The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-08-26
BIG SHIP IN THOSE DAYS.
Quaint Description of Launching of the
 First Pennsylvania.

f1rSt PennSyiVanla.
 The Philadelphia Press reproduces from Youths Friend Sunday School book of thirties. this description of the launching of the first warship bearing the name Pennsylvania"
 On the 18th of July, 1887 not less than hundred thousand persons were col lected at the river Delaware, near Philadelphia, to see ship launched. It was the largest vessel that had ever beeQ built in the United States, and I perhaps there never was more than one So large built in the world. It was f1f- teen years from the time it was begun until it was launched. It measured nearly two hundred and fifty feet in Its greatest length. If twenty-one such ships were to line in line. the length of the whole would be mile. It is i afty-four feet high, and one of the three masts (none of which were in the vessel at the time of launehing,) is two hundred and eighty-three feet high, One of the anchors weighs nearly twelve thousand pounds The ship can carry weight of three thousand tons. When such an enormous vessel as this was to be moved from the land into the water, it is no wonder that every one wished to see the sight.
 The ships name is Pennsylvania, It was built at the edge of the river, under an immense frame house, or rather shed. for it had no rooms in it. When the time for launching came, the end of the shed towards the river was taken away, and great timbers placed unde: and about the vessel to guide it into the river. The Delaware is 8 mile in width at that place, and vessels of all sizes and kinds, and filled with people, covered it to a great distance. Ships and schooners, steamboats and wher- Ties. with their. flags flying, and their decks and lnasts crowded, were arranged in a view of the great ship. The wharfs, houses, and shores as far as the eye could reach, were filled with people many of whom stood for several hours waiting for the launch. At the appointed time two cannons were fired to give notice that the ship would soon be launched. Several men were em- ployed in knocking away the beams that keot it in it's place on shore; and in a few minutes the great ship, with a number of persons on board, glided out of the shed into the river. It was a splendid sight, and the crowds shouted as the Pennsylvania moved like a swan aniong the other vessels, the largest of which appeared like boats in comparf- son. You see a representation of the scene in the picture. The ship has just entered the river. and the people are waving their hats and rejoicing all- around.
 The Pennsylvania is vessel of war; and can carry one hundred and twenty cannons. It is to be hoped she will never be used for this purpose; but that when the nations know how well pre- pared our country is to resist an enemy. they will be disposed to keep at peace. And we should still more earnestly de- sire that the time may soon come when all nations will be peaceful. not because they are afraid of each other, but be- cause they love each other as all man. kind ought to do. ,.
 What wonderful proof of the skill and power that God has given to man is such vessel as the Pennsylvania This great and powerful structure is made of pieces of wood, cut, and smootiled, and fastened together, until 1t becomes the wonder of the world and the terror of all who would provoke its power How exactly every part must be proportioned in order to make it move evenly in the water! How strong to meet the winds and waves of the ocean! How wisely constructed, so that by it's ropes, and masts, and sails, the rudder, a few men can direct it's course wherever they wish to go' Such skill has the Creator given to man. And if such feeble, short lived beings have this power, what must be His wis dom and nights who by his word created innumerable worlds, and keeps them undecayed from age to age.
 |; The ark which Noah built was about the same. height as the Pennsylvania, but perhaps twice as long. There were no reioicings of the people when that vessel was in preparation. They ridi- culed the care of the pious man, and despised him warnings But oh! how would they have crowded into his ark when the waters began to rise above their dwellings,, and they saw that theil destruction was near! | The ark has saved the little family for whose preservation it was built and has long since gone to decay. Very soon this proud ship, and all that looked upon it when it was launched into the stream, will be seen no more This lit- tie book and it's readers will he gone, and forgotten on the earth. But there is shelter, defence, an ark which is everlasting, and which will protect us in eternity as well as time. You know what | mean. You have enemies far more dreadful than any can ever at- tack your country and your homes; and you have defence far more strong and sure than that all the navies of the earth. Your enemy is sim, your only defender and Saviour is Christ; and be- fore you become the irrevocable prisoners of wrath, escape to Him who is ready to deliver you.
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