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Show THE BULLETIN Most Important Events in U. S. History Had Their k Genesis in a Small Group of Buildings That Stand in Independence Square, Philadelphia Liberty Bell Ever Has Been 'Voice of Freedom And Herald of Victory' Red-Bric- By RAYMOND PITCAIRN SMALL group of red- brick buildings, simple in Among all the historic relics HEADLINES FROM THE LIVES square none today fans the fires of patriotism. OF PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELFI none touches the hearts of visi tors like the Liberty bell. In its. presence they stand enClocks thralled, like devotees at a shrine. EVERYBODY: There they seem to hear again of great HELLO the announcements Carlock of Bloomington, 111., is one man who deeds and the tributes to dauntknows exactly when his adventure started. Other folks may less men that it tolled through almost two centuries of our early be a little vague about the exact hour and minute of their life's biggest thrill. history. When death is staring you in the face, you don't stop to Independence hall was the Cradle of Freedom." The Lib look at your watches and say, "Ho, hum, if I don't get out erty bell was "Freedom's Voice of this mess pretty quick I'll be late for dinner." Neither and Herald." did Bryan, for that matter. But he knows the time. Throughout our colonial and He knows it because, when the blow struck, all the clocks Revolutionary history, it gave the call that convened the provincial and watches stopped. It was the end of time. The end of assemblies which battled for the the world! The end of everything! The day was March 10, people's rights; it sounded the 1933, and Bryan had arrived in Long Beach, Calif., just that summons that brought citizens to to visit his sister, who was married to an army Independence square for. their morning, 'Chester Linton. Lieut. meetings of public protest and officer, action. She and Bryan had gone down town in the afternoon and Boldly that eloquent tongue returned home at 5 o'clock. The clocks and watches stopped proclaimed the early protests at exactly 5: 55! against the Sugar and Stamp In the meantime, they were busy getting dinner-ready- . acts in 1764 and 1765. the town landforbade which the Linton had come home. Sis was in the kitchen mak Chester meeting ing of tea in 1773, the closing of ing-- salad and biscuits. Potatoes were boiling on the stove and the roast the Port of Boston in 1774, the was in the oven. The rest of the family was In the living room. Bryan first hostilities of the Revolution was reading and the children a girl and three boys were playing on in 1775, and .the opening of the the floor. Second Continental congress. Sis came in and said, "Are you an hungry? Dinner will be ready la And then, in July, 1776, it rang a few minutes." And then the great message foretold in its The Building Began to Rock and Sway. prophetic inscription familiar to And then terror! The words were hardly oat of his sister's all Americans today; month when the building began to sway and rock. There waa a "Proclaim Liberty Throughout roar that sounded like thousands of firecrackers exploding- - all at All the Land Unto All the Inhab once. Tables and floor lamps fell over. Plaster crashed dowm itants Thereof." from the ceiling-- , and the floor bulged upward and burst open. But its labors in th struggle Sayi Bryan: '1 thought the world was coming to an end. The whole for- freedom were not ended. house was rocking like a boat I couldn't get my voice for a moment. Throughout the Revolution ex cept for the brief period when Philadelphia and Independence square, were held by the enemy the Liberty bell remained a her ald of victory. On eacl July 4 in Independence "When (Keleaaed by Western Newspaper Union.) A ADVENTURERS' CLUB design, standing against the green background y of a park . . . mid-cit- Above their sturdy walls On of the side famous every rise tall skyscrapers. square about them roars the traffic of a bustling age. But for the idea they represent, all could be obscured and lost to public consciousness amid the myriad activities of a great city. Yet to this modest and historic site turn today the eyes and hearts of all men and all nations that love free government. For here Is Independence square, Philadelphia, with its lull (left) and Congress Hall (right). ' i ' in the long "Parade of Progress", Here,, in Independence square, staged in the separate buildings they met to . protest the Stamp or on the greensward of that fa- Acts; and, again, to forbid the mous square. landing of the cargo ' from the world-famostructures "Polly." Hall Independence Independence hall, Congress in June,' 1774, they gathHere, most Here is the the oldest, hall, Old City hall, and the ered to' denounce the closing' of venerated, of the historic struct American Philosophical So- tures of Boston, and to proin Independence square.. It a of "sister colpose congress state-houwas erected about 1732 as a ciety building. onies." for provincial PennsylHere