The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-07-28

writer Of this article the best part OF
two days to make his way on foot from
Sloke-Poges TO Jordans Meeting
House. a distance Of six or seven
miles. Rustics. when asked If
they knew where William Penn was
buried stood by the roadside and
drawled out the reply, Penn, Penn
who is Penn 2" But what WONDER IL
should be remembered that he did
nothing for England, his claim to the
memory Of men resting almost exclu-
siyely upon the fact that he founded a
colony on TIE banks Of the Delaware.
There is every reason. therefore, why
his manifest wishes should have been
regarded, and his ashes brought back
To the city OF his founding and the com
monwealth which bears his name,
among whose five millions Of people he
is received as father by his children.
and looked up to as second in fame to
no one in the history Of the country
except Washington.
But. it may be- asked, why do not
the Society of Friends in England keep
his memory green ~ They probably
do: but there are now very few Of
them. a smaller number in all England
than in the city Of Philadelphia alone.
and none at all in the neighborhood OF
Jordan's Meeting House, the last per-
son there. Mr.. Littleboy. who was
Mr.. Harrison's chief opponent IN the
attempt TO remove the remains 10 Phil
adelphia. having died last winter. The
Baptist woman who has had free rent
Of the Meeting House for years for
looking after the building and the
grounds. also passed away a short time
ago. Once year. however, the Quak-
ers i'm that part of England assemble at
this spot and hold meeting. There
are not many of them; not as many rs
once lived i'm the immediate VIZ
cinity. it is related that I'm
Penus time it was necessary TO
20 early ON Sunday in order TO &c.
"A seat in the House. The disappear
auce of the sect from the noighborhood
is partly accounted for by the fact that
SD many Of them followed Penn TO
Philadelphia Their descendants are
now living IN brick houses, with white
shutters. ON Locust and Walnut and
Pine streets. in the city Of Brotherly
Love. The country roads and fields
and forests which they left behind
we're the world" while the site OF
what is now the busy city Of a million
inhabitants was then the WILDERNESS.
Such are some Of the changes, inver-
sions. and substiiutions FOR which we
are indebted 70 the "whirly.gig Of
time.
The writer of this sketch has paid
three visits TO Penn grave since his
attention was first called TO the matter
by Mr.. Harrison about five years ago
and he was pleased 20 observe at his last
visit in August. 1883, that the former
appearance of diIapidation bad drap-
peared and lhat the grounds were clean
and well cared for. Nothing remains
o. be- desired in this respect Penn .
grave is marked by plain but -ubstan
tIal stone. and it is sincerely 10 be hoped
thatrceentplausfor decorating It with a
monumental LAB viii not becarued into
execution. The grounds are limited ln
extent. and are enclosed by a grove
of giant trees. which completely sur
round tho enclosure, and gives 1t the
.i..-t. t.. 3d.. -.. D.,
They are the most appropriate sen1inel'
that could have been provided. They
cast their mournful shadows on the
grave of this Quaker saint. and. having
drawn their life from his ashes. they
are the best uonumt hl ID MS lhcih"iy o.
Moreover. the spot itself Is freak
of nature and admirably suited 70
and suggestive ot its uses. II Is guich
or chasm filled with trees, upon which
one comes suddenly through some of
the most delightful lanes and hedges in
all England Here the early followers
of George Fox assembled by stealth for
purpose of worship, and the secluded
situation accounts for tho fact, that
while Quaker meetings were broken up
by the officers 90 the law IN other
places. they were never disturbed at
Jordan s. except ou q single occasion.