, 1877-08-17
INDEPENDENCE HALL,

and recalling the old scenes, Interest
centers on the building and is con.
tents, and We give the following de-
scription from the pen OF recent
visitor: The east ball has good!y
number OF historic relics. most worthy
of note among which is the famous
old Liberty bell, which rang out mel.
odies for the sons and daughters Of
the new land a hundred years ago,
but now shows the fingers Of time IN
a hugh assure. Here is the old front
door belonging to the Chew Mansion
which was battered and spLintered
at the seize Of Germantown, Dres'
ses of" We olden time" are abundant.
showing that loving descendants Of
the men and women Of those days
have guarded them carefully. A
piece Of OF "Lady Washington's"
dresses is lowered cambric-quite
like the gay chintz so much in vogue
for lunge covering. now. Here are
portraits Of all the signers Of the
Declaration, officers of the Centlnen-
tai army and members Of the first
Congress. The Georges are there too.
Is it prejudice, or do their faces look
ont from the canvas crafty, sensual
and selfish? Jars and chairs and ta-
bles used by Gen. Washington, have
a charm about them from the thought
that they have been part and parcel
Of his plain bousehold-a thought
redeems their excessive nominees.
The original Declaration of indie.
pendence with a paper brown with
age, ink faded and dim, has mys-
terious awe about its immortal word
ing. Close by is the veritable ink
stand into which those grand men
dipped their quills one after the
other, as they traced those names
which the tongue of history shall ever
he proud to repeat. The inkstand is
heavy and cumbrous, is made of solid
silver, and bears the makers name
Philip Syng, 1852. The first draft
of the Constitution hangs in frame,
a conspicuous object Of attention.
There are several portraits Of
Washington, taken at different ages.
William Penn is here, in company
with his second wife--a wholesome,
plain, sensible sort Of lady. The
face Of Francis Key, the author of
the Star Spangled Banner, is spark
ling and refined. Marquis de Laf-
ayette, the noble Frenchman, is gen
tie, courteous and soldierly. In this
hall in a case, are numerous articles
Of the tiolet-dresses, stomachers,
towels, stockings, bigh-heeled slip
pers, laces, over. dresses, ribbous, etc,
all of great antiquity; also table ar
ticles, such as spoons, knives and
forks, sugar bowls, glasses and similar
things:
Here is the celebrated painting by
Benjamin West, depicting Penn's
treaty with the Indians. The sub
ject is true to life. In the shade of
the lofty woods, the Indians and
whites have gathered to listen to their
"pale brother" as he stands there
earnestly setting forth the conditions
of the treaty. The old chiefs are
grayely listening, while their eyes
are turned calmly upon him as he
stands there, surrounded by his
friends. The women of the tribe
have drawn near to hear the "big
talk" while the half-naked boys and
girls, with their symmetrical limbs,
are amusing themselves near. The
figures are clear, bold and natural.
Here, too, are many original letters
of Benjamin Franklin, written in the
toublous days of our country, when
his heart was full of forebodings lest
her leaders went notright. How his
great soul would be troubled could
he have a chance to observe them
now! With a look at the many
treasures this room contains, | cross
the hall to room filled with old por-
traits of the prominent men of those
days; look at some old, stiff and un.
inviting chairs and settees, and as.
cend to the two halls aboveyl In which
the present city council hold their
sessions. Both these rooms are fitted
up in modern style, with rows Of
desks and few easy chairs. 1t was
formerly one room known as the
banqueting hall, where on all state
occasions, the festivals were held.
Here Washington delivered his fare
well address in the Continental Con
gress, whose deliberations took place
in this hall. There is a splendid
painting representing him in the act
of making his last speech. which
hangs over the very spot where he