Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1911-07-03
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH
Birthday Of Our National Independ
ence viii Be Celebrated
Tuesday.

day, July A, the bell in the tower oil
old Independence Hall at Philadelphia
will ring 1876 strokes, indicating that
1875 years have come and gone since
the birth of liberty in this great land
of ours and we became a free people
1t will not be the same bell that
rang out the glorious tidings in 1776
for that old relic has been silent since
the celebration of Washington's birth.
day in 1S43. It had been cracked in
1885 while being tolled in memory OF
Chief Justice John Marshall, but was
frequently used afterward until 1913
Since that time 1t has been mute and
now stands in glass case in Inde-
pendence Hall, where 1t has been
viewed with reverence by countless
thousands from every land.
The ringing of the old bell at the
birth Of liberty furnished the inspira.
ton for "The Independence Bell" a
lyric poem by Clarence Brockden
Brown, which is as follows:
There was tumult in the city,
In the quaint old Quaker town,
And the streets were rife with people
Pacing restless up and down;
People gathering at the corners,
Where they whispered each to each,
And the sweat stood on their temples
With the earnestess of speech.
AS the bleak Atlantic currents
Lash the wild Newfoundland shore,
So they beat against the statehouse,
So they surged against the door;
And the mingling Of their voices,
Made a harmony profound;
Till the quiet street of Chestnut
Was all turbulent with sound
will they do it," Dare they do it?"
who is speaking?' What's the
news?"
What of Adams?" What of Sher-
mani"
"Oh, God grant they won't refuse!"
Make some way there," Let me
nearer!"
81 am stifiing!" "Stifle, them
When nations life's at hazard,
We've no time to think of men!"
So they beat against the portal.
Man and woman. maid and child;
And the July sun in heaven
On the scene looked down and
smiled
The same sun that saw the Spartan
Shed his patriot blood in vain
Now beheld the soul of freedom
All unconquered, rise again.
Far aloft, in that high steeple,
Sat the bellman, old and gray;
He was weary of the tyrant,
And his iron-sceptered sway;
So he sat, with one hand ready.
On the clapper of the bell,
When his eye could catch the signal,
Long-expected news to tell.
See! See! The dense crowd quivers
Through all its lengthy line,
AS the boy beside the portal
Looks forth to give the sign!
With his little hands uplifted,
Breezes dallying with his hair,
Hark! with deep. clear intonation,
Breaks his young voice on the air:
flushed the peoples swelling mumur,
List the boys exultant cry!
Ring" he's shouting; ring, grand
father!
Ring, oh, ring for Liberty"
Quickly, at the given signal
The old bellman lifts his hand,
Forth he sends the good news, making
Iron music through the land.
How they shouted! What rejoicing,
How the old bell shook the air,
Till the clang of freedom ruffled
Ger the gliding Delaware!
How the bonfires and the torches
Lighted up the nights repose,
And from the flames like tabled
Phoenix,
Glorious Liberty arosel
That old statehouse bell is silent,
flushed is now its clamorous tongue;
But the spirit is awakened
Still is living-ever young;
When we greet the smiling sunlight
On the Fourth of each July
We will ne'er forget the bellman
Who, betwixt the earth and sky,
Rang out, loudly, Independence"
Which, please God, shall never die!
NOTICE TO BUILDERS.