Show SHRINE MUST BE PRESERVED L pans PI ans on foot for restoration and preservation of independence hall plans for the restoration and pres erv er atlon of independence dePendence ru hall and ad joining buildings spurred by the fear of damage or destruction during the war now are complete in the most minute detail of the original scale and arid proportion inspired by love of their country and actuated by a desire to perpetu ate the high ideals of which this his group of buildings Is a living memorial the philadelphia chapter of the american institute of architects finished after months of the most r investigation research and personal expenditure a set of drawings and specifications which duplicate to the infinitesimal fraction of an inch every brick every board every arev fee every corner exactly as planned and constructed by our colonial forefathers all that remains to reinvest this greatest monument of liberty with the very ery thought and character of its builders and defenders la 19 a rebirth afi that patriotic purpose which drafted the file declaration of 1770 1776 independence hall the story of independence hall its conception its construction its reconstruction st its preservation Is unique uni que it Is a comedy a drama a tragedy a romance all in one it Is history amer lean fain history world history history that every american should read and demember era em ember especially at this time when the rush of events makes us liable to farget the fundamental alms and purposes of the government which tills this structure exemplifies the story however must be confined to the endeavors 0 rs to safeguard and preserve this roost most sacred of liberty completed in 1734 in connection with the present plans for its preservation it may be interesting to note that independence ball the home oi of the liberty bell was completed in its original form in 1731 lor for the accommodation of the legal J Y LI ai ks grand stairway from the lobby of the hall to the second floor the small stair at the right above leads to the balcony and into the belfry where the liberty bell originally hung business of the commonwealth the dispensation pensa pens tion atlon of the colonial statutes for pennsylvania and the transaction of various arlous other matters the design tor for the building ig Is said to have been fur nashed by an amateur architect named john kearsley according to bills and papers kept by andrew Ila mllton one of the three commissioners who mho had the superintendence of the financial matters connected with its construction it appears that the building cost originally 16 the two wings which now form important additions to the structure were not erected until 1739 40 and had increased creased la the total cost to the woodwork of the steeple by which the state house was first a surmounted su WN on in 1774 was found to be so much decayed that it was decided to remove M it and it was vias accord angly taken down leaving only a email small belfry to cover the bell tor for the ue of the town clock which hail had onla one dial face at the western end of the building in this condition it re malqued until isa 1829 29 when the steeple which now crowns the building naj elected on the plan of the original one of course all americans know that the declaration of independence was drafted in independence hall and read to the assembled public in to the state bouse house yard not on july 4 but on july 8 iril there Is a lobby in the ball that extends the whole length of 0 the building and in this lobby the american officers who were nere captured at the battle baule of germantown were retained as prisoners it was used as a hospital after the battle of brandy wine the building also was rendered in tin mortal by the fact that there wash ington bade farewell to public life and delivered deH vered that memorable ad dress which will ever be cherished a as a sacred legacy by his grateful coun thymen in 1824 lafayette received his friends in independence hall ball and it has been subsequently used as th audience chamber of several distin gulshen visitors and a reception room for the presidents of the united states the body of the venerable john adams attains lay there in state oa on its way to his last resting place also that of abraham lincoln restoration long sought while the history of the movement to re restore 5 tore a and 11 d preserve independence hall and the adjacent buildings Is gen erakly believed to be of comparatively modern origin it dates back in reality to an earlier period when the gov of the united states aban boned philadelphia for the new na leonal capital all sentiment departed with it and it Is doubtful if the vast majority of people even so much as gave guve a passing thought to the spot where here one of the greatest events in the worlds illi story happened the archways arch ways on cither either side of independence hall were torn out and in their pl places ices u were ere constructed city and county buildings which almost transformed the place beyond recognition and even tors paid but scant courtesy to the business looking building that had cradled the infancy of the nation it Is truc that hat on the anniversary of 0 the great day some kind of exercises always were held there but except with ith the few interest seems sadly to have declined until when an event happened which may be justly described as the dropping of the first seed that began to germinate into a national reverence and respect for the place and the objects so clearly associated with the glorious memories of the tile past the occurrence may not be flattering to the people of that generation but it was altogether so curious and unique that it deserves to be generally known when 1 king ung edward edvard VII VIL then prince of wales ivales and traveling nv n baron renfrew visited philadelphia in one of the places he farly expressed a desire to visit was independence hall ball there he be spent considerable time examining every object and asking many questions in the lie declaration chamber he was shown the liberty bell which it Is said was stored in a corner and surrounded by a lot of boxes and rubbish the prince expressed great surprise that an object which so justly deserved veneration should be treated with so little respect and it Is said that turning to the mayor he exclaimed 11 this bell should be treasured and reverenced reveren ced by the people of the united states as their most precious heirloom that remark stirred a ripple of thought in the right direction but it operated slowly and although talk of restoring independence hall ball became general and interest in it grew and was accelerated by the centennial exposition bothin nothing of a substantial nature was done until late in the last century M worlds debt to lafayette it Is the spirit of lafayette that has made strong and lasting the friendship of france and america and it was the spirit of lafayette that in aired he the american fighters who on the soli soil of france risked all and gave all to make certain the freedom of tire Y orld in victory it Is well to remember Lafay ettes natal day and to give a thought to the debt which all the world owes to this man whose brain knew no unworthy thought and whose life recorded no un knightly deed |