Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1914-06-26

M N made their reverent pilgrimage
sWNH thither from distant places as to
AOOA sacred shrine and yet a great many
are unfamiliar with the history of
the most famous edifce in America. They may
not know that it was begun in 1929 and finished
in 1874, and that In those days the plan OF 1t
was considered SO palatially ambitious that its
building was bitterly opposed by those who, like
John Gilpin's wife, were OF a frugal mind. The
cost was $16,25O and the wings that we're added
five years afterward brought the total amount to
S2So00 Doubtless there many who dubious
ly shook their heads at the extravaganza. What
would they have thought Of a city hall occupying
several acres and costing $24.000O007
Although in the Immediately pre-Revolutionary
days the purpose to which Independence hall
was put serious enough, the long gallery
upstairs had often been the scene of "revelry
by night before those times that tried mems
souls. In 1886 the mayor, William Allen, invited
most Of Philadelphia to feast; in 1855 the as
sembly gave Governor Denny most pretentious
banquet and again. in 1857, Lord Loudon, COM
manderin-chief of his majestys forces In Amer
lea, lavishly entertained and the unlimited
grumbled at the outlay
When the first congress met In Philadelphia,
in 1774, there was a "sumptuous collation." In
the State house. attended by 500 persons, and
as they drank their toasts cannon were fired, as
happened in the case Of Hamlet's unamiable
father The hall that the scene OF
these elaborate banquets became the prison OF
the American officers captured in the battle OF
Germantown, and after the bloody field of Brandy
wine 1t was hospital.
1t was in this building that Washington de-
livered his memorable farewell address; Lafay-
cite was the guest of honor here at reception
in 1924 and here the bodies of John Adams and
Abraham Lincoln lay in state.
Thus 1t will be seen that the social and historic
associations of the edifice are innumerabe leav-
ing out of the reckoning what happened there on
the Fourth OF July, ITS
The sgners of the Declaration came near not
having bell to announce their experimenting
resolution 70 the world As soon as the building
was completed, In 1874 1t was planned to buy a
beli commensurate with the dignity of the new
State house Then the advocates of economy
or parsimony in their might and fought
the project tooth and nail, representing that the
great cost of the State house had imposed a
heavy tax upon the citizens and further expendi-
ture was useless" After several years of more
or less acrimonious debate 1t was decided to have
a bell; and It then discovered that there was
not foundry In the colonies capable OF fashion
ing It, the repressive policy OF parliament hav-
ing well-nigh destroyed manufacturing enterprise
In the new world, So the colonists had to send
TO London for a BELL giving specific directions
as to the dimensions--the weight was 1850
pounds
When at last 1t arrived in 1852 # was more
than nine days wonder; the PENNSYLVANIA farm
ers focked to the wharf from far inland to ac-
claim its arrival. 1t proved all that any reason
able mortal could want in the way of tintinnab-
ulum. It's tones were farcarrying and sweet
ly musical, and all true-born Philadelphians Tin
GLIDING those who had opposed the expense)
We're proud of It, Alasi as II was being trans
ported with festal ceremony from the waters
edge to the intended site in the belfry some ner~
vous weakling gave way beneath his corner OF
the ton of metal and the BEN fell to the ground
and was mortally injured. 1t had to be recast
and Isaac Norris. who superinte1ded the opera
"a good bell. which pleases me much that we
Should first venture upon and succeed in the
greatest bell, for aught know, in English Amer
aca-surpassing, too. the imported one. which was
too high and brittle"
The great occasion In the life of the Liberty
Bell was not due to arrive until % years after
ward. It was on the 18th OF May, 1776. that the
general assembly gave instructions to its dele