McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1917-03-30

ioOu VI dutuIlhR hIucIlCduS, COlHiDR
to see where liberty was born; per-
haps it has been many times changed.
But the handsome trimming of the
room and the square designed plaster
cornices, showing fine workmanship,
are as at first. On each side of the
table where the Declaration was
signed, is a wide fireplace that would
hold big logs. What would we give
to see things just as they were one
hundred and forty-one years ago, for
few minutes; to hear the actual
voices and words of wisdom, see the
sparkling eyes, and note the uncon-
querable courage of those early patri-
OTIS. who knew they were right, and
yet took their lives 10 their hands
when they took the stand they did!
0, for a photograph, or a moving
picture, of that brave group, coming
up to the table to place their names
on the most momentous document
ever signed by the hand of mortal
man! You can imagine old Ben
Franklin cracking some dry joke as
he trimmed the pen for his lady-like
signature, while thoughtful Jefferson
ran his thin hand through his red
locks and pondered on the future of
his country, saying nothing, but think
ing much; how brave John Hancock
took a new feather to make his pen
and swung his arm dexterously around
as he prepared to put that wonderful,
sweeping autograph on the Declara-
tion that dominates all other sigma
lures, and must have typifed his bold
heart-throbs at the moment; how the
paper, with the ink scarce dry upon
it, was passed around from one to the
other, and low words were said, not
of fear or apprehension, but Of hope
aud confidence for the future and
faith in its operation upon their fell
low-Americans. You can then see
them gathered in little knots talking
of the history-making thing they had
done before going. each his own way,
to rest and to plan for the future.
We know, in way, how these men
looked, from the wood-cuts and paint
ings of them, but bow we would cher
ish a faithful photograph, say of
Franklin, Jefferson, or George Wash
ington! / never realized the differ
ence between a wood-cut or even fine
steel engraving of face, ,and pho
tograph, until | saw daguerreotype
of Edgar Allen Poe, the great poet,
at the Brady gallery in Washington
There were touches about that mel
sncholy face and that superhuman,
overhanging brain, thatno man could
portray as had been done by the cam
era and plate.
In the entrance hall stands the
famous Liberty Bell, that rang on
that first Fourth of July and told the
world that America was free. | saw
the crack in the side of the bell
which destroyed it's ringing qualities,
and which came in 1856 q believe)
when it was being told in memory of
Chief Justice Marshall. This bell is
kept inclosed in a glass case which is
opened for distinguished guests, such
as presidents of the United States,
to touch when they come there. The
crack was made wider by chiseling it
out, in the hope that the bell still
might be rung, but it was found that
the crack was extending across the
top, so that it was put away and kept
as show. 1t has Travelled hundreds
Of thousands of miles, to various ex-
positions, and is kept on rollers in
the hall so that in case of fire or
other trouble it can be rolled out and
into safety in two minutes. Several
watchmen are on duty all the time
and no person with bundle is allowed
to enter there. A Waterman told me
that Greek went up in the gallery
not long ago and pushed over big
marble statue of Thomas Paine so
that it fell to the floor below. The
statue was not injured, but the floor
was smashed through. The Greek
was nabbed as he ran down stairs
was knocked unconscious and taken
to Jail. He had to serve six months
for his meanness, and never would
tell why he pushed over the statue;
perhaps it was for religious motives.
Paine was an infdel, and of course
did wrong in that way, but he signed
the Declaration, and by many is be-