The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-01-16


tory-fiistoricaI Episode of the Rev.
oIution-Some Things in Connec-
tion With it That May Not Be Fa-
miIiar to Many of Our Readers.
From little four page folder ac-
companying the photograph of the
painting entitled "The First Journey
of the Liberty Bell" sent out with the
compliments Of Messrs. Wanamaker &
BaowD, of Philadelphia, we publish
the following, which will be read with
interest just at this time:
In these days of the journeyings Of
the "Liberty Bell" when it rests in its
place of honor among the worlds
sights, almost venerated by the multi
tudes, it comes fittingly to rehearse a
romance of its earlier time.
The Liberty Bell, originally cast in
London on the order of the Colonial
Assembly, arrived in Philadelphia,
and the very first stroke of the clapper
cracked it, greatly to the modification
Of those who had brought it over; they
were about to send it back, when two
ingenious workmen of Philadelphia
named Pease and Stowe, offered to re-
cast it, and did SO successfully; but
when they came to sound it, it was
found 10 contain too much copper and
they again re-cast it, and that is the
Bell as 1t is today.
By direction of the Assembly there
had been cast On the shoulder of the
Bell, the prophetic inscription, "Pro-
claim Liberty through all the Land, to
all the inhabitants thereof" Lev: XIV,
10. When completed it was swung in
the open belfry sometime in 1853:
there, for 25 years prior to the
breaking out of the Revolutionary
War, it rang curfew and call and greet
ing 10 Colonial Philadelphia; there
upon the 4th of July, 1916, of hallowed
remembrance, upon the stiffness of the
summer air, and the attentive ears of
a waiting, solemn people, its pealing
tones sped first and far and wide the
announcement that the Declaration of
Independence was an accomplished
matter, and that as sfree and indepen-
dent states they are absolved from all
allegiance to the British crown" En-
shrlned in the affections Of the people
by lis prophetic motto and earliest
message of liberty, its safety became
the solicitude and its keeping the treas
ure-trove of the people. For as the
war swelled, southwark from Lexing-
| ton to White Plains, and from White
Plains towards Princeton, and the pa
trlots get tldings Of the advancing
British columns, they hasted to put their
loved Liberty Bell in safer quarters.
Under the direction Of Congress, after
the battle of Brandywine, while the
British were approaching the city it
was lowered from its stapchions, placed
on wagon and hurried away among
endless baggage trains of patriot peo-
/ pie, fleeing under the September skies
before the invaders of their homes.
Out the Old York Road Cor pike to
Trenton they pushed on and thence
under the escort of Virginian and
North Caroinian troops, both horse
and foot, over the hills and through
the almost wilderness roads they bore
it to the peaceful Moravian Village of
Bethlehem=even then overlooking
with our sick and wounded soldiers
On its way through the City of Bethle-
hem, the truck on which it was convey
ed, broke with it; it had to be picked
up and carried on; it sustained slight
injury there. 1t is this scene Of the
cavalcade, picturesque with its colors
of the sere year, and its tales of exile,
that is depicted in the paintings the
stirring incident in the history of the
Liberty Iiell that illustrates that the
love of our people for it is no new
thing. T Bell was afterwards taken
to Allentown AID hid in cellar until
after General Washington's victory at
the battle of Monmouth, in August,
1873, when it was brought back to
Philadelphia and replaced in its posi-,
ton. 1t announced proclamation ol
the war of 4S42; it announced the
proclamation of peace in 1915; it rang
for the reception of Lafayette in 1874
1t was rung, for the last time and was
cracked tollins for the death Of Chic
Justice John Marshall on July s, 1885
1t were needless story to relate ir
these days how the Bell was brought
back to its old eyrie with pagean,
and joy, with breeze flying flags OF red
white and blue and huzzas and a5che.
of flowers and pa3adS. and how The
people Kept festival upon its return
Sixth and Chestnut swayed and swun.
with its multitudes of patriot men anc
women, girls and boys, the roofs and
windows added to the joyous throng
fearful in their gayety, as they wei
coined back the Liberty Bell, guerdor
OF their Commonwealth, and looked
on the soldiers, who were to fight an(
win, through Punishment and tatters
from open enemies and traitors, tn
land of their birth and toll and estab
llSh ii among the rationS-uA herita O