The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-03-08
My Philadelphia Sketch Book.

I was speaking few evenings ago with
gentleman of the University of Penn
sylvania relative to keeping sketch
book and jottin1g down day by day matters
of interest which came under our obser-
vation; and he agreed with me that it
would be most excellent idea. William
Makepeace Thackeray kept sketch book,
said he, as we'll as Washington Irving and
while we can lay no claim to eminence,
said my friend, still we will find it very
interesting and beneficial to write daily of
our experiences. No city in the United
States is richer in historical data than the
city of Brotherly Love-all around us are
historical places, made famous in history.
There stands Independence Hall where
Patrick Henry Numbered forth words of
liberty and independence. No orator Of
our day, in politics, on the forum, or be-
fore the bar, is qualified to wear the man.
tie of the great orator of the Revolution
His eloquence touched the conscience and
the hearts of the people. Blessings on his
memory for evermoIe.
PATRICK HENRY.
Immortal eloquence thee doth mate
hose voice stliI thunders DER times flow
ing
De tes the tide of human destiny,
W hose mighty genius dared and conquered
fate"
There is Germantown, where Washing
ton and his army of patriots fought the
battle for liberty. Here rest the ashes of
Benjamin Franklin, in Christ Church burr
al grounds on Arch street, where hun
dIeds pass daily, but few give little heed
or thought as to the resting place of one
of America greatest sons Not but that
our people cherish and honor the memory
of Franklin, but in this day of active
business life the present generation give
too little time and thought to the study
of the life of our beloved and matchless
Franklin. 1t is said that he also kept
sketch book in which he would note
down his faults Ii be wasted any
time or money, OF paid anything that
had better not been paid, be would make
note of the fact. What grand idea it
would be for the citizens of Philadelphia
to carry such book in their pockets and
study it frequently as the students of the
great university which he founded study
hard lesson. As l stood by his grave the
other day l did not think of him as being
there No his in
country where the sun shines always
with summer brightness, and where flow
ers never fade.
On Seventh and Market streets once
stood the building where Thomas Jeffer-
son wrote the Declaration of Independ-
ence, and l never pass this spot but
say to myself this is hallowed ground
and may emphatically be called the birth
place of Independence.
Somewhat over seventy years ago these
streets rang with the shouts of multitudes
of people who were welcoming to Phila-
delphia, and to their homes, great patriot
who was dear to their hearts, Marquis De
Lafayette. At the opening of the war
of the Revolution he was one of the
richest of the nobility of France, but
he tore himself from the arms of his
young and beautiful wife and embark
ed in vessel he had bought at his own
expense for the shores of America and
what glory and honor he won in draw
ing his sword for freedom and liberty.
What citizen of this great nation does not
benefactor of the United States and of
man kind. He was nearly seventy years
of age, bent, and with cane in hand when.
after a lapse of nearly fifty years, he
visited our shores again and for the last
time as the nation's guest at the united
voice of more than 10, 900, 900 of people,
now free and happy and independent.
Welcome thou to free doms cline,
Glorious Hero! Chief sublime,
Garlands bright for thee are wreathed,
Vows of tilial ardour breath'd,
Veterans cheeks with tears are wet,
We do love you, Lafayette"
A book which gives description of Lafay-
cites last visit to Philadelphia in 1924
lies before me as write, and l have read
it with deep interest. 1t states that as his
barouche passed through the streets. that
Lafayette! Lafayette! sprang from the
voices of the multitude and rolled on.
and on, and on, like wave after wave
of the ocean. Lafayette beat in every
heart-Lafayette hung on every tongue
- Lafayette glowed in every cheek ~