The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1904-06-22
LspEcIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

pleasurable event of the twin cities
for some time was the visit, last
week, of the famous liberty bell
from Philadelphia. The scheme to
make tour of the large cities with
the bell, on its way to ST. Louis,
was an exceedingly generous one.
on the part of the citizens of Phila-
delphia, and one which was both de-
lightful and profitable to the thous-
ands of people who got a glimpse If
it. The bell is the most sacred
relic of revolutionary times, and
while it is reyered by the citizens
of Philadelphia it is dear to the peo-
pie of the whole nation. Everyone
has read about and everyone natur-
ally wants to see it. In the twin
cities there was surging mob pass
ing through the gates where the
bell was on exhibition from the
time of its arrival until it's depart
ure. The twin city railway COM
pany generously gave all children
who wished to see land there were
few who did not) transportation both
ways. The papers state that p, 900
tickets were issued to the children
in ST. Paul, while many more than
that we're given out in Minneapolis.
The occasion really belonged to
the children and they made the
most of it. For more than two hours
after II o'clock the cars from every
direction were loaded down with
them, and their shrill yells could be
heard blocks away. There were all
kinds of kids-large and small.
black and white, clean and dirty,
native and foreign born. Many of
the boys entered the Milwaukee
railroad yards at Sixth avenue, and
perched on the freight cars, and it
is said the tracks of that road were
lined with people the whole dis
lance between the two cities. The
police had strenuous time with
this surging sea of juvenile human
ity. All that portion of Washing
ton avenue in the vicinity of the
Milwaukee station, and the avenues
leading to it, were packed with
people, and the children moved
about like "wigglers" in barrel of
rainwater. They were under the
ropes and on the ropes; they
climbed the fences, crawled under
the cars, and many of them darted
right between the pollcemen's legs
Still everyone was good natured,
and, everything considered, the
crowd was skillfully handled. It is
said that upwards of 100, 900 people
viewed the bell in the Milwaukee
railroad yard at Minneapolis.
~
But while everyone gave way to
the children, the adult portion of
the people also turned out in great
numbers, and it was easy to see the
feeling of patriotic pride and exul-
tation that lit up their countenances
as they got the first good look at
the old bell which boldly and def
antIy rang out the nations declara-
ton Of political freedom and indie
pendence. 1t was an occasion
where no lines of politics or religion
were drawn. Everysmansor woman,
regardless of age, sex, nationality
or color, was sufficiently imbued
with the true American spirit to
feel the blood Jingle in his or her
veins at the sight of this old bell,
which, though mute and speechless
in tone, and battle-scarred in ap-
pearance, had played so conspicu-
Gus part in the nations history.
Some of the onlookers showed their
emotions by tumultuous yells while
others fairly barred their heads and
gazed in silence.
But the most impressive scene
was when the car containing the
bell was backing into the yard. Its
arrival was about a half hour late,
and every neck in the vast crowd
was craning to get the first
glimpse. When it came in sight
with its futtering flags, and the tall
forms of the policemen who rode on
the car beside the bell, the pent-up
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