The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1904-06-08
GLIMPSES OF A BUSY WEEK.
City of BrOtherly Love, and Some of
lis Colonial Scenes and Relies.
BY NANCY c. MORROW.

L
which aroused our curiosity. We had
no idea what it enclosed till we turned
the corner on Arch street and spied,
through the iron grating, an old grave
yard. No little amount of interest was
awakened and we stopped to look at the
ancient tombstones and markers. But
imagine our surprise when our eyes fell
upon large marble slab close to our
feet and there read, Benjamin Franklin
and Deborah Franklin l799" At the
head of this slab we saw two we'll worn
head stones, the smaller of which told
little OF the pathos which entered into the
life of the distinguished servant of state
whose remains lay so near, and on it we
read, "Frances f., son of Benjamin and
Deborah Franklin, deceased Nov. q,
1886, aged years, mo. and day. The
Delight of all who knew him." The last
sentence was too lOrg to be placed hori-
zontally and was curved, but even then
lacked space, so the word "him" was
separated with hyphen, the IN being
placed above. Having made the choice
discovery that we had a glimpse of the
old Christ Church graveyard, where not
only Franklin and his wife Deborah lie
at rest, but also Gen. James Irvine, Pay
ton Randolph and many others noted in
our country's history, we entered the
gateway open for visitors. Near the
main walk we read the alpha and omega
of many lives, but name of special in
terest was Devices, familiar to our Tio-
nesta friends, which we found on num-
ber of headstones. This unexpected visit
bringing with it so much interest and
pleasure, helped balance our disappOint-
ment upon reaching Christ Church, with
its record of two centuries and finding it
locked. Carpenters hall was also locked
but one Of the ancient landmarks which
our fathers have set and which we had
the pleasure OF visiting, was the birth
place of Old Glory. That it is being res
cued as a brand from the burning"
should inspire every true and loyal
American, especially every Pennsylya-
nldHs ~ IcllONo tuoSS dHCicut ldhu-
marks is to forget the price of freedom.
1t is to forget the patriots who won our
Independence through unsurpassed hero
ism. 1t is to forget how they starved and
froze to death, while their Tory neighbors
boarded the necessaries of life and con-
tractors became rich. 1t is to forget not
only
1.-THE old Contnentals.
In their ragged regimentals,"
/ but their noble chieftan who did not for
sake the cause f"American liberty as it
lay helpless and groaning at Valley
Forge" and in whose mind is supposed
to have been conceived the design of
freedoms standard. "Old Glory, the
flag of our Union-the ensign of its pow
er-has been through more battles and
has waved over more victories than any
other flag in the world Flags OF Euro
pean countries. as they now appear, have
all been adopted since the Star Spangled
Banner was created in the old tenant
house on Arch street, in June l777. Every
school child knows its history. They
have all seen Tor should see) the picture
of Mrs. Elizabeth Ross, better known as
Betsey Ross, as she sits in her back par
lor" showing her handiwork to the Con-
gressional committee composed of Gen.
Washington, Robert Morris and George
Ross, her husbands uncle and signer of
the Declaration of Independence. The
house seems dark and dingy, but the old
Dutch tiling around the fire. place as
many as two hundred and twenty years
old, shines as brightly as any Holland
delft of the present day. The andirons,
also, seem to lie quite well preserved,
and it is to be hoped that the near future
will see it and the surrounding blocks
quite restored to their colonial appear
building was used as a saloon, which
accounts for the store-like front window.
The surrounding block is closely built
around it, 1t has been found that ap-
proxmately l37 fires have occurred with
in a radius of two squares from the Old
Flag House, during the past five years.
This intelligence has stimulated the pa
triotic citizens throughout our entire
country to renewed action in helping to
save this sacred landmark in order that
the house may be turned over TO the Fed
eral Government. Twenty-Five thousand
dollars 1925, ,0O0) is necessary to purchase
this historic building, and of this amount
S2l 09l 63 has been raised from the sale of
mem bership certificates. Pennsylvania,
naturally, takes the lead with a member
ship of 2S6 $50, closely followed by New
York with mem ership of 202 440 at 10
cents per member. Forest county has a
fine representation, largely due to the eff
forts of our honored townsman, Capt.
Daniel Stow Knox, whose patriotic grand
father, James Knox, was an aid de camp
Of Washington throughout 'he War for
Independence, and whose granduncle,
Gen. Henry Knox, was member Of
Washington's first cabinet. The patriot,
to whom all honor is given for having es-
tabliShed the American Flag House and
Betsy Ross Memorial Association, is the
Hon. John Quincy Adams, of New York,
the faithful secretary of the association.
Mr.. Adams is a member of tie illustri-
Gus Adams family of American history,
and is granddaughter OF the venerable
John Quincy Adams. He is lineal des-
cendant of Hannah Dustin, in whose mem
ory the first monument in America was
erected in 1863. He is also descendent
of John and Priscilla Alden. Is one of
al, Of Epnnlarg nd ID. tr;n Of