Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-05-25
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
BINaHAM HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA
Mny17th, 1870.


parture on the O'clock train, and about
three hours sufficed to place us within the
spacious limits of the city of q Brotherly
Love- We are being handsomely enter
tanned at the Bingham House, the pleasant
and quiet quarters of which present an
agreeable contrast with the jargon and con-
fusion met with in the great city from
which we have just come. Just as we were
leaving New York, we met with our old
friend, Tilghman Haws, with his genial
better-half, and We're pleased to find them
enjoying themselves so well.
INDEPENDENCE HALL.
Our first impulse on rising from bed this
. morning, after good nights rest sweeten-
ed by yesterdays labor, was to see Inde-
pendence Hall and Immediately after an
early breakfast we proceeded to crafty
that impulse. We found the Hall closed,
but through the kindness of the Superin-
tendent, gained admission, and stood with
feelings of profound veneration within its
sacred precincts-sacred to Americans as
being the spot where the plans by which
they were made freemen first assumed n
definite shape. With awe we gazed upon
the old bell which first pealed forth the
glad sounds of freedom from British OPP
preston. On beholding the plain old table
upon which that immortal document, the
Declaration of Independence, was signed,
we could not repress feelings of deep emo
ton. The bell was imported from Eng
land in the year 1852, for the use of the
State House This building was COM
menced in 1923 and completed in 1884,
about one hundred and thirty-siX years
ago. It's cost was about e5,600, and is a
creditable evidence of the liberal public
spirit of our forefathers. BY care, il has
been kept in good state of preservation, Il
strict surveillance being kept over relic
hunters, to prevent them carrying away
the building by blocks and splinters. We
procured ticket of admission to the stee-
pie, which we ascended and obtained a
view of the city. The splendid buildings
the shipping, the well-laid-out squares to-
gether with the rivers and surrounding
country, present splendid panorama well
worth beholding. The doorway 10 the
steeple is kept by "a little girl, who, we sup
pose is compensated by the sale of photo
graphic pictures of the steeple and build
ing. Her winning ways and pleasant
smiles make il almost impossible for one to
refuse TO buy her pictures. The city au-
thorities have been attempting to nego-
tiate for the square in front of the Hall,
upon which to erect commodious City
Hall. As yet they have not succeeded, nor
should they ever. This ground is too sa-
cred to be used for any such purpose. 1t
is consecratcd by too many precious memo
ries, which will ever be held in hallowed
remembrance as long ~ the Ameri-
can people respect the noble sires of
the Revolution. The grove on the square
il most beautiful, and as the birds warbled
their joyous songs in the spacious branches
of the surrounding trees, we could but look
upon them as being inspired by the God OF
Liberty and Freedom, to send forth these
appropriate enchantments a. a bright ex-
ample TO a people who have 50 much foI
which TO be grateful. We left the sacred
surroundings in n meditative mood and
as we believe, with n stronger determine.
ton to always oppose the mad schemes OF
men to upset what was so nobly begun by
"a worthy people.
AMONG THE MANUFACTORIEs
Leaving Independence Hall, we went
by invitation, to the magnificent establish
ment of VIM. j. Horstmann & Sons, man
ufaeturers of Marrow Textile Fabrics, sc
One of the junior members of the firm
kindly accompanied US through the vas
concern, from the first floor TO the sixth
Owing TO the decline in the consumption
of the class of goods they manufacture
hundreds of their looms are now idle, anC
they complain that little is being done
we, however, came to a very different con
clusion before we were through the build
ing. Their house is the oldest, the largest
and in every way the most extensive es
tablshment of the kind on this continent
II was established in 1915 by the fathe
Of the present senior member of the firm
and has been in successful opepltion eve
since, meeting with successive enlarge
ments and improvements. The principa
features of their business are the manufac
ture of Military Goods and Ladies' Dres
Trimmings-such as Silk and Gold Lace
Fringe, Ornamental Silk Work, Ribbons
Braid, Tassels, &c, &c. also, Cords, Can
ID ".