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Show . f I Original Draft of I the Declaration ; i RES13NT-DAY visitors to the state department, although al-though they may not see tho original Declaration Declara-tion of Independence, can Inspect something almost as Interesting namely, tho original drnit of tho Declaration In Jefferson's handwriting, with a few interlineations mndo by Franklin and Adams. Thin is displayed In a Btucl cabinet that stands adjacent to tho safe containing the original Declaration. The steol exhibition dablnet also holds one of the facsimiles fac-similes of the engrossed copy of the Declaration ono of thoso reproductions reproduc-tions mnde by President Monroe. In a ghiHU case in this satno trens- tire house of historic mementooH is the smnli, plain, unpollshod mahogany ' desk on which Jefferson wroto tho DecInraUon of Independence. This I Interesting relic catuo Into the possession pos-session of tho government In 1880. ! Tho dosk hud boon given by Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Coolidge, Jr., upon the occasion of the hitter's marriage to Jefferson's granddaughter, AIIhs Randolph. On tho death of Mr. Coolidge, Coo-lidge, wIioho wife had died a year or two previously, the desk became the proporty of tholr four childron, nnd was by them presented to tho nation. It was tho expressed wish of tho donors "to offor it to tho United States, that It may hnvo a place In tho department of state with tho immortal im-mortal Instrument which was wrltton upon It in 1776." The dosk bears nn inscription in Jefferson's handwriting, as follows; "Thomas Jefferson gives this writing dosk to Joseph Coolldgo, Jr., nB a memorial of his affection. It was made from u drawing of his own by Hen Randall, eabinot maker of Philadelphia, Phila-delphia, with whom he flrat lodged on his arrival in that city, In May, 177C, and is the identical one on which he wroto tho Declaration of Independence. Independ-ence. Politics as well as religion has its superstitions. Those, gaining strength with time, may one day glvo imaginary value to this rollc for Ha association with the birth of the great chartor of our indopondonce, Monti oello. November 18, 1825." |