The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-15

!, Jn niyy 4. TIC, the old wate,sf,,an stood
nolullig Tho rope which controlled 1t,
=. Ms'll''t.ihg brcathessly the verdict that
WIS being reached III the Assembly Hall
T - 7 ~, e,N the most inomchtous event III the
history. STORY Of tho world. The leading men
= ~ 4 ne thirteen colonies had bean IN de-
.'''9l Tor days, and the result WAS the
- !. oNaiithccttiNn OF that great writing, the
". duration OF Independence. AZ the IN
.repln delegates concluded their debate
anu q. each rose and nnlxod his signature
X. ~ :. ne FAMOUS document tho fact that
INC Declaration was being signed was
coFF1fveyed to the masses Of patriots who
were congregnted around tho building.
tremendous roar went Zip from the thou
sands OF lusty Threats and piercing TIE
Yo li was tho shri treble or the
'W'atltchlnan's grandson crying, King!
Grhndpa Ring
he old man threw his weight upon the
rope ana the great bell swung upon It's
YOKE YOKE. Z Forth from Its brazcn mouth rang
out on, tho glad tldlngs. and It truly mace
~, .ne prophecy good, proclaim Liberty
Throughont All tho Land to All the In
habtants Thereof"
T'ocl, years afterwards did the old bell
sound nlarms. toll tncls and chime forth
JOYOUS pcals. In 1886 who tolling Tor
the death of Chief Justice John Marshall,
1T cracked Efforts were made to restore
It's tone. Tho irregular crack was rcamed
OUT. but Its silver tongue was still only
hoarse. weird sound being emitted.
nice then 1t has remained spccchlcssaooil
Since then It has remained voicolcss, but
venerated and MS cbch succeeding year
rolls by tho reverence for the Herald or
Liberty deepens In the hearts OF all true
Americans.
IN INDEPENDENCE HALL
Very properly the old bell Is housed IN
Its original home, the state House. as 1t
was known. but now the cherished rnde-
pendence Hall. Removed from the bel
fry, 1t rests in n rich glass case IN the
very room IN which the Declaration was
signed. Tt Is guarded day and night, and
tho case In which It rests, Is mounted
upon wheels so that II fire occurs It can
be quickly rolled from the building.
Independence Hall has been tho Mecca
of not only Americans, but also Of liberty
loving people from all parts Of tho globe
for many years. This building, the most
priceless structure in America, has been
fully STORED to Its original condition.
Foriyears It was used by the philadelphia
municipal government but 1t IS now
museum, wherin are displayed relics of
the age 1t represents 1t Is fine exam
pie Of what is known as Colonial III ar
achitect,lre, and its surroundings nro In
harmonious keeping No building III
America is so rich In Revolutionary mem
cries. The Continental Congress met
there and appointed George Washington
commanderin-chief Of the American
army Many momentons questions af-
3fecting the young nation were there de-
bated by the earnest mon who were
guiding 1t along the path TO freedom and
power. History was made there. and
to-day as visitors enter the sacred por-
tails, there Is q dofflng of hats and
subdued mien In involuntary reverence
to the grand old place.
In the old assembly hall Is the table
upon which the Declaration lay to be
signed Around the room are the chairs
used by the men who became immortal
through their courage In at1lxing their
names to such paper. Across the hall,
In tho other assembly room, are cases
containing clothing and personal effects
Of washington, Lafayette Franklin, John
Hancock, and others whose assocla ton
with the events Of that period made them
famous. Surely 1t brings to one the at
mosphere of the real Washington, to gaze
upon his clothes, his camp enulpage, his
little personal articles! There are relics
of all the great leaders, swords. furniture.
clothing. decora lions, etc, making the
very atmosphere breathe in realism Of
tho Times That Tried Mems Souls"