The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1914-06-25

NM@W independence hall, Thousands have
MMN made their, reverent pilgrimage
NWHM thither from distant places as to
M@@ sacred shrine and yet great many
are unfamiliar with the history of
tho most famous edifce IN America. They may
mot know that 1t was begun In 1923 and finished
40 1884, and that In those days the plan OF It
was considered so palatially ambitious that It's
building was bitterly opposed by those who, like
John Qiipia's wife, we're of q frugal mind. the
cost was sI6250, and the wings that were added
Mve years afterward brought the total amount to
$4,000. Doubtless there we're many who dubious
III shook their heads at the extravaganza What
would they have thought Of city hall occupying
several acres and costing $240OOOOO?
Although In the Immediately pre-Revolutionary
days the purpose to which independence hall
was put was serious enough the long gallery
upstairs had often been the scene Of "revelry
81 nghtS before those times that tried mems
souls. In 1885 the mayor, William Allen, invited
most OF Philadelphia to feast In 1865 the as
sembly gave Governor Denny most pretentious
banquet; and again, in 1857 Lord Loudonr COM
mander-inchief Of his majesty's forces In Amer
lea was aVlshly entertained and the unlimited
nTumbled at the outlay
When the first congress met In Philadelphia,
III 1gT4 there was 'sumptuous collation. IN
the state house attended by 500 persons and
AZ they drank their toasts cannon were fired, as
happened In the case Of Hamlets unamiable
father The same hall that was the scene OF
these elaborate banquets became the prison or
the American officers captured In the battle OF
Germantown. and after the bloody field Of Brandy
wine II was hospital
Il was In this building that Washington de-
Ylvared his memorable farewell address; Lafay'
cite was the guest Of honor here at reception
III s24; and here the bodies of John Adams and
Abraham Lincoln lay In state
Thus Ii viii be seen that the social and historic
associations Of the edifce are innumerabe, eay-
ing out OF the reckoning what happened there on
the Fourth OF July, 1776
The signers Of the Declaration came near not
having a bell to announce their epoch-making
resolution to the world. AS soon as the building
was completed in 1884 1t was planned to buy
bell commensurate with the dignity of the new
state house Then the advocates Of economy
or narsimony-ar0se In their might and fought
the project tooth and nail, representing that the
great cost or the State house had imposed
heavy tax upon the citizens and further expendi
fure was useless" After several years Of more
or less acrimonious debate 1t was decided to have
q bell; and II was then discovered that there was
not 4 foundry IN the colonies capable Of fashion
ing Il the repressive policy of parliament hav
ing wellnigh destroyed manufacturing enterprise
IN the new world. So the colonists had to send
"a London for a bell giving specific directions
as % the dimensions-the weight was 1850
pounds.
fhan d nine DAYS wonder; the Pennsylvania farm
ers locked to the wharf from far inland to
claim its arrival It proved all that any reason
able mortal could want In the way OF a tlntinnab-
uium It's tones were far-carrying and sweet
il musical. and all true-born Philadephians Gin
cluang those who hsd opposed the expense)
were proud OF It. Alas! as il was being trans
ported with festal ceremony from the waters
edee to the intended site in the belfry some ner,
vous weakiing gave way beneath his corner Of
the ton Of metal and the ben fell 70 the ground
and was mortally injured It had to be recast
and isaac Norris. who superintendent the opera
ton announced with pride that the result was
= good bell, which pleases me much that we
should first venture upon and succeed IN the
zrsafest bell, FOR aught know. in English Amer
suurpassing too, the imported one, which was
800 high and brittle
fhs great occasion in the life Of the Liberty
esr vas not due to srriye until "a years after
r6 Il was on the 18th Of May l79e, that the
-s-e1sI assembly gave instructions to its dele