The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-11-24
Our Centennial Letter.
PH1LADELpuIA, Nov. l6, 1876.

Our Centennial Letter.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 16, 1876.
l was impressed with the fact that
no one need visit the display upon the
Centennial grounds without deriving
some benefit therefrom. The chief
incident which is likely to impede
realization of this, is the fact that
too large proportion of visitors come
here for the mere purpose of seeing the
great show, and with no real purpose
beyond this.
There were but few, If any, depart
ments of Industry or improvements of
Any grade, that were not represented
so as to furnish valuable hints to those
who were In a position to be benefited
by these observations and comparisons.
This may be said of agriculture and
manufactures, as well as the various
grades or departments of education
The implements and appliances that
were used in the management of a
farm-the machinery employed in the
various mechanical departments-and
the furniture and the aids to the teach
er that are in the management of the
common school, as we'll as in the high
er institutions in many states and
countries, were so brought togather
that they may be readily compared,
and the most useful selections made
from the divers kinds.
LERY.
= Perhaps there is no building now
standing within the United States
that contains as many objects of Curl
Gus and patriotic interest to every
citizen, as the one in which the de-
claratiOn otour National Independence
was signed. During my former visits
to Philadelphia, I had neglected to
obtain a view of this old structure, and
the interesting objects which are stor-
ed in its rooms, To the many who
have visited this place, the description
will give may seem superfluous, but
think it otherwise to those who have
not. Upon entering the south room
the first and most prominent object is
the original Declaration of Indepen-
dence, occupying safe so placed as
to be in plain view from outside the
railing. The safe seems to have been
appropriated to this precious document,
although articles may be stored be-
hind it where most of the safe seems
to be uAoccupied. Within the railing
along the south side of the room is the
table upon which the document was
signed, as well as the chair which was
occupied by members of the Continent
tai Congress when their names were
signed to the Declaration. Upon the
walls in the vicinity are the portraits
of many Of the signers. as well as those
OF other conspicuous actors in those
heavier times. In the north room
is the old Independence bell, the
peals of which announced the consum-
nation of the act. This has been ia
ken down from the cupola, and placed
in this room accompanied by all its
appendages as in olden times. In this
room is a door of Mr.. Chew's house at
Germantown (now included in the
city, which is much battered, and has
many bullet holes in it. This Incl
dent occurred on the 4th of October,
TIT. There is a drum which was
beaten by George Ether, drummer
boy of twelve years, at the time of
this conflict at Germantown. There
are also; a bell used for alarms
while the Continental army was en-
camped at Valley Forge; a can
teen used by soldiers of the revo-
luton; part of a pew from Christ
church. which was occupied by Wash
ington, Franklin, Lafayette and Bish-
OPP White; Charter of Philadelphia,
granted by William Penn in l70l: q
chair occupied by Washington at the
Council of War at Trenton, June 20,
1777; 8 chair that was used by the
first Continental Congress which con-
vened in New York Sep. 9th, IVA,
when Timothy Ruggles was chosen
president; chair that was used by
VIM. Penn, and brewing jar brought
by Mr.. Penn in the Welcome.
In the Art Gallery are some relics
of the last, and earlier centuries.
Among them are several articles which
were used by Washington. Amoug
these are: A sofa used by him while
living in Philadelphia; a camp trunk
used by him in the field 1776; a draw
ing room chair; an account book
methodically kept; the table upon
which he signed the death warrant of
Major Andre; parole of Major Andre
while prisoner at Lascaster, Pa, Feb.
1850; Mia iatures of George and Mar
tina Washington painted from life
during the siege of Boston in I775,
and they are encircled by the hair of
each; small table, two feet high, that
was brought over by Miles Standish
In the May Flower.
What have furnished is but a mea-
ger and very imperfect description of
the interesting old articles that are
to be seen in these places. Although
We cannot point to articles in bur own
museums and repositories, that relate
to as early periods of history as can be
found In like places in the old world,
these are of no less interest to Us on
account of the fact that what what we
here find relate to the incidents of our
earliest history, as Nation. CHS.