is America's noblest Here, pn April 24, 1775, they shrine. Here stands the inspir- vania from plans designed by Anheard the news, of the Battle of colonial brilliant drew of Hamilton, answer America's ing symbol to all who thwarted free govern- lawyer who won fame as the ad- Lexington and resolved " to assoment in the past, to all who vocate of free speech and a free ciate for the purpose of defending press. In 1736 the provincial as- with arms their property, liberty challenge it today. and lives." And In the troubled year of sembly first held, its sessions with Hamilton as Here, in 1775, they saw the there, speaker 1939, men realize, with a new and poignant sense of values, the and Benjamin Franklin as clerk. first Pennsylvania .fluofa musHere, in 1755, the members of tered into service..with. the Congreat and enduring significance :.. of this historic site. Seldom, if the Pennsylvania provincial as- tinental army. And here, on July 8 1776, they ever, have more visitors stopped sembly asserted their refusal to here to absorb its patriotic mes- "make laws by direction." Here, assembled, thousands strong, to sage. Seldom have the historic in 1757, they determined to send hear the first public reading of relics, the portraits of the Found- Benjamin Franklin to England to the Declaration of Independence g ers, the whole story of Liberty demand "redress of grievances." and to cheer its here preserved aroused wider na- Here, in 1764, the citizens of proclamation of the rights and tional and international interest. Philadelphia protested the Stamp the dignity of man.. All this is apparent not only at Acts and declared that no impoCongress Hall and Others. Independence square, itself, but sition of taxes against natural had and toleratIndependence be would square legal rights elsewhere, too. One of the most Now a the of nation. birth 300 ed. in more than 1765, staged Here, New exhibits at the York popular was to stage . the second act World's fair today is the Pennsyl- of the leading merchants of Phil- it of' bur great American drama: vania building, which represents adelphia signed the the task of organizing that nation resolutions. liistoric Independence hall and and setting it firmly on a course enAnd in the in after 1775, its the of here, tells, displays, story of unprecedented, expansion and, American liberty and progress tire country had been goaded into under' the free government there protest against British tyrannies, development. Not in Independence hall itself assembled the famous Second established. were these later events enacted, And what a story! Its preface Continental congress. but in the sister structures, Con.InIt was in the antedates by decades the Revogress, hall and Old City hall, lution.- Its theme runs through dependence chamber of Indeour whole, history. pendence hall that Richard Henry which flank the older statehouse of Virginia offered, on June on either side. Lee before first hint of the Long To Congress hall moved the separation from England, Inde- - 7, 1776, the resolution declaring First Congress of the United States in 1790, at the conclusion of its first two sessions in New York. Here, in Congress hall, both house and senate continued to meet until 1800, when the new Capitol of the United States was established at Washington. Here congress enacted the 'most important measures of .our early republic. Here it. debated the famous Jay treaty, and admitted Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee into the Union. Here, in 1793, it saw George Washington inaugurated for his second term, and later listened to his famous "Farewell Address." Here, in 1799, it mourned the. great .leader's death and heard him eulogized in the in in War, spired words: - t First in Peace, First in the "Declaration Chamber" in Independence Hall. Here on July 4, Hearts of His Countrymen." Here was inducted as sec 1776, the Declaration of Independence and on June 14, 1777, the first John Adams ond President of the United American flag, were adopted. States. Independence us tea-shi- p the-Por- se . "::'' '" Stopped" - epoch-makin- on now-famo- us . "F-irs- pendence hall was the capitol of a colony dedicated to political freedom, religious tolerance and justice to all men. Long after our liberty had been won it was the rostrum from which Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, and leaders other national preached their ideals of freedom. It is our greatest, richest storehouse of national recollections. Other nations, too, may boast their patriotic shrines. The great cities of Europe are studded with them. But usually they glorify the dead prist of conquest; the victories of strong captains, and the power of stern kings. But Independence hall and Independence square tell a greater story. They glorify the freedom and the power of the common man the ideal established by our Founders and preserved by generations of valiant citizens. In a world torn by doubts and fears, they' stand confident and serene a beacon to all