Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-30
TREND OF THE TIMES.

Our bell is coming-a nations keep sake. Other nationalities say of us that
 we have no old ruins and but few relics, not even as accurate history as our people deserve; no national air that can send the patriotic thrill through all Americans alike. But we have a liberty bell, all our own, in which we all have an equal interest and pride. Yes, t is aged, with crack extending tWo-thiris of it's depth, but we love and reverence 1t that much the more It. will be es- cortsd through the states with great
 pomp, as well as veneration, and will have a big ovation at its destination. 'Proclaim liberty through all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof a sig nif1cant inscription for the old time her
 alder of independence Everybody who has read of this dear old bell knows the connecting links. An aged, gray-haired and almost deaf, illiterate patriot, stood at his post, ready to ring, but could ba heard to say: They won't do itl No they wontr' Yet there was a deep hope down in his heart that said: Maybe they
 will. I will remain at my post as long sembly of farseeing and deep-minded
 men busy in discussing the affairs of
 state, which were in quite sad plight.
 The Quaker City was in turmoil of cu- riosity, expectation, hope and fear. The
 wiseSt men of thenew world were gath cred to do a daring thing, to sign the dec laration of independence. To fail to sign
 it meant worse than slavery, to sign 1t meant bloodshed devastation and death,
 but liberty was visible just above the
 horizon, which made them dare to do anything that would liberate the people from tyrannieal rule and give us coun-
 try into our own keeping. A little boy
 stood ready to convey the news to the
 bell ringer. He shouted, ''Ring Ring!' and a new nation gas proclaimed. Mid
 dle aged men composed the council, a boy carried their message and an old man rang out the glad tidings to an eXpectant
 world.
 Why, really, the exposition would not
 have been complete without it.
 The Constitution and Atlanta wanted the revolutionary relic, and whatever the Constitution and Atlanta want, why the Constitution and Atlanta get, and if they shouldn't they would say sour grapes"
 We all know the bell and have seen the big crack in our school histories, and we know its voice will not be clear and crisp as when it was young, but sight of it, even should we fail to hear it's voice, is good for us. It comes from the old national capital, comes from the city ot brotherly love, comes on mission of
 love, comes to make us all feel akin. It was fIldue III liliddelplleI diiQ WCi6 iAo 2CS0. The inscription, which runs around
 the top, is a quotation from Levltcus, and none could have been more appro- priate. Proclaim liberty" The mis- sion and inscription have always worked in harmony. There has never been
 discord, notwithstanding 1t is cracked. This opening came while 1t was being rung on Independence Day more than fifty years after its first sending forth
 on that occasion, after which it hung in silent grandeur for almost ages. Now and then it is taken down for an outing. Twice it has crossed the Mason and
 Dixon line. Philadelphia is proud of it and guards it jealously, yet at nations call they let it go.
 Clubs, clubs, clubs A new feature in the club era is a cat club-everybody interested could talk. All the prominent cat families had a top seat; their char acteriStics wsre all brought to light. Yes, even the tabbies are getting rest
 less; contagious, I reckon
 What privileges we enjoy. The Chau-
 tauquas are opening everywhere. They
 are living pages of literature. Georgia's Chautauqua is in full bloom, and in a few
 days Alabama's will open. It gives promise of being very brilliant and in- teresting meeting. At these meetings We see people from the different vacations of life, but all reaching out for the same ob-
 jects-mental food and self improve ment These meetings come at season when business is dull the merchant the
 teacher and the farmer may all give
 themselves physical rest and quiet and turn to the intellectual for while. Our Chauta is young in age, but is doing much good in the land. They are saving
 banks to the mind and body, too. Having them before us, we plan our work to
 meet them Should they not exist hun
 dreds whom they benefit would work end worry on in a. monctonous and hum drum style, deaf to the old adage that
 all work and no play makes Jack dull
 boy. Yes, the Chautauqua atmosphere is refining elevating, instructive with a Christian hold encirclng 1t. May the organization never disband, but continue in number and influence each year, Tor
 they are truly blessing of the age. We are all truly glad that the in dustrial school site has been located We are proud of it: everybody in Alabama must know what it means to our girls Though there may be several severely disapp ointed places, all wishes this great institute to be near home, but it's loea- tion seems reasonably convenient
 STELLA STONE. What Free Silver Has Done.
 James S. Stanton, South American I rTla assa