Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-07-03
Wanderings of Famous Doc
ument Finally Brought
to an End.
Charter of American Liberties
Enshrined in Library
of Congress at
Washington.

Odlu ICCS1llly, pIOUdDiy uUt OAC
person in a thousand could tell what
had become of Americas most famous
document, the Declaration of indie
pendence. Very few people have ever
seen 1t. This is not surprising, for
since 1894 it has been locked away
from public view in a steel case under
the care Of the secretary of state at
Washington. This had to be done on
account of the serious condition Of the
parchment, which had become so dam
aged in it's travels from one place to,
another that it was feared it might
eventually fall to pieces.
But now the document has been
placed in a permanent shrine in the
library of congress at Washington,
where Americans Of future genera
lions will be able to see with their
own eyes this charter Of their liberty,
says a writer in the New York Times
Magazine. The shrine itself, work
of architectural beauty, has been de-
signed to give the Declaration as much
protection as possible from risk of
fire and from the danger Of deteriora-
ton by exposure to the light
Enclosed in a metal case in a niche
of marble, the parchment document
is covered withAtwo sheets of heavy
plate glass, virtually unbreakahle, be-
tween which there is transparent
film of gelatin which neutralizes he
actinic rays of light, and should pre-
vent further fading. Bronze doors,
which can be opened or closed at will,
give further protection to the shrine,
which is f1anked on both sides by
handsome bronze eagles.
IN Shrine Worthy of Document.
\ Grayish-black York mable, quarried
near Plattsburg, N Y, forms the back
ground of the shrine which bears in
gold letters the Inscription "Ihe
Declaration Of Independence and the
Constitution of the United States"
The document of the Constitution
rests in large case just beneath the
Declaration, which is set in the wall
about three feet from the ground, the
whole shrine being surrounded by a
white marble rail.
The shrine was unveiled on Febru-
airy % by the chief librarian Of the
library of congress. The President
was there, with Mrs. Coolidge, the
secretary of state, and many members
OF congress, but the ceremony was
notable by reason of its simplicity.
Thus quietly and unobtrusively the
Declaration of independence was
Brought, after years of wandering, to
a permanent and appropriate resting
place, where 1t will remind the thou
sands who pass before 1t of the prin-
ciples for which our fathers fought
and died.
It's migrations under the stress of
war are in themselves interesting, and
so bound up with the early history
of the country that it is worth while
to recall them.
The Declaration, after 1t was signed,
was given into the care Of Charles
Thomson, secretary of the Continental
congress, and kept In his office in the
Pennsylvania state house, which aft
erward became known as Independ-
ence hall Within a few months, in
December, 1776, the British forced
washington back over the Delaware,
and congress moved to Baltimore, TAX
ing the Declaration and other impor-
tant papers with it in light wagon.
Forced to Move Again.
AS soon as the British had been
driven back, congress returned but
was obliged to leave again within six
months on account of General HOwe's
arrival with large reinforcements.
This time the government moved to
Lancaster, Pa, and then to York, Pa,
where the Declaration was placed for
safety in the courthouse.
On July 2, 1778, it was brought back
once more to Philadelphia, and two
days later congress ordered the first
celebration of Independence day, ex-
actly two years after tie signing of
the Declaration.
The first year Of It's eventfuI life
had been one Of danger and difficulty,
but by the end of the second year vic
tory and the vindication OF the prin-
ciples set forth in 1t were well within
sight The cay was celebrated by a
parade of the army, salute of 10
guns and cheers for the Perpetual
and Undisturbed independence of the
United States of America" followed