartburgh, it had been
permitted to retain but one or two of its
inkspots
This low, narrow seated bench, once |
stood in Christ Church. In it has sat
many a notable man, and against that
back has leaned in holy devotion the brow
of Washington. 1t is portion of his
pew, and has borne a weight such as the .
rock of Sconc can not boast
This curious, highbacked chair, of vari-
Gus woods, was presented by the Corpora
ton of the Northern Liberties, and is COM
posed of portions Of the first house ever
built By Europeans on this continent
erected about l49G, for Columbus part
Of the old Elm Tree, under which Penn
concluded his celebrated treaty with the
indians; Of Penn's cottage, in Laotitia
Court, within my memory kept as a tav-
srn Of the old Frigatc Constitution, &c
In it is also inserted some portions Of cane
seating from chair once William Penn's,
md lock Of grey hair from the brow Of
Chief Justice Marshall
The Statue of Washington, facing the
loor, is wrought in wood by Mr. Rush of
his city, who, if my memory does not dc
eive me, was selftaught artist; but, as
t has no special interest attached it, VIC
re not concerned about that.