Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-08-19
COMMUNICATION

Mr. Editor:
At the request of some Of my
friends, | shall attempt to write a
few observations on our Eastern trip.
We left Alma July 8 via Toledo and
Philadelphia for Dover, Delaware, our
first stopping point, arriving there
at 2 a. m. July 10 and finding our
brother and family well. Dover is
very beautiful though quaint city
of about 5000 and contains a large
number of stately appearing homes
with well-kept lawns. Aside from
being the capital, this city is very
interesting, historically, because Of
It's antique features and relics. Here
is the Village Green, made up of two
blocks in the old part of the city, still
kept IN its original condition. Upon
this green the soldiers from Dele
ware gathered and drilled before
leaving to join the Continental Army
under Gen. Washington. On the west
side is an old two room house I'M
painted, which was erected about
1893. This is the office of Atty
Jones, a prominent lawyer of Dover.
He is very proud of his location. On
the north is the Caesar Rodney home.
Rodney was a signer of the Declar-
alton of independence and much
lauded by the people of Dover On
the east is the old Ridley Home built
in 1928. The bricks in its walls were
brought from England and are larger
than American made brick.
On the south is the capitol build
ing. Among the many interesting
things in this building is the
Archives. Here within a vault is the
original charter granted by King
Charles III to his brother, James,
the Duke of York, in 1852, and signed
by his Secretary-Piggott. Here also
is a charter given by the Duke of
York TO VIM. Penn, of a circle of
twelve miles radius about Newcastle,
Delaware, signed in the Dukes own
handwriting, James" and a lease
for 10000 years from King to Duke
of the three lower counties on the
Delaware river, as we'll as lease
from the Duke TO VIM. Penn for the
same period. In another place PENIS
grant to the Town of Dover signed in
his own handwriting is found The
price paid was to be either one bushel
of good winter wheat yearly for a
few years or four shillings. II is
dated 1858. Here is an order to
build the Kent county court house in
1891, the old one to be burned in
order to secure the nails to help
build the new one, nails being very
valuable at that time. An old Bible
may also be seen among the Archives
printed in Latin and PUBLISHED in
1882. Upon this the governors of
Delaware placed their hands while
taking the oath of office.
July 20 we left Dover for Atlantic
City and spent one day sightseeing
Americas greatest playground" OBJ
serving the people and hearing the
Babel of dialects and languages, in
which one feels must be Americas
most Cosmopolitan city.
Returning that night we reached
Philadelphia about p. m. The next
morning at 9 a. m. we took the trip
called Seeing Philadelphia by Auto
mobile" Beside the driver there is
a trained lecturer who briefly de-
scribes each thing or place of in
terest. This gives one a general
view of the city. We returned from
this trip at 1880 and went at once
to Independence Hall Group of
Buildings" Here in Old Congress
Hall are many paintings by the
artist, Ferris, depicting so perfectly
various events, scenes and conditions
of American history
Next in order was independence
/ Hall. Upon entering the first thing
that caught my eye was Americas
most revered relic, THE Liberty
Bell" Mr.. Editor, as ] stepped up
to this hallowed relic, laying my
hand upon it and patting it, the
words of the poet came to me, 81
would that my tongue could utter,
the thoughts that arise i'm me-" |
could hardly get away from it. Next
we entered the Declaration chamber
where we saw the original parch-
ment upon which that immortal docu-
ment, the Declaration of Independ-
NANN wac WAiNNNiif ti' anu
large silver ink stand and other fur
nishings. Here the words of the
Lord TO Moses as the latter turned
aside to see the burning bush, came
to my mind, and said, ALREADY !
have grown one foot in patriotism.
After viewing many other things of
great interest in this hall and Old
City Hall we went to Carpenters
hall where the Continental Congress
met for its first and second sessions.
Eight of the original chairs are
still there and in a good state of
preservation. On the right wall
fine painting of Henry addressing
the First Continental Congress is
hung, and over the rear door is this
inscription, within these walls Hen
ny, Hancock, and Adams inspired the
delegates with nerve and sinew for
the tolls of war"
Leaving here, we visited Christ
Church Cathedral and sat with bowed
heads in each of the pews of Wash
ington, Franklin and Betsey Ross
that we might imbibe more of the
spirit of patriotism.
We then visited the Betsey Ross