The Red Cloud chief., 1914-06-25

arc unfamiliar Win tn0 history OF
the most famous edihce In America. They may
not know that Il was begun in 1929 and finished
In 1874. and that In those days the plan Of II
was considered 20 palatially ambitious that its
building was bitterly opposed BY those who like
John 0ilpins wife. were Of frugal mind Tho
cost was $16,2b0, and the wings that were added
dve years afterward brought the total amount TO
$4,000. Doubtless there we're many who dubious
" shook their heads at the extravagance. What
would they have thought Of city hall occupying
several acres and costing >34.000.00
Although in the Immediately prsRevolutionary
days the purpose TO which Independence hall
IVES put was serious enough. the long gallery
upstairs had often been the scene Of 'revelry
BY night" before those times that tried mems
souls. In 1885 the mayor. William Allen. invited
most Of Philadelphia to q feast: In 17b6 tho ~
sembly gave Governor Denny . most pretentious
banquet; and again. in 1857, Lord Loudon. COM
manderinchief Of his ma1esty's forces in Amer.
ica, was lavishly entertained. and the unlimited
grumbled at the outlay.
When the nrst congress met In Philadelphia.
In l774, there was 'sumptuous collation." In
tho State house, attended by 500 persons. and
- they drank their toasts cannon were fred. as
happened in the case Of Hamlet's unamiable
father The same hall that was the scene of
these elaborate banquets became the prison Of
the American ofhcers captured in the battle Of
Germantown. and after the bloody field Of Brandy
wine Il was . hospital
II was in this building that Washington de-
liyered his memorable farewell address,: Lafay.
ette was the guest Of honor here at reception
IN 1924; and here the bodies of John Adams and
Abraham Lincoln lay in state.
Thus IL will be seen that the social and historic
associations of the edince are innumerable. leav.
ing out Of the reckoning what happened, there on
the Fourth Of July, 1776
The signers Of the Declaration came near not
having Q bell to announce their epochmakins
resolution to the world. Az soon a. the building
al n NJ IN hrv n
bell commensurate with the dignity Of tho new
State house. Then the advocates OF economy
or parsmony-arose 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 citixens and further expendi-
turs was useless" After several years Of more
or less acrimonious debate II was decided TO have
Q bell and Il was then discovered that there was
not foundry In the colonies capable Of fashion
ing II. the repressve policy Of parliament hav.
ing well-nigh destroyed manufacturing enterprise
in the new world. 80 the colonists had to send
to London for Q bell. giving specific directions
- to the dimensions-the weight was $3.50
pounds.
When at last II arrived in 1853. II was more
than nine days wonder the Pennsylvania farm
ers nooHed 70 the wharf nom far iniand to &C.
claim its arrival. It proved all that any reason.
able mortal could want in the way Of tintinnab-
ulum. Its tones were farcarrying and sweet
ly musical. and all trueborn Philadephians Tin.
cludins those who had opposed the expense)
we're proud Of II. Alas! a. II was being trans
ported with festal ceremony from the waters
edge to the intended site In the belfry 'some ner
vous weakiing gave way beneath his corner OF
the ton Of metal and the bell fell to the ground
ana was mortally injured. II had to be recast.
and Isaac Norris. who superintended the opera
tion, announced with pride that tho result was
q good bell. which pleases me much that we
should first venture upon and succeed In the
greatest bell, for aught know. in English Amer.
ica-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 II was on the 18th Of May, 1716 that the
general assembly gave instructions to its dele