Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-07-12
Our Centennial Letter.


Could the conceptions of the Phila
delphia brain be materialized, they
would at this time consist of confus.
ed mass of "star spangled banners,
fire crackers" Independence Hall. >
"Fourth of July," etc., etc. Being
an ardent symphathizer, we follow the
crowd to "Independerce Hail." and
are soon lost in contemplating its relies
and in reviewing the Immortal names
of those who are so intimately connect
ed with its early history. One seems
to get better perception of our great
forefa here characters by coming into
such direct contact with the objects
with which they were surrounded, and
VII ch were familiar to them. This
venerable State House was finished In
1875, and did duty under the control
of The British crown forty one years.
Frou'ing Chestnut street between 5th
and 9th, its appearance indicates its
comparatively ancient construction
1t has an individuality Of its own that
harmonizes we'll with the characters
with whom it is inseparably associated,
as we view them through the dim liz ht
OF century. The statue of Wash
lngton first greets the visitor at the
main entrance on Chestnut street.
The present sreeple was erected in
1928, aud is perfect reproduction Of
the original. The second Congress
met in the east room of the main
building and there On the 4th of July
1776. was adopted the Declaration of
independence From its steps that
paper was publicly read to the waiting
multitudes, who received it with mad
shouts of joy. The old bell which
gave back an answering peal, now
cracked and forever silent, rests in
state in the ves,ibule. Congress Hall
where Washington delivered his fare
we'll address is in the second story.
The two rooms mentioned have been
long familiar to the public, thanks to
the historic brush of Col. John Trum-
bull. They remain almost intact, and
it is quite query how the furniture
can have. been SO we'll preserved. Much
of that in the upper, and some in the
lower room Identical with that used in
l776. Old pictures hanging against
make an interesting study. There are
stately danes of rare beauty in antique
costumes surrounded by their husbands
aud sons in stiff regimentals. Sully
Gilbert, Stuart, Trumbull, the two
Pooles Wallaston and the English man
Pine, have each placed the nation un.
der debt of gratitude for the produc-
tions of their genius; placed here on
these walls. No nation has such a
magnificent foundation for a gallery Of
distinguished portraits as has the Uni.
ted States. Trumbull alone painted
two hundred and fifty of the heroes
and heroines of 1776. Over the dam.
aged door of the "Old Chew House, y
which protected the British on that
misty October morning in TIT, is a
fine portrait of that rare woman, Mrs.
Robert Morris, the wife of the man
who despoiled himself to save his coun.
try in her time of sorest distress. She
appears grand, rather than beauti-
full woman. She has fine large eyes
and chestnut hair with the artists
golden shading. She has on an outer
garment edged with expensive fur
with silk underdress. Her coiffure
is "a study, consisting Of basket-shaped
head-dress from which gracefully mods
ostrich plumes. It is an attractive
picture, but when you have viewed
that head dress from all sides, the oues-
ton, "what made her do it?' will
never be satisfactorily answered. Acti-
cles Of dress in glass case would bear
long description. Those grand Spar
tan danes by no means despised the
auxilcries of dress, which may have
brought suitors to their shrines. There
is regal velvet evening dress of softest
crimson with long sweeping train,
There are also silken skirts and lace
scarf wrought by the hands of Abagail
Adams, and an almost endless variety
of fans. gloves. .tkerchiefs." and nthe,