Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-06-29

The name of Philadelphia is so close
ly onnected with Independence day
that any mention Of the latter recalls
the great part played by the city in the
signing of the Declaration of indie
pendence, and the large number of his
/ torical buildings and relics that at
tract visitors TO the city not only from
every part of the United States bur
from many other countries as well.
1t is especially fitting that the City OF
Brotherly Love" should contain the
cradle of American independence, from
which eventually will come worldwide
freedom.
The chief mecca of the patriotic visi-
tor to Philadelphia is Independence
hall in which is contained that great
shrine of American INDEPENDENTLY
Liberty bell. The land on which this
building stands was purchased in 1880
The structure, erected as a State house
for the old colony of Pennsylvania,
was slow in building, the first portion
TO be finished being independence
hail. a room 80 by 40 feet and almost
20 feet high. The next part of the
building completed was the judicial
chamber, of the same size as Inde-
pendence hall, and separated from 1t
by three arches. The tower was built
In 1850, the steeple being added III
1853.
After the Revolution the wooden
steeple was declared dangerous and
taken down. Later the wings were
altered TO provide more Office room for
the county commissioners. and other
changes very much altered the orig
inal appearance of the structure. The
entire property was purchased by the
city of Philadelphia in 1918, and ey-
cry effort made to restore it to its Or
iginal lines. The spirit of the old archi-
tects and builders has been respected
and today, as in Colonial days. the
State house typifies the refined sim
plicity and sincerity which has left
It a precious legacy.
Saw First Congress.
In Carpenters hall the first Cont
mental congress convened Sept. 5, 17T4
continuing in session until October 26
The second Continental congress also
convened in this same hall, May TO,
1775. but later moved to the old State
house where the Declaration of indie
pendence was adopted.
IN Independence hall Gen. George
Washington took the oath as COM
mander of the Continental army. June
16, 1875. Three years later the Ar
ticles of Confederation were signed In
this same room, and a 1857 the Consti-
tuition of the Unite! States was adopt
ed ind signed The old building iii
which George Washington and John
Adams took the oath of office as Presi-
dent of the United States stands be-
side Independence hall. but much al
tered from the original structure
The old Liberty bell, which rang out
the glad tidings that the Continental
congress had dared TO sign the Declara-
ton of Independence, is known
throughout the world It was cast In
England especially for the State house,
and imported In 1852. While on the
way it became cracked. and was recast
in Philadelphia The quotation, PRO
claim liberty throughout the land, to
the inhabitants thereof" inscribed on
the bell at that time. seems prophetic.
The bell was hung April II. 1853.
Figured in Much History.
Two years later II rang warning
TO George III that the assembly refused
to make laws by dictation Of the
crown. and in 1865, muffied. the bell
"tolled" the arrival Of the hated
stamps. "Mufled and tolled' ii rang
all day long when the stamp act was
put in operation. II called the first
Continental congress together; II pro-
claimed the Declaration of JIdepen-
dence; its glad peals announced the
victory Of Trenton and the surrender
of CORVALLIS; ii proclaimed the treaty
of peace it toIled out the grief Of the
nation at the death Of George Wash
ington. It welcomed Lafayette to Phil