The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-07-13
The New Liberty Bell

A few wears ago Henry Seybert. gen
t!eman Of wealth and culture in the city Ut
PhlladelphIa proposed to the city author
tiles to furnish Il bell for Independence
Hall. Nix Seybert entered into Il contract
with McneclN n Kimberly, bell founders
OF Troy, n Y %, to cast the bell and place
II in the tower ct Independence hall The
government being apprised Of the plans
of Mr SeybGlt. tour bronze cannon were
furnished to carry out his ideas. Two
guns, one union and the ether conteder-
ate, that had seen service at Gettysburg
Were selected. The other guns were i
British field piece captured AT the capitu-
lation of Burgoyne at Saratoga, Oct Is,
l11., and piece used by the patriot army
nuder Gates in the battle OF Bemis llights.
and the final struggle with the British
army ut Saratoga. The mingling Of these
bronze weapons Of war in 4 new liberty
bell is truly poetic, alId Inspiring to the
popular heart, 10 carry the centennial
symbolism further bat one hundred pounds
OF each cannon was used the remaining
metal representing the mineral wealth and
growing industries of the nation, the cop
per being taken pure from the shores Of
Lake Superior, to be mingled with the
best Of tin fresh from The mines
After the most careful preparation the
bell was cast on Saturday evening, April
p, IN the presence OF about II hundred
ladies and gentlemen, who solicited the
privilege Of being present on the occa-
sion, y large pit was dug in the floor Of
the foundry and the immense mould low
cred into it by a derrick. A spout was
laid from the furnace to the crown OF the
mould into which the metal was to be
poured When all was ready the metal
was released and ran glowing and scintiI-
lating into the mould. 1t was 4 supreme
moment and every one present felt the
inspiration.
After the bell was cast il was allowed
to lie buried in the ground for u week to
cool slowly and thoroughly anreal the
metal. Then it was raised from the pit
with great effort by an enormous derrick
and it was found to be sound and perfect
to the great joy Of all. Few appreciate
the difficulty and danger Of casting a bell
containing so great Il mass OF metal. The
difficulty and danger Of accident increase
as the size increases But the new liberty
bell fulfilled the tondest hopes of its found
ers. Men We're Immediately set to work
to polish the immense surface until it shone
with Il lustrc, which fifty indicates the
purity and richness Of the metal. Its in
scriptions shine like letters of gold, They
are put on with the greatest care and with
II tine sense of true proportion
Enclrcllng the crown are the words OF
Holy Writ :.-"Glory to God in the high
est, and on earth peace, and good will to-
ward men, On the waist, one side, is the
following: presented to the city OF Phil
adelphia, July 4th, 1876. for the beltry of
Independence hall by Il citizen Under
ly founders, Troy, n. Y.
On the waist, opposite side, is '1S76." "
and beneath the coat Of arms Of the United
States, an eagle with thirteen stars and
the motto. Z plltribus u'aatnl. The coat OF
arms is set in a shield of chased work, and
is beautiful specimen of art
Encircling the mouth is the inscription
from the old liberty bell: "Proclaim lib
crty throughout all the land, unto all the
inhabitants thereof t'-Leviticus chapter
XIV verse 10. just above this inscription
is a circle of thirty-eight stars represent
ing the States
The bell is seven feet in perpendicular
height, seven feet and half in diameter
at the mouth, and twenty-three and a hall
feet in circumference. AT the sound bow
the thickness is seven inches Its proper
tions are striking,y beautiful. All in all,
it is great triumph of the founders art
and will be one of the most eminent eN-
amples of American skill and taste at
Philadelphia Larger bells have been
made in the Old World, but this is un.
doubtedly the finest bell in America
Scene in Il recitation room: Professor
The ancient Egyptians were in the habit
of sacrificing red-headed girls to the devil
Authenticated student-"Wha did they
do with the red headed boys?' Professor
They supposed they would 60 of they
own accord"