The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-02-20
For the Agis and Lntelligencer.
The Old Liberty Bell at New Orleans.

MIR. EDITOR: Having returned to Balti-
more from New Orleans l will tell of the ar
rival of the Old Liberty Bell, in which every
American is interested. As your readers all
know, it was loaned by the Philadelphians to
the President and Director General for ex-
hbit at the Exposition, so that those in the
far South and West might have chance of
gazing on it. 1t left Philadelphia on the
morning of the 23d of January, having been
escorted from Independence Hall 10 the
Pennsylvania Station by 500 policemen. All
along the route it was received by the people
amid much enthusiasm 1t reached New Or
leans on January Goth, and was run into the
Main building about p. NJ, amid shouting
and hurrahing, the ringing of bells and the
firing of cannon. 1t was mounted upon an
open car built and loaded by the Pennsylva.
mia Railroad, and guarded by three stalwart
policemen, each over six feet in height, the
tallest being six feet four inches in his stock
ings. The bell was adorned by a handsome
wreath, and bouquet received at one of the
cities on the route. 1t was not officially re-
ceived on that evening, owing to the lateness
of the hour, but on the Wednesday follow.
ing, in the afternoon, in Music Hall, in the
presence of many thousands, it was formally
delivered to Mayor Burke, and the car hold
ing the bell was placed in front of Music
Hall, there to remain until the close of the
Exposition.
Through the kindness of Sergeant Edward
Malin, was allowed to mount the car and
make careful survey of the bell, and to learn
of the incidents of the trip down. The pub
lie are only allowed to stand on the ground
floor and look at it. The bell stands four
feet high, is nearly five feet broad at the
mouth and weighs 1850 lbs. 1t was order
ed in England in 1862 but when it came and
was swung up it cracked by stroke of the
hammer. Pass 81 Stow, two young men of
Philadelphia, offered to try and recast it.
After the second attempt they succeeded, and
it was hung in the State house in 1853. The
inscription reads: proclaim Liberty
throughout all the Land unto all the inhabi-
tanls thereof,-Lev. XIV: X" Underneath
this is "By OF the Assembly of the Province
of Pennsylvania for the State House in Phil
adelphia." Both lines encircle the bell. I'm
der this again is Pass s. Stow, Philadelphia,
MDCCLIII."
A strange coincidence in the history of the
bell is recorded in the pamphlet giving de
scription it, 1t rung out the Declaration
of Independence, the article being written
by Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, and ceased
its voice while tolling during the funeral
march of John Marshall also of Virginia. 1t
will return to Philadelphia on July 4th, and
you can imagine the demonstrations on that
occasion. The bell was again adorned on
the following Saturday by two young ladies
from California.
The Carroll Decorative Glass Company's
exhibit is becoming noted as displaying two
hand paintings executed for the company by
a lady who is related to Mr.. Pass, of the firm
that cast the Old Liberty Bell They display
sign which tells the multitudes of this fact.
W. III. r.