DIONNE

September 4th; Matthew Thornton signed on the following November 19th; and the name of Thomas McKean was added in the year 1781. So, instead of 55 signers, there were actually 56.

The story was often .:ra ; ,r,lr" a"y" that when John Hancock was asked why he signed his name in such a bold hand, he smilingly replied that he did so because he wanted King George to be able to read it without his glasses. The Liberty Bell was first rung on July 8th, when the Declaration, which had been ordered printed by the Congress on July 6th, was publicly read from the steps of the State House at noon.

The Liberty Bell was cast in Britain in L752. The quotation from Leviticus was cast on its side, reading: "Proclaim liberty to all the land, and unto all the inhabitants thereof." The bell was re-cast twice in America, the quotation being retained in each case. The Journal of Congress gives the facts concerning the ringing of the Liberty Bell.

rn the early years .f.; ol*r].r.r, it was not free from criticism. Even John Adams thought it was too bitter to refer to King George as a tyrant. Many criticized the wording of the document. Others questioned the originality of Thomas Jefferson, the writer. To the latter, Jefferson replied: "Whether I had gathered my ideas from reading, or refection, I do not know. I only know that I turned to neither book nor pamphlet while writing it.I do not consider it any part of my charge to invent new ideas altogether, and to offer no sentiments which had never been expressed before." X.**

Many critics thought the document was too highly rhetorical, forgetting that great thoughts must necessarily be couched in great words, and this was the mightiest document of human creation. No doubt the hand of Providence was with the tall red-head as he wrote the Declaration. and guided his pen.