The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-06-09
Saltwater, Minn, Thursday, June 9, 1892
Five Gents.

column. He wrote so boldly and distinctly
that the name of John Hancock was as
easily seen as an electric light on dark
night. Every school boy is familiar with
HancOck's handwriting. and as one OF the
signers of the Declaration of Independence.
the name OF Hancock is familiar to great
many people who probably could not give
the name of any other of the patriots who
signed with him. Hence the sculptor or
designer of the statue was led to declare
that ''he wrote his name where all
time shall not efface it,"
However true this may be as sentiment.
the fact is that HancOck's name is now al
most entirely erased from the Declaration
of Independence. 1t can be seen by the aid
of strong glass, but is so illegble that
stranger to the document or the style of the
hand writing would have difficulty in read
ing the name correctly. Other names at
tached to the document have faded out en-
tirely. and can no more be read than if they
had never been written. OF the sixty or
more names which were written not more
than ten can now be read, and they have
faded to pale. sickly color. AS to the
others, there are faint traces of writing, but
nothing in the form of signature can be
distinguished sufficiently to enable any one
to read them. Some are only partially OBJ
liberated. and, by supplying missing char
acters, any one familiar with the document
can make out the name which should be
there but no longer is, except in a very
ndistnct way.
Considering the priceless character of the
Declaration of Independence as historical
beginning proper care should not have been
taken to preserve it from the ravageS of
time. and, at least. from misuse. During
recent years it has been jealOuslv guarded
in the library of the department of state,
and precautions taken to prevent any
further injury. 1t is now between two
large plates of French glass, inclOsed in
hardwood case. all of which is hermetically
sealed so as to keep out air and dust. No
atmosphere or other influence can now
reach the precious document, which, in
showing "a decent respect for the opinions
Of mankind. proclaimed the reasons for the
separation" The handsome wooden case
in which the declaration is kept is in an
upright position, fastened to a latticed par
titiOn. with two doors in front, opening
outward. The doors open only far enough
to view the document and exclude the light,
except such as is admitted by reflection.
This is done out of abundance OF caution.
for it is doubtful if sunlight could affect it
in its present condition, yet the present
cuStOdians are determined to spare no pains
to prevent further damage.
The general belief of visitors to the Ii
brary is that the fading of the document is
probably due to poor quality of ink used,
and that such writing would naturally fade
in the course of time. This is only partially
true. There have been preserved specimens
of Colonial penmanship antedating the
Declaration of Independence by many
years. which are still clear and distinctly
legible, and will continue legble for an
other generation. The present condition of
the declaration is due to misuse. Prior to
1877 it was kept at the interior department,
and was guarded with less care than the
caveat in the patent for flour sitter. No
special effort was made to keep it from in
jury such as is now being done, and in 1876
1t was loaned to the Philadelphia Centen-
nial Exposition and exhibited in Independ-
ence Hall. During the centennial year an
attempt was made to take letter press
copy of it, which was successful in extract
ing much of the color from the writing, and
in some places the writing shortly after
ward disappeared altogether. 1t is hardly
conceivable that so dangerous an eXpedient
would have been attempted merely to graf
ify the people who desired facsimles. 1t
could damage the original and give no
promise that the copies could be satisfactory.
1t is unlikely that the Declaration of indie.
pendence will ever again be placed on ex-
hibition in connection with any event, no
matter how important. By an executive
| order it is to remain in the state depart.
ment and will not be loaned for any pur-
pose, no matter how worthy. The custo.
dian believes that there will be no further
fading of the document as long as it re-
mains undisturbed; but to him and to every
visitor it is a matter of regret that the
attempt to make letter press copy should
have been permitted. 1t looks worse than
some of the manuscripts in the British
Museum which are three times as Old
| New York Tribune.