The Newtown bee., 1897-03-12

RECALLEDs
 Dear Editor: All New Englanders in common with their fellow citizens of our fair country, have persuasion that they ought to visit our National Capitol and the historic city of Philadelphia. When the heat of summer compels us to begin our annual wandering, we naturally shun these cities because of the intensity of the suns rays, and so some of us are so unfortunate as to visit the capitols of oth- CT lands before having seen our own. Convinced that this is a most unpatriotic procedure We laid aside the calls of thrift and business and set forth for flying visit to the Meccas of our country. All trips are animated by a great first cause. Buried in our hearts was the desire to visit a friend who is the superintendent of the deaconness home in Philadelphia.
 We left home on a stiff, cold day. The thermometer was climbing up from zero to accommodate a needle-like snow storm that was determined upon coming. The snow followed us from our New England country home, lying white over the state of New Jersey. When we reached Tren- ton, we gazed out over the ice-bound Del- aware river, hoping to catch glimpse of the spot where, in like weather, Wash ington urged his troops across in the sheltering silence of the night. Arrived in Philadelphia the snow was still falling but not making, for it melted as it touch- ed the sidewalks, touched by mellower grudgingly the dollars we had paid to the shovel brigade for the removal of snow.
 We made our way to the home on Vine steeet. Here are two old brick mansions, built after the style of 100 years ago, which have been presented for this pur- pose. Plain and flat on the exterior, re- lieved only by the white panel blinds and dormer windows on the top, forming fourth story, when the door opens an at mosphere of unexpected stateliness surss rounds one. There is an inviting recep- tion parlor; back of this are two parlors furnished with piano, organ, blackboard and books where morning prayers are held and recitations of probationers con- ducted. Further on is cheerful sitting room, opening Into a spacious dining room with an old-time paneled sideboard built into the house. A conspicuous ele- ment of the home and one that plays no small part in it's success is the fact that the cooking Is perfect, the food excellent and wholesome and, the serving of the meals most attractive. The rooms of the deaconesses are wide and airy and charm ingly furnished according to the individ- ual taste. Eight deaconesses are in this home. In the truest sense are they the sisters of the poor, visiting them in their squalor and misfortunes, nursing the sick, finding work for the needy, lifting up the ou.cast and inspiring hope in the discouraged. Like Peter and John they have but little silver and gold to give, but in the name of Him they serve they find the right thing for every human need. They seem to live a charmed life. The little bonnet with the soft, white strings, and the gossamer collar and cuff only distinguish them, but these constitute their visible halo of sainthood, and at any hour of the day or night, in any To- cality, they are inviolate. An artist of the Ladies' Home Journal visited the home one day and accompanied one of the sweet sisters on her round. She made drawing of her as she sat beside sick bed. The cover of a recent Journal is nc fancy sketch.
 l know MT Editor, you want me to tel you of something beside my womer friends. Our first pilgrimage was to the
 vENERATED INDEPENDENCE HALL.
 We stepped reverently into the East room
 which was occupied by the second Con tinental Congress, by whose act the Dec
 laration of Independence became real ity. Here are the tables and chairs uset at the time of the signing of the great in
 is shown. The original is probably bur jed in steel safe in the State building a
 Washington. Portraits of the signers
 with other of the great men of the day hang on the walls. They are bright i
 color, lifelike in expression and delight fully satisfying to those who look loy
 ingly at our nations illustrious founders
 The Liberty bell is preserved in glas
 case. This bell was cast in London i
 1752, When it arrived it was found to D cracked, and was recast in the city l
 April, 1752. The work was unsatisfas
 tory and 1t again went into the meltin pot. It reached it's destinatisn in th
 steeple In June, I753. On the 4th of Jul, : sI1776, it voiced forth it's inscription, ''Prs
 claim Liberty throughout the Land. : When the British approached Philade
 phia in TIT, the bell was taken to Betl
 lehem for safe keeping. After ringin