The Penn's Grove record., 1895-07-26
PLACES OF INTEREST IN PntL-
ADELPHIA.

haps for years we have been going out
in the woods on picnics, or down the
river to The various places there, or
perhaps we have entertained ourselves
all summer by merely strolling down
around the groves.
Suppose VIC make a change this sum.
mer, or at any time in fact, and take
our excursions 10 Philadelphia. 1t
sounds rather odd to be extolling the
virtues of the city as a summer resort
but in reality we can spend a far more
enjoyable time in Philadelphia than in
many other places, especially prepared
for us. We can spend a full week in
tue city, or just one day, or even a few
hours which we can spare from tle
days business trip and see more OF in-
terest than We could see in a months
time at many other places. You need
only go Il short distance from either
cars or boat before you come TO a place
which has n National interest. 1t is
the old house at 230 Arch Street, where
the first flag with the Stars and Stripes
was made. 1t is a two and a half story
frame building which looks quite lost
wedged in between two tall warehouses,
one on either side. At present it is &C.
cupied as a cigar store. During the
past year Philadelphia Councils had a
bill before them to buy the property
and preserve it as a historical land
mark, backed though it was by a mum
Der of patriotic orders, they failed to
pass it, presumably because there were
no visible prospects of a grab for any
body, On Flag Day, the 14th of June,
this house which is known as the
"Betsy Ross house was honored by
many distinguished visitors who were
a~pyioust to see the birthplace of the
stars and Stripes, which were adopted
by the Continental Congress on June
II, 1777. Although the building is a
private one, a visitor is always welcom-
ed and shown the room where Betsy
Ross initiated General Washington in
| to the mysteries of making a star with
| one clip of her scissors, by Mrs. Mund
who resides there.
Walking up Arch Street on the south
side just below the cOrn Of fifth we
| come to an opening in the brick wall of
old Christ Church buryiDg ground
This opening was made expressly THAI
those who wished might see the laS5
resting place Of Benjamin Franklin,
Here you will notice the utter indIfier-
ence with which Philadelphians treat
the graves of Franklin and his wife
Deborah. They are always i'll a hurry
or are so absorbed i'll other Thoughts
j that they do not even so much as turn
their heads to see the stone which,
marks the graves OF those to whom we
owe 50 much. They leave strangers
from the rural districts to stop and
look, plainly demonstrating the old say
ing Familiarity breeds Contempt"
Then let us go to- Independence Hall,
which is on Chestnut Street between'
Fifth and Sixth, and here let us make,
up our minds that when we want tOI
know anything we will ask. That is al
way city people have of distinguishing
those from the country, but, don't lei
them laugh. There are to-day thou
sands who have lived all their lives in
Philadelphia who cannot tell you where
Independence Hall is and hundreds Of
thousands who have never been in it,
although it is free to all. These figures
seem like exaggerations, but they art
positive facts, so let them laugh.
On entering the building you will set
a hall on either hand. Let us enter thu
one on the left. The first thing which
meets our gaze is the old Liberty Bell
Formerly it hung oyer head from which
place it rang out Liberty on July S
1776. In 1898 it was taken from it
somewhat insecure position and mount
ed on a specially designed platform OF
wheels, and taken on a special car t,
Chicago to the Columbian Exposition
1t was then after, a roundabout tour
brought back to its home and placed il
the center of the east wing of the build
ing. 1t is enclosed in a plate glass cas-
which preserves it from both the raw
ages of time and yandals who other
wise would dlsligure it.
All around the walls we see the OF
portraits of the members of the Contin
entail Congress. Arranged in a semi
circle we see the chairs and desk use'
by f~orefathers who voted us on
Liberty. At a desk on the right W