humanity, lighting the way toward peace and happiness and progress. The Independence Square monument is not merely one historic building; not merely a famous plot of ground. It includes four buildings, in each of which were enacted events profoundly significant to American liberty and American development. Its lawns are as important as its structures. On them through formative periods were held public meetings of protest and of action that played a dramatic role in our great national epic. Let us consider in chronological order some of the notable steps tree-shade- d ma any more, we walked. and when I did, I cried out, What Is it? Then I heard Chester say, 'EarthWhen we couldn't that "These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States." It was in this chamber, on July 4, 1776, that the Declaration' of Independence, which gave world- stirring expression to that resolution and to the whole cause of human liberty, was adopted. It was here that the Continental congress appointed George Washof the ington commander-in-chie- f Revolutionary armies; that it created the name, "The United States"; that it adopted the design of the American flag. It was here, in 1781, that congress received news of the final victory at Yorktown, and, in 1783, ratified the Treaty of Peace. Then Independence hall, having housed the birth of a nation, became the scene of its firm establishment as well. In its chambers had been adopted the Articles of Confederation. And when they proved when the nation inadequate, sought a "more perfect Union," it was at Independence hall that the Founders met to draft its form. So here, in 1787, they wrote the Constitution of the United States America's firm guarantee that "We. the people" should rule; history's greatest and most famous charter of free government. Independence Square While the provincial assembly and the Continental congress enacted their stirring drama in Inhall, the people dependence played a similarly significant part on the wider slage of Independence square. And in Old City hall, during the same ten years, sat the Supreme court of the United States. Here it handed down the first of the decisions' which throughout our history have strengthened and clarified the Constitution. As Independence hall and its two sister structures stand as the symbol of our ideal of freedom, so the American Philosophical Society building, which- shares with them the famous square. represents the beginning of our national progress in science and its material developments. For here David Rittenhouse, America's first astronomer, gave to the world the results of his studies. Here Benjamin Frank lin thrilled his notable audiences and Europe as well with his Here reports on electricity. Benjamin West, the artist; John Bartram, the botanist; Benjamin Rush, the physician and chemist, quickened the spread of learning Here 15 signers of the Declara tion, and 18 delegates to the Con stitutional convention including Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams and Madison sat as of ficers or members of the Philo sophical society. Here were established the first scientific society, the first impor tant museum, the first notable collection of manuscripts and historic relics in the United States. Here, in our earliest days, .was created a world-wid- e respect for American science and learning. Here it was demonstrated that free government and high human hand m hand. development-g- Independence Hall. it commemorated the anniversary of the Declaration; in October, 1781, it announced the surrender of Cornwallis at in April, 1783, it proclaimed the treaty of peace and the ultimate triumph of that great principle of liberty to which a new people had dedicated their York-tow- n; nation. And in 1788 it announced the birth of our republic, as it rang to celebrate the ratification of the United States Constitution, with its inspiring assurance that "We, the people" should govern. The Liberty bell still served the nation long after the capital had moved from Philadelphia to Washington. From its high tower in Independence hall, it continued to herald both glad news and tragedy. Through many years it pealed on Independence day to celebrate the Declaration, and on February 22 to honor Washington's birthday. In 1824, it sang a welcome to Lafayette,, the nation for then' which in youth he had fought. And in sadder tones it mourned. one by one, the deaths of the Signers as the years took their inexorable toll. Then on July 8 of 1835, it sounded its final note. On that day the Liberty bell cracked while in toning a funeral dirge for Chief Justice Marshall, early and most notable interpreter of the Con stitution. Now mute, but still elorious the bell is preserved, for all to see, in the main corridor of Independence hall, overlooking the lamous square. Ana us message remains unchanged. Still in symbolism it continues to throughout proclaim liberty . the '. - . iana ana to me iimmmtims mere-o- f. Still, in July of 1939, it the truths that it announced so