The Green Forest tribune., 1917-08-31


 patch that this bell was rung two days previous to my visit there in honor of successful termination of the sale of Liberty Bonds, for the second time its chimes had been heard since it rang for American Independence. Noting the old crack in the relic still gaping and that it hangs" stationary in the giant frame with clapper strongly anchored, 1 asked the guard how the reported "stunt was pulled" to which he smiled and replied, "Oh some of the boy s banged it on the side with stick and made sort of noise. v
 This bell remained in it's original po- sition in tower on Independence Hall for hundred years following the mem orable occasion of its first ringing, until taken down for exhibition purposes, since which time it has been shown in many of the principal cities and at many other points through which it has been taken.
 Icalled at the office of the commis- sion in charge of Independence Hall and learned from him that this building is the property of the city of Philadel- phia and is maintained by it as public national museum. l asked him for q gnide book to the building and was in- formed that nothing of this character was then being given out, pending an ln- Yestigation as to the genuiness of the claims accompanying certain paintings and exhibitions, against which com paints have been made characterizng them as spurious. All this collection has been made, or the principal part of it at least, in the past fifty years, the commission accepting the representa- tions of the donors as true. These sto- ries, some of them, are now found to be lacking in fact, so the secretary told us.
 passed through Congress Hall with just sufficient amount of halting to say that I had visited the old building.
 This building was occupied by the Ma tional Congress until 1900, and 1t has undergone comparatively little change in appearance since that time. It was in this building that Washington and Jefferson were inaugurated. This par tcular room is held as nearly in tact, chairs, rostrum, and everything as pos sible, and is used only on extraordinary occasions. The only meeting that had been held there for long while was one by the Boy Scouts on the food pre- paredness movement, so l was told.
 Scarcely of less interest to me was Carpenter Hall, which is quite as well known to history as either of the other two buildings mentioned. 1t was here, it will be remembered, where the First Continental Congress was conven- ed in 1774 to frame those measures which led to the formation of the Dec laratlon of Independence.
 I was told by the secretary at lnde- pendence Hall that interest in these historic structures and scenes is increas- ing rapidly as the years go by, and that instead of struggling tourist from over the country as was the custom few years ago, they are comiug ln crowds now, it being no uncommon thing for teachers and pupils of schools hundreds of miles away to come in bodies and spend day or two in the city. lie says that such custom is the greatest possi- ble means of teaching history, and at the same time instiling sense of pa triotism into the young American minds.
 A visit to old Christ's Church was an event connected with my hurry through Philadelphia. There was something closely to a thrill that 1 felt when l found my way into the old house of worship to soon be resting in the pew in which Washington sat for worship, and which was later occupied by the Adamses and Jefferson. While it had been to some extent remodeed in order make it modern with regard to heat and light, yet this old building has yet much of it's eally characteristics, special point being the pew have just mention ed The church is an Episcopal organ ization.
 In tiny house kept in a perfect state of preservation located not far from the famous church I have mentioned, lived Betsey Ross, who was employed by Washington in May, 1776, to make the sample flag with thirteen stars and thirteen stripes. which was adopted as our National flag. by resolution of Con- gress, June IA, TIT. This buldind is so kept open to the public. ltis know as the Birth Place of the Amerita1 Flag.
 Iregret that my story or historic Phil it just hsppned that way. l will tell you next week of the world S greatest buiness institution of its character, one that has helped make 1 PhiladelnhiafamnIls