joyously in July of 1776. Still it reminds Amer ica and humanity: "That All Men Are Created Equal "That They Are Endowed by Their Creator With Certain Unalienable Rights "That Among These Are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness "That to Secure These Rights. Are Governments Instituted Among Men, Deriving Their Just Powers From the Consent of the Governed.' ng A m elo-aue- nt 1 1 1 1 1 I - A re-nea- ts self-evide- nt quake I Get out!' As he said it, the wall beside him crumbled and fell out into the street" The apartment was on the second floor of a brick building at the corner of Broadway and Linden. They started for the stairway, and Bryan says when he reached it it was moving like an escalator. Sis and the kids were safely at the bottom. The lieutenant was behind him. Bryan was half way down that tottering stairway when his foot went through a broken step and caught there. lie struggled to extricate himself, but the harder he tried, the tighter he seemed to be wedging himself la. Now, the lieutenant was at his side, trying to get him out Plaster was still falling from the walls and ceiling. At hut the lieutenant got him loose, and they ran out into the street Across the Street a Neighbor Was Killed. On the other side of the street, a neighbor was lying dead on the lawn a great chunk of cornice beside him. He had run out of his home at the first shock of the quake, just as the cornice fell, and it killed him. The whole neighborhood was in confusion. Some men were carrying a womnn into the bungalow next door, her leg torn and bleeding. And then, another terrible cry was passed from mouth to mouth through the stricken area.' "Tidal wave coming!" "We were only three blocks from the ocean," says Bryan, "and we took the kids and began running inland. We bad had nothing to eat The roast and potatoes and other food back home had been blown against the north wall of the kitchen. When we couldn't run any more, we walked. We went on that way for two or three hours, through streets filled with debris and ruin and desolation. Before long, the city was under martial law. About eight or nine o'clock we struck a place that hadn't suffered quite as badly as other sections of the town. They were serving soup, sandwiches, coffee, etc., so we stopped and had something to eat" They were all exhausted by this time. There was still no sign of a tidal wave and, tidal wave or no tidal wave, Bryan wasn't going to go a step farther. They held a council of war and decided to return to the neighborhood of home. They wandered back toward the ocean and, within a block of the Lintons' wrecked house they found an apartment building which was still in pretty good shape, and managed to get shelter for the night Bryan Noticed His Foot Was Damp. For the first time, then, Bryan noticed that his right foot was damp. He pulled up his trouter leg and found tbo foot covered with blood. There was a nail in the calf of his leg. Evidently It had been thrust there when he got caught In the broken stairway. "There was a doctor In the house," he says, "and he dressed the wuund. I was walking like a drunken man, and the doctor told me I was 'earth shocked.' " The tremors continued all through the night They stayed in the apartment house, but in the morning they had to move on, for the city's mains had been broken and there was no gas or water. They went to City Hall park, where relief work was getting under way, and there they were put into a truck and sent to Lennox, about 12 miles from Los Angeles where a woman's club had been turned into a dormitory. "They gave us medical attention there," says Bryan, "and a lot of us needed it. A lot of the women were hysterical. One of the nurses there had been In hospitals in France during- the war and had been bombarded by the Germans, but she said it didn't affect her nearly as badly as the quake did. "Our little group got off easily. My sister and her little girl had been hit by plaster and the three boys had their legs skinned. The lieutenant had had the presence of mind, to hold a chair over his head, and he escaped without a scratch. But the thing that 'saved us all from death was our delay in getting out of the house. If we had gone out while the debris was still falling we would have met the same fate as our neighbor across the street" (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) College Graduates and Divorce The divorce rale among college graduates is low, compared with the rate of the country as a whole. In a study made by the office of education of 46,000 alumni over the period from 1928 to 1935. there were 19 divorces per 1,000 marriages. More college women than college men lire divorced. Persists Head-Hunti- Head hunting is still being pracn ticed. The case of this in present-datimes is represented by the Jivaro of South America. There is also good evidence that in spite of governmental pressure, Isolated cases of taking heads still occur in remote parts of the Philippine islands and in Borneo. best-know- y |